this post was submitted on 31 Mar 2025
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[–] DandomRude@lemmy.world 19 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

The phrase everyone's looking at is "bless you" these days (US accent) ... the Germans are not the badies anymore ... sorry to say, but strangely enough, they are among the good guys now.

[–] samus12345@lemm.ee 15 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I've always preferred "gesundheit" as it's wishing the person good health rather than using religious terminology.

[–] KSPAtlas@sopuli.xyz 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The polish version (Na zdrowie!) is basically the same, someone should make a map of what kind of response one gives when someone sneezes (religious, health, etc.)

[–] Empricorn@feddit.nl 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

"Bless" is archaic, but I don't think it has to be exclusively religious.

EDIT: I looked for alternate definitions, but I guess it pretty much does always refer to holy/divine approval...

[–] NikkiDimes@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Bless
verb

to consecrate or sanctify by a religious rite; make or pronounce holy

I think bless is an inherently religious word, although not necessarily of any particular religion

[–] Empricorn@feddit.nl 1 points 1 year ago

Okay, you've convinced me.

[–] samus12345@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

It has a religious origin, but it can certainly be used secularly, and is more often than not. I just like avoiding it when possible.