How do you say Bless you to an atheist?
If you leave the “God” off, and just say “Bless you!” most folks will not think it sounds religious. You could use the German “Gesundheit!” which literally means “Health!” Here’s more: Origin and meaning of gesundheit by Online Etymology Dictionary.
What do you say to someone who sneezed?
bless you
In English-speaking countries, the common verbal response to another person’s sneeze is “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).
How do you say Bless you without saying bless you?
2 Answers. The most common alternative response that I’m aware of, especially in American English, is “Gesundheit!”. Gesundheit! is borrowed from German, and literally means “Health!”. Actually “Bless you!” (often uttered as “bleshoo”) can be considered as the secular (or neutral) version of “God bless you!”.
What to say instead of Bless you when someone sneezes?
Is saying Bless you rude?
When people don’t say bless you, we begin to suspect they don’t care about our well-being. As etiquette columnist Miss Manners once observed, it’s considered more rude for people getting hit with snot shrapnel to bypass the bless you than it is for the person detonating the germ bombs to fail to say excuse me.
What can I say instead of God bless?
It’s not English, but it’s been adopted (in North America at least) as one of the two only acceptable responses to a sneeze- “[God] bless you,” or “Gesundheit.” Or say nothing.
Is it rude to say bless you?
No, but some people may feel offended as it is a custom. Like smiling at a stranger or saying hello, it’s just a basic form of etiquette. The term “bless you” originally came from the belief that your body was trying to expell evil spirits and that’s why people said bless you when you sneeze to show good faith.
Is Bless me a thing?
used in this fashion, but both Bless me! (used on other occasions) and Bless you! (used on various occasions, including in response to someone sneezing) are examples of the formulaic subjunctive. They both derive from longer phrases, God bless me! and God bless you!
What can you say instead of Bless you?
The most common alternative response that I’m aware of, especially in American English, is “Gesundheit!”. Gesundheit! is borrowed from German, and literally means “Health!”. Actually “Bless you!” (often uttered as “bleshoo”) can be considered as the secular (or neutral) version of “God bless you!”.