Response to sneezing

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In English-speaking countries, the common verbal response to another person's sneeze is "(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 origins of the phrase "bless-you" 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. Instead, depending on the language, the sneezer may excuse themselves.