Gezunt

Gezunt is a Yiddish term meaning health or healthy. It comes from the German word gesund and is written in Yiddish asgezet? No, in standard Yiddish orthography it is gespelt:Gezunt. The pronunciation is roughly ge-ZUNT. The term can function as an adjective meaning healthy (for example, gezunter mensch) and as a standalone wish for well-being in conversation or greetings.

Usage and contexts: Gezunt appears across everyday speech in Ashkenazi Jewish communities. It is used to describe someone’s condition (e.g., “he is gezunt”) and in social or ceremonial contexts as a well-wishing expression. Common phrases include Zay gezunt (“be healthy”) and references to good health as a valued blessing. In addition to describing health, gezunt may appear in liturgical and cultural materials that emphasize wellbeing and vitality.

Cultural significance: In Yiddish-speaking and Ashkenazi communities, health is a prominent and everyday concern, and gezunt is part of that linguistic and cultural fabric. The word reflects a cultural emphasis on physical well-being as a foundation for daily life, family, and community. It also highlights the linguistic connections between Yiddish and German, while remaining distinct within the Jewish cultural sphere.

Relation to other terms: Gezunt is cognate with the German gesund but retains its own meanings and usage in Yiddish. It is distinct from Hebrew health terminology, which uses words such as refuah or refuah shlemah. In diaspora media, literature, and conversation, gezunt endures as a compact, familiar expression of health and good wishes.