he has flu

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence 'He has flu' is perfectly correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the current state of a person's health, for instance, "My colleague is out of work today as he has flu".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

He has flu, he complains, and he's losing his voice.

The Guardian - Music

He has flu.

Los Angeles Times

At first I will notice the child coughing, then when you touch the head you feel the fever and see whether he has flu so at times like these, I will run to the shop to buy drugs to check on him for about two days.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

This year Patriarch Bartholomew, the senior hierarch of the Orthodox world, left the job to a deputy because he had flu.

The Economist

In the main, support for Carlisle's honesty has been strong, as it has been for Nick Baber, 48, chief operating officer at KPMG, who last week said he would pretend he had flu during severe depression.

The Guardian - Opinion

The postman from Horsham thought he had flu but spent eight days in a coma after developing sepsis.

BBC

Chris Childs phoned, too, to say he had flu-like symptoms and would stay home in bed.

The New York Times - Sports

He reported having flu with frequent rhinorrea and nose blowing and sneezing.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

The same holds for non-probabilistic induction: Adding premises to a good induction may weaken its strength: That the patient presents flu-like symptoms supports the hypothesis that he has the flu.

SEP

He may have had flu "up to the eyebrows" (which weren't very high) but he oozed charisma and was the life-and-soul of the production, a low-budget film set during the Wapping strikes called Outside Bet.

The Guardian - Film

He says he has the flu.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While grammatically correct, consider using "he has the flu" for a more formal tone in professional or academic writing. In casual conversation, "he has flu" is perfectly acceptable.

Common error

While "he has flu" is understood, omitting the article "the" before "flu" is often perceived as less formal. In professional or academic contexts, including "the" enhances clarity and formality. For instance, prefer "he has "the flu"" in formal documents.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he has flu" functions as a statement of fact, indicating that a particular person is currently experiencing influenza. Ludwig provides examples showing its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "he has flu" is a grammatically correct way to indicate that someone is currently suffering from influenza. While understandable, Ludwig suggests that using "he has the flu" is generally more formal and grammatically complete. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media sources but can also be present in scientific and more casual contexts. When writing formally, consider using the more structured phrase, but in everyday conversation, "he has flu" is perfectly acceptable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he's got the flu

Uses "got" instead of "has", which is a more informal way of saying the same thing.

he is suffering from the flu

More formal and emphasizes the negative impact of the illness.

he is down with the flu

An idiomatic expression indicating illness.

he has influenza

Uses the formal name of the illness instead of the common name.

he's been diagnosed with the flu

Specifically mentions a diagnosis, adding a clinical tone.

he is battling the flu

Suggests a struggle against the illness.

he is unwell with the flu

Uses "unwell" as a synonym for being sick.

he is laid up with the flu

Implies being confined due to the illness.

he presents with flu-like symptoms

Clinical phrasing used when symptoms are present but diagnosis is pending.

he's caught the flu

Emphasizes the transmission of the illness.

FAQs

Is it better to say "he has flu" or "he has the flu"?

Both phrases are understandable, but "he has "the flu"" is generally considered more grammatically correct and formal. "He has flu" is acceptable in casual conversation.

What does it mean when someone says "he is down with the flu"?

The phrase "he is "down with the flu"" is an idiomatic expression meaning he is sick and likely confined to bed because of the flu.

What are some alternative ways to say "he has flu"?

Alternatives include "he's got "the flu"", "he is suffering from "the flu"", or "he's been diagnosed with "the flu"", depending on the context.

Is "he has flu" grammatically incorrect?

No, "he has flu" is not grammatically incorrect, but it is less formal than "he has "the flu"". Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is perfectly usable in written English. The omission of 'the' is common in informal speech.