Why do we say "achoo" when we sneeze?
The short answer
"Achoo" mimics the sound of the sneeze itself, shaped by how we breathe and move our mouth. But not everyone says "achoo" since different languages have their own versions, and making a sound at all is a cultural habit, not a biological need.
The long answer
We've all gotta sneeze, even if you're a humble sea sponge.
But why do we say "achoo" when we sneeze? "Achoo" is an onomatopoeia, a word that mimics sounds to describe a sound, like "beep," "tick," or "fizz."
A sneeze begins with a sudden inhalation (the "ahhhh" part) and then a forceful exhalation bursts out (the "choo" part). Your tongue briefly touches the roof of your mouth to creating the "ch" sound, while your lips are pursed and make an "oo" sound.
Does everyone say achoo when they sneeze?
"Achoo" is not universal; it's just what English-speaking sneezers say (or shout if you're a loud sneezer) when they let one rip. Each language has different sneeze onomatopoeias according to their unique linguistic rules and sounds. They are all similar to "achoo" but not exactly the same.
According to language education company Berlitz, here's how sneezes sound in a variety of countries around the world.
| Language | Sneeze sound |
|---|---|
| 🇫🇷 French | atchoum |
| 🇯🇵 Japanese | hakshon |
| 🇩🇪 German | hatschi |
| 🇵🇭 Filipino/Tagalog | haching |
| 🇮🇷 Farsi/Persian | cheto |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysian | hapchi |
| 🇿🇦 Afrikaans | haksie |
| 🇮🇹 Italian | etciù |
| 🇰🇷 Korean | achee |
| 🇪🇪 Estonian | apsu |
| 🇷🇺 Russian | apchkhi |
This is a good video to hear how different languages' sneezes sound.
The sounds we make when sneezing are culturally influenced by our native languages. But making a sound at all is largely a social habit.
Deaf people typically don't add extra sounds like "achoo" when they sneeze. Of course they make noise with the deep, pre-sneeze breath and sudden exhalation, but a sneeze is just a sneeze without any extra frills.
Making a sound like "achoo" is a habit we pick up from the people around us, like saying "bless you." One partially deaf journalist wrote that he modifies the way he sneezes depending on if he's around hearing people, "At home, I sneeze like a deaf person: naturally. Always have done. But sometimes, in public, in hearing places, I now realise, at 31 years of age, that I modify. I add the ah-choo."
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Sources
Assi, K. (2023, April 4). How to sneeze & respond to a sneeze in 80 different languages. Berlitz. https://www.berlitz.com/blog/how-to-sneeze-in-different-languages
Dictionary.com. (2023, March 28). Where Did the Word “Achoo” Come From? Why Do We Say “Bless You”? Dictionary.com. https://www.dictionary.com/e/achoo-god-bless-you-sneeze/
Diep, F. (2013, July 9). Why Deaf People Don’t Achoo When They Sneeze. Popular Science. https://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-07/why-deaf-people-dont-achoo-when-they-sneeze/
Tracey, E. (2013, July 5). Why deaf people sneeze silently. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-ouch-23162903
Villazon, L. (2023, July 12). Why do we make the “atchoo” sound when we sneeze? BBC Science Focus Magazine. https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/why-do-we-make-the-atchoo-sound-when-we-sneeze
It’s like an American accent but with calendars.