What does gazoontite mean?

Answer 1

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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.

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Asker's Comment:

thank you very much, it is an ongoing debate at work and now i will win the argument!!!

Answer 2

God bless you. For when you sneeze.

Answer 3

it's gesundheit and it means god bless you in German

Answer 4

It's spelt "Gesundheit". It's German for 'Good Health' like saying Bless You in English

Source(s):

3 years of German

Answer 5

It's Gesundheit.

And it literally translates to: health.

Source(s):

http://world.altavista.com/tr

Answer 6

you spelled it wrong and it means "bless you." you say it when people sneeze.

Answer 7

Well, now you know what it means. Here's an important point of distinction (at least for some of us): The people who are translating it as "god bless you" miss the usefulness of the word, for me! I use it so I don't have to reference any "god," but can still say something polite after someone sneezes. ;)

Answer 8

Gesunheit ! "Bless you" in German !

Answer 9

Whoever said that Gesundheit means "Good health" in German is worthy of the temporary affirmation that 10 points can give, because they are correct.

Answer 10

it's Gesundheit and it means good health in German...like in Spanish, when someone sneezes they say "salud" which means health...it's the same principal.