Response to sneezing
Introduction 1912 illustrationIn English-speaking countries, the common verbal response to another person's sneeze is "God bless you|God bless you", or, less commonly in the United States and Canada, "Gesundheit", the German word for health (and the response to sneezing in German-speaking countries). There are several proposed bless-you origins for use in the context of sneezing.In non-English-speaking cultures, words connoting good health or a long life are often used instead of "bless you," though some also use references to God.In certain languages such as Vietnamese, Japanese or Korean, nothing is generally said after a sneeze except for when expressing concern when the person is sick from a cold or otherwise. In northern China people say "一百岁, or "a hundred years old", to wish health on the person who sneezed once. After a second sneeze one would say “二百岁”, which is simply "two hundred".
List of responses in other languages  Language Usual responses and notes Response meaning in English Sneezer reply and pronunciation Reply meaning in EnglishAlbanian'''Shëndet''' (shuhn-det)"Health! "'''Faleminderit'''"Thank you"'''Shëndet paç'''"May you have health"Amharic'''ይማርሽ''' (''yimarish'') for female'''ይማርህ''' (''yimarih'') for male"May God forgive you! "'''ያኑሪሽ''' (''yanurish'') for female'''ያኑርህ''' (''yanurih'') for male"May you live for long."Afrikaans'''Gesondheid'''"Health! "'''Dankie'''"Thank you"Arabic'''صحة''' (ṣaḥḥa). '''فرج''' (faraj'') or'' '''الله فرجك''' ''(allāh farajak (m.), allāh farajik (f.))'''''نشوة''' (''nashwa''). '''يرحمكم الله''' (''yarḥamukum ullāh'') if the sneezer says '''الحمدلله''' (''al‐ḥamdulila̅h''), as an alternative/religious interaction."Well-being! ", "Health!""Relief! ", or "God give you relief!""Elation! ", or "Thrill! ""God have mercy on you" if the sneezer says "All praise is for God. "'''علينا و عليك''' (''ʿalayna̅ wa‐ʿalayk''), '''شكراً''' (s''hukran''), or '''يهديكم الله و يصلح بالكم''' (''yahdīkum alla̅h'' wa‐yuṣlaḥ ba̅lakum) after the alternative interaction"For you and me", "Thank you!" or "God guide you and set your affairs aright. "Armenian'''առողջություն''' (''aroghjutyun'')"Health"'''շնորհակալություն''' (''shnorhakalutyun'')"Thank you"Assamese'''মঙ্গল হওক''' (''môngôl hôwk'')"May good happen. "UnknownAssyrian Neo-Aramaic''shemed alaha''''brakhmeh''"In God's name""Bless you"''baseema raba''"Thank you (very much)"Azeri'''Sağlam ol'''"Be healthy." '''Sən də Sağ ol''' "You Too"BanglaBangladesh '''Alhamdulillah''' (আল্লাহ তোমার উপর রহম দান করুন)"May God have mercy on you""Silence"India '''Jibah Jibah''' (জীবঃ জীবঃ)"May you live long"Basque'''Doministiku''', from Latin ''dominus tecum''"The Lord be with you. "Unknown Bavarian'''Hejf''' '''da God.''''''Gsundheid! '''"May God help you.""Health! "'''Dånk da sche. '''"Thank you. "Belarusian'''будзь здаровы''' (''Budz zdarovy'') for any gender"Be healthy"'''дзякуй''' (''dziakuj'')"Thank you"'''будзь здароў''' (''budz zdarou'') for male'''будзь здаровая''' (''Budz zdarovaja'') for femaleBosnian'''Nazdravlje'''"To your good health. "'''Hvala'''"Thank you"Breton'''Doue d'ho pennigo. '''"God will bless you. "Bulgarian'''Наздраве''' (''Nazdrave'')"To your health" or "Cheers"'''Благодаря''' (''Blagodarya'')"Thank you. "Catalan'''Jesús''' or '''Salut'''"Jesus." or "Health! "'''Gràcies'''"Thank you"Cantonese'''大吉利事''' (daai6 gat1 lei6 si6) or '''好嘅''' (hou2 ge3). Sneezing in Southern Chinese culture means that someone is speaking ill behind your back. "A great fortunate occurrence." / "A good one. "'''唔好意思''' (m4 hou2 ji3 si1)"Excuse me. "Chechen'''Dukha vekhil''' for male or '''Dukha yekhil''' for female"Live for a long time. "'''Dela reze hiyla'''"Thank you", literally means "I wish God will bless you".MandarinMandarin speakers do not typically comment on another person's sneeze. When someone does give a response, they might say '''百岁''' (''bǎisuì'').More rarely there is the expression '''多保重''' (''duōbǎozhòng'')'''多喝点水''' (''duō he dian shui'')"(live to) 100 years old""Take care","Drink more water" . '''不好意思''' (''bùhǎoyìsi'') "Excuse me. "Croatian'''Nazdravlje''' or '''Istina! '''"To your health." or "Truth! "'''Hvala'''"Thank you"Czech'''Na zdraví''' or '''Pozdrav Pánbůh''' or '''Je to pravda'''"To your health." or "Bless God." or "It is true. "'''Ať slouží''' or '''Dejž to Pánbůh''' (in reply to '''Pozdrav Pánbůh''')"May it last." or "May God let it happen (bless you)"Danish'''Prosit'''From Latin, prōsit. (“may it be good”) (to your health)'''Tak'''"Thank you"Dutch'''Gezondheid''', or if the person has sneezed three times, '''(Drie keer) morgen mooi weer'''Less commonly: '''proost'''"Health! ", the equivalent of respectively "Gesundheit" as said in English, or if the person has sneezed three times, "(Three times) the weather will be nice tomorrow. "From Latin, prōsit. (“may it be good”) (to your health)'''Dank u (wel)''' formally, or '''Dank je (wel)'''"Thank you"English'''God bless you''', '''Bless you''', or '''Gesundheit''''''Thank you; And you'''Esperanto'''Sanon'''"Health! "'''Dankon'''"Thank you"Estonian'''Terviseks'''"For health! "'''Aitäh'''"Thank you"Faroese'''Jesuspápi vælsigni teg!''' This can be shortened to '''Vælsigni teg! '''"May Jesus bless you." or "Bless you. "'''Takk (fyri)! '''"Thanks (for it)! "Finnish'''Terveydeksi'''"For health! "'''Kiitos'''"Thank you"French'''à tes / vos souhaits''' or '''Santé'''Old-fashioned: '''à tes / vos amours''' after the second sneeze, and '''qu'elles durent toujours''' or '''à tes / vos rêves''' after the third. More archaically, one can say '''Que Dieu te/vous bénisse'''. "To your wishes" or "health". Old-fashioned: after the second sneeze, "to your loves," and after the third,  "may they last forever." More archaically, the translation is "God bless you". '''Merci''' or '''Merci, que les tiennes durent toujours''' (old-fashioned) after the second sneeze"Thank you" or "Thanks, may yours last forever" after the second sneezeGaelic (Scottish)'''Dia leat''' (''informal'') or '''Dia leibh''' (''formal'')"God with you"'''Mòran taing''' (''or any other variation of thanks'')"Many thanks"Georgian'''ჯანმრთელობა''' (''janmrteloba'') or '''იცოცხლე''' (''itsotskhle'')"Health." or "Live long. "'''მადლობა''' (''madloba'') or '''გმადლობთ''' (''gmadlobt'')"Thank you"GermanGesundheit!"Health!" (in the meaning of ''I wish you good health'' or ''I wish that you don't get sick'')'''Danke''' '''(schön)'''"Thank you (very much). "'''Helf Gott!/Helfgott!/Helf dir Gott!''' (Southern Germany/Austria/Transylvanian-Saxon; archaic/mostly used by more or less religious elderly)'''Gott helfe'''"May God help you! "'''Vergelt's Gott'''"May God reward it i.e. your good wish."'''Großwachsen!''' (Transylvanian-Saxon; from Romanian "''Să creşti mare! ''"; used solely for children, usually after the usual "''Gesundheit''" for the first and/or second response)"You shall grow tall! "'''Danke''' '''(schön)'''"Thank you (very much). "'''Zum Wohl!''' (Southern Germany/Austria)"To your well-being!"Gīkūyū"Wimūrūarū?" (A conversation starter - mostly, one hints abouts the other's wellbeing in a sarcastic way). "Are you sick?""Aasha! ""Not really! "Greek'''γείτσες''' (''gítses'') or '''με την υγεία σου''' (''me tin igía su'')"Healths!" or "With your health! "'''Ευχαριστώ''' (''Efharistó'')"Thank You"Gujarati'''Ghanu Jivo'''"May God bless you with a long life. "'''Aabhar'''"Thank you"Hawaiian'''Kihe, a mauli ola''', or simply '''Ola'''"Sneeze, and you shall live", or simply "live"'''Mahalo'''"Thank you"Hebrew'''לבריאות''' (''livri'oot'' or ''labri'oot'')"To health! "'''תודה''' (''todah'')"Thank you!"Hungarian'''Egészségedre!Egészségére!''' (If a person sneezes while another is speaking, Hungarians also say sometimes "Igaz is" confirming that the person who was just speaking was telling the truth)"To your health! "("True")'''Köszönöm'''"Thank you"Igbo'''Ndo'''"Sorry. "'''Daalu'''"Thank you"Icelandic'''Guð hjálpi þér!''' or '''Guð blessi þig'''There is also an old custom to respond three times to three sneezes like so: '''Guð hjálpi þér''' ("God help you"), '''styrki þig''' ("strengthen you"), '''og styðji''' ("and support"). Though it is not commonly used. "God help you!" or "God bless you"'''Takk fyrir''', ''' Takk''', ''' Ég þakka''' or '''Afsakið''' "Thank you", "Thanks", "I thank" or "excuse me"Indonesian'''Tuhan berkati'''"God bless. "'''Terima Kasih'''"Thank you"Irish'''Dia linn''' or '''Dia leat''' or '''Deiseal''', which may be a form of '''Dia seal'''The first response means “God be with us.” The second response means "God be with you." The last means "May it go right," but might be a form of "God with us for a while. "'''gabh mo leithscéal'''"Excuse me."Italian'''Salute!'''"Health! "'''Grazie'''"Thank you"(ironic) '''Che se ne va'''"That is going away"Japanese'''大丈夫?''' (''Daijoubu?'') Note: It is very rare for anyone to acknowledge a sneeze in Japan, and it is customary not to say anything at all. After multiple sneezes, they use these words. "Are you all right? "'''すみません''' (''sumimasen'') or '''失礼しました''' (''shitsurei shimashita'')"Sorry." or "Excuse me. "Kannada '''ಶತಾಯುಸ್ಸು''' if the sneezer is young. Otherwise the sneezer takes the name of the lord "Long life" Literally "A hundred years"  Note: It is very rare for anyone to acknowledge an adult sneezing, and it is customary not to say anything at all.Kashubian '''Na zdar''' or '''na zdrowié''' "Health"'''Dzãkujã'''"Thank you" '''Prost''' From Latin, ''prōsit'', meaning "may it be good"Kazakh'''Сау болыңыз''' (''Saw Bolıñız''), '''Сау бол''' (''Saw Bol'')"Be healthy." First is formal, second is informal. Widespread in cities. A calque of Russian "Будьте здоровы", "Будь здоров". '''Рақмет! '''"Thank you!". From Persian ''رحمت'' (rahmat, “mercy”), which is itself from Arabic ''رَحْمَة'' (raḥma, “compassion, mercy”). '''Жарақымалда'''(North)'''Жәрекімалда'''(West)"May God have mercy on you." From Arabic '''يرحمكم الله''' (''yarḥamukum ullāh''). Pronunciation differs by region. Most common in western and northern regions. '''Ақ күш бер тәңір'''.Short forms: '''Бер тәңір'''(East), '''Ақ күш'''(North)"May Tengri give you pure strength." Of tengrist origin. Most common in central, northern, and eastern regions. '''Аққас'''Possibbly, shortened form of "Ақ күш бер тәңір." Most common in southern regions. '''Бер тәңірім бес жүз жылқы'''"May Tengri give me five hundred horses". Of tengrist origin. More common among kazakhs in Mongolia. '''Жартысы менікі, жартысы сенікі'''"Half mine, half yours"Khmer'''ស្បើយ''' (''S'baoi'')"Fast recovery. "'''សាធុ''' (''Satu'')"Amen"Kirundi'''Kira'''"Be healthy. "'''Twese'''"Us all. "Kinyarwanda'''Urakire'''"May you be healthy. "'''Twese'''"Us all. "KoreanThe practice of responding to someone's sneeze is rare.Kurdish'''Kher be inshalla'''. Many times when one sneezes, they say that the thing they are about to do will not happen. So, a listener says '''Kher be'''. "It will be a good thing, God willing," or the shorter version, "A good sign hopefully." '''Têr bijî'''. ”May you live long.”Kusaal'''Win yɛl sida! '''"God speaks truth" (Sneezing means that someone elsewhere is praising you.)'''Ami!'''"Amen! "Kyrgyz'''Ак чүч!''' .This may be based on an onomatopœia of the sound of a sneeze, like the English "Atchoo. "'''Рахмат''', if the person who spoke after the sneeze is liked. "Thank you. "Ladino'''בֿיבֿאס''' ''(vivas)'', '''קריזקאס''' ''(crezcas)'' after a second sneeze, and '''אינפֿלוריזקאס''' ''(enflorezcas)'' after a third sneeze. "May you live," "May you grow" after a second sneeze, and "May you flourish" after a third sneeze. '''מירסי''' ''(merci)''"Thank you. "Latgalian'''Veseleibā'''"To your health. "'''Paldis'''"Thank you. "Latin'''Salve''' "Be healthy"  (also used for salutation).Latvian'''Uz veselību'''"To your health. "'''Paldies'''"Thank you. "Lithuanian'''Į sveikatą''' (pronounced 'EE sweh kata') "To your health. "Says '''Atsiprašau''' immediately; responds to a responder with '''Ačiū'''.Says "Excuse me" immediately; responds to a responder with "Thank you. "LojbanNo set phrase, but one commonly says '''kanro .a'o''' (''kanro aho'') or '''.a'o do kanro'''. "hopefully Health!" or "said with hope You are healthy," respectively.UnknownLuganda'''Bbuka'''"Recover."UnknownLuxembourgish'''Gesondheet'''"Health! "Merci"Thank you"Macedonian'''На здравје''' (''na zdravye'')"To your health. "'''Здравје да имаш''' (''zdravye da imash'') or '''Благодарам''' (''blagodaram'') or '''Фала''' (''fala'')"Have health yourself." or "Thank you." or "Thanks."Malagasy'''Velona! '''"Be healthy. "MalayalamDepending on the religion, one would say '''Hari Krishna (ഹരി കൃഷ്ണാ )''' or '''Eesho rakshikka (ഈശോ രക്ഷിക്ക)''''''Let Lord Krishna bless you''' or '''Jesus save you''''''നന്ദി'''ThanksMaltese'''Evviva'''"May they live." An alternate translation is "Long live _____. "'''Grazzi'''"Thank you"Māori '''manaakitia koe'''"Bless you"'''Mihi Koe'''"Thank you"Marathi'''सत्य आहे'''"It's the Truth"UnknownMongolian'''Бурхан өршөө''' (''Burkhan örshöö'')"May God forgive you. "UnknownNavajo'''T'áá bí ání'''or '''Háíshį́į́ naa ntsékees''' / '''naa yáłti''''"That/the one said it" (lit. "They in particular said it") or "Someone is thinking of you / talking about you"''''Aoo' t'áá bí ání''' (in response to "Someone is thinking / talking about you")"Yes, that/the one said it"Nepali'''चिरञ्जीवी भव''' (''Chiranjeevi Bhawa'')"May you live long. "'''धन्यवाद''' (''Dhan-ya-bad)''"Thank you"Norwegian'''Prosit'''From Latin, prōsit. “Måtte det gagne deg” (“may it be good”) (to your health)'''Takk'''"Thank you"Afaan Oromo'''Gudadhu Huddu Sarre  Dhungadhu'''"Progress. "'''Galatoomi'''"Thank you"Pashto'''   صبر''' (''Sah-bur''). "Patience" '''مننه''' (''Mah-nah-nah''). "Thank you"Persian'''عافیت باشه''' (''Afiat Basheh''). "May Cleanliness/Purity be bestowed upon you," or "may it be for your health. "The sneezer will often say '''سلامت باشید''' (''Salaamat Bashid'').The sneezer will say "Be healthy. "Polish'''Na zdrowie!''' or '''Sto lat!''' or '''Zdrówko!''' (a diminutive form of "''zdrowie''" – health). Sometimes '''Prawda!'''. "To your health!" or "Live a hundred years!" or "To your health!". Sometimes "Truth! ", indicating the sneeze means something the sneezer had said before is true. '''Dziękuję''' / '''Dzięki. '''Thank you / Thanks.Portuguese / Galician'''Saúde''' or '''Deus te crie''' or '''Deus te guarde''' or '''Santinho! '''These mean, in order: "Health" or "May God raise you" or "May God keep you covered (as in warm and covered)" or "Little Saint! "'''obrigado/a''' or '''Amém'''"Thank you" or "Amen"Punjabi'''ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ''' (''Waheguru'') or '''ਤੇਰਾ ਭਲਾ ਹੋਵੇ! '''"Glorious Lord" or "May you be blessed," respectively. '''Thanvaad'''"Thank you"Romanian1) '''Sănătate/Să fii sănătos/Să fii sănătoasă''' or '''Noroc'''2) '''Să crești mare!''' (for children; usually "''Noroc''" comes first, then "''Sănătate''" and, as a third option, "''Să crești mare! ''")1) "Health/Be healthy (addressed to him/her)" or "To your luck," respectively.2) "May you grow up! "'''Mulțumesc'''"Thank you"Russian'''Будь здоров/а!''' (Bud' zdorov/a), or more formally '''Будьте здоровы''' (Bud'te zdorovy)"May you Be healthy! "'''Спасибо, буду''' (''spasibo, budu'') or '''Спасибо''' (''spasibo'')"Thank you, I will" or "Thank you"Serbian1) '''Наздравље''' (Nazdravie)2) '''Pis Maco''' mostly used with children1) "To your health. "2) "go away kitten" as sound of sneezing often sounds like cat's cough'''Хвала''' or less frequently '''Истина''' or '''Здравље да имаш'''. "Thank you," or less frequently "It is true" or "Health you have". Silesian'''Pyrsk!''' "Cheers"UnknownSinhala'''ආයුබෝවන්''' (''Ayubowan'')"Have a long life. "'''''Thank you'''''"Thank you"Slovak'''Na zdravie'''"To your health. "'''Ďakujem'''"Thank you"Slovenian'''Na zdravje''', '''Res je''' or the old-fashioned '''Bog pomagaj'''"To your health," "it is true" or "God help to you." Folk belief has it that a sneeze, which is involuntary, proves the truth of whatever was said just prior to it. '''Hvala'''"Thank you"SpanishIn Latin America, '''Salud''', or '''Dios te bendiga'''. In Spain, it can also be '''Jesús''' after the first, '''María''' after the second and '''y José''' after the third, while in Latin America, particularly in Venezuela and Colombia, it's replaced by '''salud''' after the first, '''dinero''' after the second and '''amor''' after the third. "To your health", "Jesus", or "God bless you", or "Jesus" after the first, "Mary" after the second and "and Joseph" after the third in Spain, while in Latin America, they say '''health''', '''money''' and '''love'''. '''Gracias'''"Thank you"Kiswahili'''Pole'''"I am sorry"'''Nishapoa / Asante'''"Already feeling better" / "Thank you"Swedish'''Prosit'''From Latin, prōsit. “Må det vara till gagn”'''Tack'''"Thank you"Tamil'''ஆயுசு நூறு''' (aa-yu-su noo-ru)/'''ஆயுள் நூறு''' (aa-yul noo-ru) or '''நீடு வாழ்க''' (nee-du vaal-ka)Also, '''Dheergayusu''', '''Poornayusu''', '''Sadayusu'''"100 year-long life" or "Live long" Different variations of long life after consecutive sneezes., "Live long"''' நன்றி''' (nan-dri)"Thank you"Tatar'''Исән булыгыз''' (''ee-sæn boo-lı-ğız'')/'''Исән бул''' (''ee-sæn bool'') "Be healthy." First is formal, second is informal'''Рәхмәт''' (''ɾæχ-mæt'')"Thank you"Telugu'''Chiranjeevi bhava/Chiranjeeva or Nurella ayusshu''' or '''దీర్ఘాయుష్మాన్ భవ''' "May you be blessed with a life without death," or "may you live long." Or “may you have 100 years of whole life”"ధన్యవాద" or smile"Thank you"Turkish'''Çok yaşa''' followed by '''İyi yaşa''' if a second sneeze occurs"Live long, live good. "'''Sen de gör''' or '''Hep beraber''' or ''''Siz de görün'''"And I hope that you live to see it my long life," or "All together" or "And may you witness it my long life," respectively.Ukrainian'''будь здоровий''' (BООD' zdoh-RO-vyy) to an informal male sneezer, '''будь здорова''' (BООD' zdoh-RO-va) to an informal female sneezer, or '''будьте здорові''' (BООD'-te zdoh-RO-vee) to a formal sneezer. '''На здоров'я!''' (na zdoh-RO-v-ia). '''Правда''' (pra-vda) if person sneezes while other person's speech. "Be healthy." "To your health!" "It is true. "'''дякую''' (DIA-koo-you)"Thank you. "Urdu'''yar-hum-o-kullah''' (First the person who sneezed says "''Alhamdulillah,''" i.e. praise be to God)"May God have mercy on you. "'''Yah-de-kum-ullah'''"May God guide you to the right path. "Uzbek'''Sogʻ boʻling''' or '''Salomat boʻling'''"Be healthy. "'''Rahmat'''"Thank you"VietnameseNothing in Vietnam. It might mean there is someone talking bad about you behind your back. Sometimes in the Northern Vietnam, when a child sneeze, the adult will say '''"Cơm muối"''', which means "Salt & Cooked rice". These words are believed to expel the evil spirit that's possessing their weak  (yin soul) at that moment. "Be healthy / Live long"'''Cảm ơn'''/'''Cám ơn'''"Thank you" Vilamovian'''Gȫthyłf''' or '''hyłf Gȫt''''''God help you'''UnknownWelsh'''Bendith''' or '''Bendith Duw arnat ti''' (familiar) or '''Bendith Duw arnoch chi''' (respectful)"God's blessing on you. "'''Diolch'''"Thank You"Yiddish'''זײַ געזונט''' (''zay gezunt''), '''צו געזונט''' (''tsu gezunt''), '''אסותא''' (''asuse'').After a second and third sneeze, '''צו לעבן''' ('''tsu lebn''') and '''צו לאַנגע יאָר''' ('''tsu lange yor''') respectively.If someone is speaking when another sneezes, '''גענאָסן צום אמת''' ('''genosn tsum emes'''). "Be healthy," "to health," "health (Aramaic)". "To life," "for many years". "Sneezed on truth"A sneezer responds to their own sneeze with '''חיים''' (chaim) in another Jewish custom."Life. "Yoruba'''Pẹ̀lẹ́''' (kpeh-leh)"Sorry"'''O ṣé''' (oh shay, informal), '''Ẹ ṣé''' (eh shay, formal)"Thank you"
See also * Photic sneeze reflex* Snatiation
References
Explanatory notes
Further reading * Knowlson, T. Sharper (1910). "(19) SNEEZING". ''The Origins of Popular Superstitions and Customs'',  pp. 175–179.A book that lists many superstitions and customs that are still common today. * Mikkelson, Barbara (2001). "Bless You!" Snopes. * Stollznow, Karen (2014). God Bless You!' – A Blessing in Disguise?" ''Skeptic Magazine'' (19) 4.
External links *