There is no English equivalent of "bless you" for coughing.
Some friends and I would like to use a phrase for "bless you" for coughing amongst ourselves. What would an appropriate word, phrase, or idiom be that has sensible linguistic roots?
asked Apr 28, 2022 at 17:34
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1We don't really tend to say anything after someone coughs. If it's a recurring cough, then it is natural to ask someone if they are "okay"/"alright", and offer them a glass of water.– JustinCommented Apr 28, 2022 at 18:51
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5It's an interesting question, but isn't really suitable for this format because there is no way to judge whether one answer is better than another objectively. You might bring it up in English Language & Usage Chat and see what the folks there think.– ColleenVCommented Apr 28, 2022 at 18:57
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1There is probably enough cultural differences among English speaking countries to warrant an answer.– Ralph WintersCommented Apr 28, 2022 at 19:10
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2How about “Would you be so kind as to put on a mask?” Or call the cops. Six of one.– XanneCommented Apr 28, 2022 at 20:30
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"Plague!" "Bring out your dead!" You should think what you want to communicate, whether it's to wish good health, to reference something supernatural (there are various dubious theories that "bless you" could be associated with evil spirits leaving the body or good spirits that needed to be kept in), or something more practical. Something like "bless you" will only make sense if you believe in a particular type of God. But it seems off topic for here.– Stuart FCommented Apr 28, 2022 at 22:18
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