Why People Say “Bless You”
In short: “Bless you” is a polite, automatic reaction when someone sneezes. The usual reply is “Thank you.”
When someone sneezes in English-speaking countries, people often say, “Bless you!” This tradition dates back to ancient times when people believed a sneeze could release evil spirits—or even signal the plague! Saying “bless you” was a way to protect the sneezer.
How to use it
Friends, coworkers and even strangers say it, and most people don’t think about its religious meaning. Reply with a simple “Thank you” or “Thanks.” If you sneeze yourself, you can say “Excuse me.” Some Americans say “Gesundheit,” a German word meaning “health,” instead.
Examples
- “Bless you.” “Thanks. I think I’m getting a cold.”
- Sorry, excuse me. It’s the pollen today.
- “Gesundheit.” “Thank you.”
A common mistake
Don’t answer “Bless you” with another “Bless you” or with silence. The polite reply is Thank you.
Where it comes from
No one knows for sure. Popular stories link it to a plague in Rome around the year 590, when Pope Gregory I is said to have asked people to pray, or to old beliefs that a sneeze could let evil spirits in. These stories are widely told but hard to prove.
Say it out loud
Tabbi Daily gives you one short lesson like this every day. Listen, record yourself and hear how you sound. Free, no account needed.
Source: NBC New York