gesundheit

interjection

ge·​sund·​heit gə-ˈzu̇nt-ˌhīt 

—used to wish good health especially to one who has just sneezed

Did you know?

When English speakers hear achoo, they usually respond with either gesundheit or God bless you. Gesundheit was borrowed from German, where it literally means "health"; it was formed by a combination of gesund ("healthy") and -heit ("-hood"). Wishing a person good health when they sneezed was traditionally believed to forestall the illness that a sneeze often portends. God bless you had a similar purpose, albeit with more divine weight to the well-wishing. It was once believed that the soul could exit the body during a sneeze, causing ill health, so folks said "God bless you" to ward off this danger. Gesundheit, at one time, also served as a toast when drinking (much like its English counterpart, "to your health"), but this usage is now mostly obsolete.

Word History

Etymology

German, literally, health, from gesund healthy (from Old High German gisunt) + -heit -hood — more at sound entry 3

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

gesundheit

interjection

ge·​sund·​heit gə-ˈzu̇nt-ˌhīt 

—used to wish good health especially to one who has just sneezed

Etymology

German Gesundheit, literally, "health"