# syphilis

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈsɪfɪlɪs/ · frequency rank #25,606

## Definitions
1. A disease spread via sexual activity, caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum.

## Etymology
From New Latin syphilis, originally the title of a poem by Girolamo Fracastoro concerning “Syphilus”, a shepherd boy who insulted the Greek god Apollo and was punished by that god with a horrible disease.

## Common misspellings (13)
`spyhilis`, `ssyphilis`, `syhpilis`, `syphhilis`, `syphiils`, `syphiliss`, `syphillis`, `syphilsi`, `syphliis`, `sypihlis`, `sypphilis`, `syyphilis`, `ysphilis`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/syphilis