can you tell me exactley what guzuntie means,i know you say it when someone sneeze s but what does it mean
2007-03-27 07:17:09 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
It's "gesundheit", which means "(good) health".
"Ge-", a meaningless prefix that still has to be there, like the "to" in an English infinitive.
"Sund", (pronounced zoont), healthy. The English word "sound" comes from it
"-heit", corresponds to the English "-ness".
Put it all together and it means ."healthiness".
2007-03-27 11:18:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gesundheit is the German word for health. When a person sneezes, Germans typically say Gesundheit! to wish them good health. This expression has found its way into the English language via Ashkenazi Jews who were immigrating in large masses to the United States during the early twentieth century. It is sometimes used instead of the more common "bless you". Also, in Germany it is a common phrase used before giving a toast. Gesundheit is also used in Australia. It was imported to South Australia through the Evangelical Lutheran refugees who fled the established Lutheran church in the east of Germany. These Silesian immigrants spoke their own language until the two World Wars caused a dramatic decline in the use of German in Australia. Gesundheit was used until recent times by the majority English speaking population. Its usage seems now to have declined.
There are different theories regarding the origin of this phrase. One idea is that the expression stems from the Middle Ages when the Bubonic Plague was threatening European health. In this case the person saying gesundheit was actually wishing good health upon themselves, since they may have been infected by the one who sneezed. During this time it was also commonly believed that sneezing made one's body vulnerable to evil spirits. Thus another plausible explanation is that gesundheit was a blessing to ward off demons while the sneezer's body was defenseless.
2007-03-27 07:26:14 · answer #2 · answered by Ryan S 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Gesunt in German means health. It is wishing some one good health when they sneeze. Typically thought of as the same as bless you.
2007-03-27 07:23:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Good Health
2007-03-27 08:31:38 · answer #4 · answered by upallniteowl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The word is Gesundheit, the German word for health and in this context it is the equivalent of Bless you.
2007-03-28 04:46:51 · answer #5 · answered by skaters mam 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am led to believe it means God Bless You from Evil.
2007-03-27 07:20:50 · answer #6 · answered by SYJ 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Geshundheit - it's German for "Good health!"
2007-03-27 07:41:39 · answer #7 · answered by True Blue Brit 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think its a yiddish saying meaning 'bless you'
2007-03-27 07:20:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Bless you in german
2007-03-27 07:28:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
That's "gesundheit"--it's German and it means "good health."
2007-03-27 07:19:51 · answer #10 · answered by anna 7 · 9⤊ 1⤋