What to say if someone coughs or sneezes?
Hello! What should I say in English when someone sneezes or coughs to be polite?
66 answers from our tutors
Best answer
Hey, great question! Well, you actually have 3 high frequency options that are top notch to use anytime: first, if you believe in God, say "God bless you!" If you don't believe in God or you are afraid of offending someone who doesn't believe in God, say "Bless you!" And last but not least, a word in German that the English language has appropriated, "gesundheit!" Which basically means that you are wishing the person "health". All are totally acceptable in any situation that someone sneezes.
In Ireland, we say 'bless you' to someone when they sneeze. A lot of people say 'excuse me' when they cough and wed really say anything if someone else coughs.
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Whilst there are a few ways to do this, most of them should be omitted as it is more common by far to simply say "bless you".
- PreeyaCertified TEFL tutor
"Bless you" would be the right thing to say.
- AliaFriendly, patient and kind certified ESL teacher
Commonly it's "Bless You" As Muslims, we say "Alhamdulillah"
Usually it's -"Bless you!", but, native English speakers also commonly say -"Gesundheid!" (which is German for "health" as in: I wish you good health!/ I hope you are ok!) but because we are native English, we don't pronounce it correctly, and we usually pronounce it like: ge-zoon-tyt.
The most common phrase used by people when someone sneezes is , "bless you" as it shows politeness.
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