gesundheit

[ guh-zoo nt-hahyt ]
/ gəˈzʊnt haɪt /

interjection

(used to wish good health, especially to a person who has just sneezed.)

Origin of gesundheit

1905–10, Americanism; < German: literally, health, equivalent to gesund healthy (Old High German gisunt; see sound2) + -heit -hood

Example sentences from the Web for gesundheit

  • At the same interview, when the doctor sneezed, she said "Gesundheit."

    Benign Stupors |August Hoch

British Dictionary definitions for gesundheit

gesundheit
/ German (ɡəˈzʊnthait) /

sentence substitute

an expression used to wish good health to someone who has just sneezed

Word Origin for gesundheit

from gesund healthy + -heit -hood; see sound ²

Cultural definitions for gesundheit

Gesundheit
[ (guh-zoont-heyt) ]

German for “good health.” Like the English phrase “Bless you,” it is conventionally said to someone who has just sneezed. This reflects the superstition that a sneeze can cause the soul to fly out of the body; saying the phrase prevents this from happening.