viagra

Viagra

noun vee-AH-grah Rare

Origin: Brand name coined by Pfizer in 1998; likely evokes 'vigor' and 'Niagara'.

Usage Note

Viagra is a trade name used in Italian as an invariable masculine noun: il Viagra. It refers to the drug sildenafil (generic name sildenafil). In Italian informal speech it is sometimes used hyperbolically to mean something that gives a strong boost or revival: quella notizia è stato un Viagra per il mercato (that news was a shot in the arm for the market). The seed gender 'f' is corrected to 'm' as drug/brand nouns default to masculine in Italian.

Examples

"Il medico gli ha prescritto il Viagra."

Natural Translation

The doctor prescribed him Viagra.

Literal Translation

The doctor to-him has prescribed the Viagra.

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