prosit
/ˈpruːsɪt/
The Swedish way to say 'God bless you' when someone sneezes is prosit.
prosit is a response used when someone has sneezed. While it is a valid way to acknowledge a sneeze, it is often perceived as slightly old-fashioned or formal in modern Swedish conversation.
Meaning: said to somebody who has sneezed (intj)
Which one should you use?
You may also encounter religious variations: Gud välsigne er is a formal way to say God bless you in Swedish, and Gud välsigne dig can be used in informal settings to say God bless you.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpruːsɪt/
Did you know?
- While prosit is used for sneezing, it is also the standard Latin-derived toast used in many European languages to mean 'may it do you good' when clinking glasses.
- In many modern Swedish social circles, it is increasingly common for the person who sneezed to say tack after someone says prosit.
- The word prosit is borrowed from Latin and means 'may it be good'. This makes it a secular wish for health rather than a religious plea for divine blessing.
Examples in context
- Hon sa prosit efter hans nysning.She said bless you after his sneeze.
Example conversation
A quiet library where someone sneezes.
- KarlProsit!Bless you!
- LinneaTack.Thanks.
- KarlFörlåt, jag hoppas att jag inte störde dig.Sorry, I hope I didn't disturb you.
- LinneaDet gör ingenting, Karl.It's no problem, Karl.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “God bless you” translations and entries prosit, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries prosit, CC BY-SA 4.0.
