Havana syndrome

noun

An illness of disputed cause, producing symptoms of vertigo, nausea, ear-popping, headaches, and traumatic brain injury, experienced by US ambassadors and agents abroad.

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Meanings

nounHavana syndrome (uncountable)
  1. uncountablemedicineAn illness of disputed cause, producing symptoms of vertigo, nausea, ear-popping, headaches, and traumatic brain injury, experienced by US ambassadors and agents abroad.

Origin

From the first encounter being reported in Havana, the capital of Cuba.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Cantonese 夏灣拿綜合症 /夏湾拿综合症
  • 夏灣拿綜合症 /夏湾拿综合症Translations
Chinese Mandarin 哈瓦那綜合症 /哈瓦那综合症, 哈瓦那症候群
  • 哈瓦那綜合症 /哈瓦那综合症Translations
  • 哈瓦那症候群Translations
Finnish Havannan syndrooma
  • Havannan syndroomaTranslations
French syndrome de La Havane
  • syndrome de La HavaneTranslations
German Havanna-Syndrom
  • Havanna-SyndromTranslations
Russian гава́нский синдро́м
  • гава́нский синдро́м (gavánskij sindróm)Translations
Spanish síndrome de La Habana
  • síndrome de La HabanaTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

Havana syndrome. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Havana%20syndrome

MLA

“Havana syndrome.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Havana%20syndrome. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Havana syndrome,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Havana%20syndrome.

Source: Havana syndrome on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.