the reason im asking this is that alot of my techers and classmates have a cough and i feel rude not saying anything
2007-03-02 11:31:34 · 37 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
You should say, "Are you okay?"
2007-03-02 11:33:38 · answer #1 · answered by rastabudd 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The custom of saying God bless you came from the superstition that the soul was leaving the body when someone sneezed and saying God bless you pushed the soul back where it belonged. There is no saying for coughing, so don't worry about saying anything.
2007-03-02 20:13:43 · answer #2 · answered by Lola 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is simply nothing poilte to say to people who are coughing.
God Bless You was said during the time of the Plague.
Sneezing was a sign of catching the plague.
Another sympton was a red ring around the mouth, hence the children's nursery rhyme "ring, a ring, a rosy, (red mouth) pocket full of posy (herbs) atishoo, atishoo (sneezing) all fall down (dying)."
2007-03-02 14:42:28 · answer #3 · answered by Jaza242 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they cough just a little bit, then say nothing. If the cough continues - you can ask them is they are okay, or if you can get them a glass of water, or if you have a cough drop or throat lozenge - you can offer it to them. If they cough, and don't cover their mouth, it's really up to you whether you feel comfortabele enough to say something or not.
2007-03-02 11:36:45 · answer #4 · answered by LosAngeles 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a roommate who said "Congratulations" to coughers when she was little... I don't think it worked.
Usually just, "are you feeling alright?" or something is good. If you really want, you can say "Bless you," but the 2 times I did that for a cough, the person was like, "I didn't sneeze, dumbass."
2007-03-02 12:10:25 · answer #5 · answered by Allo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In days of old it was thought that a sneeze or cough was a demon being forced from your body by the miracle of God. So they would say bless you as a homage to the lord.
2007-03-02 11:37:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think you need to say anything. If you feel awkward about it - you could just make a comment like, "Oh, I hate it when I get a nagging cough!" or something like that, but then if you think about it, what would be the point?
2007-03-02 15:55:18 · answer #7 · answered by zaytox0724 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some pharmaceutical companies would like you to say "Robitusen". But really, you are not supposed to say anything.
People used to believe that when one sneezed, their spirit left them, and the only way to keep it inside was if another person said "bless you". Coughing, apparently, was not believed to be so dangerous.
2007-03-02 11:40:53 · answer #8 · answered by Laura H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We say "bless you" because it was believed that the soul left the body for a moment when you sneeze....
That doesn't happen when you cough, so "bless you" is not necessary...
..you can ask them if they're alright?.. or offer them a cup of water??
2007-03-02 11:35:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You aren't expected to say anything and it is generally good manners to let it go. If they keep coughing you can ask if they are all right or offer to get them some water.
2007-03-02 11:39:47 · answer #10 · answered by ashley b 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well u could say are u ok and would u like a cough drop
2007-03-02 11:34:22 · answer #11 · answered by jojo 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋