gesundheit

Etymology

Borrowed from German Gesundheit (“bless you!”, literally “health”), from gesund (“healthy”). The adjective is cognate with English sound, from Old English gesund (“sound, safe, healthy”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡəˈzʊntaɪt/

Interjection

gesundheit

1. (Canada, US) Said to someone who has just sneezed.
   • 2000, Abby Frucht, Polly's Ghost: A Novel‎ (Fiction), Scribner, →ISBN, page 55:

     I used to play a game with David and Douggie, Dennis and Drew — stop their sneezes midsniff just by placing my pinkie finger against their nostrils and saying gesundheit before it was time.

2. (humorous) Said as a response to someone who said something difficult or convoluted.
   • 2010, Tangled (Disney movie)

     Flynn: "All right, Blondie."

     Rapunzel: "Rapunzel!"

     Flynn: "Gesundheit."