Ways to say it
| Urdu | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| الحمد للّٰہ | al-hamdu li-llāh |
| یرحمک اللہ | yarhamak-allāh |
| سلامت باشد | salāmat-bāśad |
| سلامت باشید | salāmat-bāśed |
In many Muslim-majority contexts, there is a specific social exchange after a sneeze. The person who sneezes is expected to say الحمد للّٰہ first, and then the listener responds with a phrase such as یرحمک اللہ to bless them.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase یرحمک اللہ literally means "May God have mercy on you".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form یرحمک اللہ changes its ending based on the gender of the person who sneezed: use yarhamuka-llāh for a male and yarhamuki-llāh for a female.
How do you pronounce it?
al-hamdu li-llāh
When do people say it?
Other ways to express well-wishes or blessings include the formal Allah Aapko Khush Rakhe (May Allah keep you happy), the informal Khush Raho (Stay happy) and the informal Tumhara Bhala Ho (May good happen to you).
Did you know?
- The word سلامت in the blessing سلامت باشید shares an Arabic root with the English word 'salute', both relating to ideas of safety and health.
- The phrase الحمد للّٰہ is so ubiquitous that speakers often use it as a filler word or a way to deflect praise to avoid sounding boastful.
- The phrase الحمد للّٰہ is not just a reaction to a sneeze but is a common expression of gratitude used whenever something good happens, similar to 'thank God' in English.
Example sentences for Urdu are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Zainab and Ali are sitting in a living room.
- زینب Zainab(چھینکتا ہے)(sneezes)(Sneezes)
- علی Aliالحمد للّٰہ، علی!Alhamdulillah, Ali!Bless you, Ali!
- زینب Zainabشکریہ، زینب۔Shukriya, Zainab.Thank you, Zainab.
- علی Aliکوئی بات نہیں۔Koi baat nahi.No problem.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bless you” translations and entries سلامت باشد, سلامت باشید, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries اللہ, باشد, سلامت, سلامت باشد, سلامت باشید, CC BY-SA 4.0.
