Gesundheit
/ɡəˈzʊnthaɪ̯t/feminine
The German word for health is Gesundheit.
Gesundheit refers to the state of being free of physical or psychological disease, illness or malfunction. It can also be used as an informal interjection to say 'Bless you!' after someone sneezes.
Meaning: state of being free of physical or psychological disease, illness, or malfunction (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound consisting of gesund (healthy) and the suffix -heit, which turns adjectives into abstract nouns, similar to the English suffix '-ness'.
Which one should you use?
While Gesundheit is the general term for health, Gesundheitszustand is used specifically to refer to a person's health condition or state and Gesundheitswesen is used to translate 'healthcare'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Gesundheit is a feminine noun. In the nominative case, it uses the article die, but it changes to der in the dative case, such as in the phrase schadet der Gesundheit.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡəˈzʊnthaɪ̯t/
When do people say it?
When someone sneezes, it is common to say Gesundheit! as a way of saying 'Bless you!'
Did you know?
- In some German-speaking regions, if someone sneezes three times in a row, the speaker might wait until the final sneeze to say Gesundheit.
- The word Gesundheit has become so globally recognized as a response to sneezing that it is frequently used by English speakers who do not speak any German.
- The word gesund can also be used to describe food that is 'wholesome' or 'nutritious' rather than just the absence of disease.
Examples in context
- Achte auf deine Gesundheit.Take care of your health.This sentence illustrates how to tell someone to look after their Gesundheit.Tatoeba #12459738 by mayabe, translation #238962 by CK
- Saufen schadet der Gesundheit.Drinking is harmful for your health.This sentence shows how drinking can be harmful to one's Gesundheit.Tatoeba #433323 by Espi, translation #1331268 by Scott
- Es ist gut für die Gesundheit.It's good for your health.This sentence demonstrates that something can be beneficial for Gesundheit.Tatoeba #901913 by Espi, translation #794925 by shekitten
- Bleib gesund!Stay healthy!
- 441 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Laura are talking about their new lifestyle habits.
- FelixIch möchte meine Gesundheit verbessern.I want to improve my health.
- LauraDas ist eine gute Entscheidung, Felix.That is a good decision, Felix.
- FelixWas tust du für deine Gesundheit?What do you do for your health?
- LauraIch treibe viel Sport.I do a lot of sports.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “health” translations and entries Gesundheit, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
