na zdrowie
/na‿ˈzdrɔ.vjɛ/
The Polish phrase for "bless you" is na zdrowie.
na zdrowie is used as a response to someone who has sneezed. It is also used as a common toast when drinking with others.
Meaning: said to somebody who has sneezed (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "to health".
How do you pronounce it?
/na‿ˈzdrɔ.vjɛ/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
When do people say it?
While the English "bless you" often carries a religious connotation, na zdrowie is a secular wish for health.
Did you know?
- If you use na zdrowie as a toast, it is customary to make eye contact with the people you are drinking with to show sincerity.
- The root of zdrowie is linked to the Proto-Indo-European root for 'healthy', which is a distant ancestor of many European words for health.
- In some formal Polish settings, a person who has been told na zdrowie after sneezing may respond by saying dziękuję, meaning 'thank you'.
Examples in context
- Na zdrowie.Bless you.This shows the standard way to say na zdrowie.Tatoeba #10594930 by polski_ren, translation #2111946 by CK
- Na zdrowie!Bless you!This shows the emphatic way to say na zdrowie.Tatoeba #611685 by simaqian, translation #434328 by lukaszpp
Example conversation
Katarzyna and Tomasz are sitting in a living room.
- Katarzyna*kichnięcie**Sneezes*
- TomaszNa zdrowie, Katarzyno!Bless you, Katarzyna!
- KatarzynaDziękuję, Tomaszu.Thank you, Tomasz.
- TomaszNie ma za co.You're welcome.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bless you” translations and entries na zdrowie, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries na, na zdrowie, zdrowie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
