to sneeze
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to sneeze
To expel air involuntarily, reflexively, and explosively through the nose and mouth, often as a reaction to irritation of the nasal mucous membrane by dust, pollen, or a cold.
Als der Pfeffer in die Luft kam, musste ich sofort niesen.
When the pepper got into the air, I immediately had to sneeze.
When someone sneezes in Germany, it is customary and polite to say 'Gesundheit!' (Bless you!). It is a social convention that you often hear in everyday life.
Mein Kollege nieste und ich sagte sofort: „Gesundheit!“
My colleague sneezed, and I immediately said, 'Gesundheit!'
Since sneezing is an uncontrollable reflex, it is very often combined with the modal verb 'müssen' (must / have to). The phrase 'Ich muss niesen' (I have to sneeze) is often more natural than 'Ich niese' (I am sneezing).
Wegen meiner Allergie muss ich im Frühling ständig niesen.
Because of my allergy, I constantly have to sneeze in spring.
To name the cause of the sneezing, you often use the prepositions 'wegen' (+ genitive) or 'von' (+ dative).
Ich musste wegen des vielen Staubs in der Luft niesen.
I had to sneeze because of all the dust in the air.
to cough
'husten' and 'niesen' both describe a sudden movement of air out of the body and often occur with a cold or irritation. The physical difference is clear: when coughing, the air comes abruptly from the lungs and usually through the mouth. When sneezing, it is mainly the nose that reacts; the air comes out reflexively through the nose and mouth. Learners may confuse the words because both are typical symptoms of illness. If the throat or chest is irritated, you usually say 'husten'. If the nose is irritated by dust, pollen, or a cold, you say 'niesen'.
Wegen der Pollen muss Lena im Frühling oft niesen.
Because of the pollen, Lena often has to sneeze in spring.
Seit dem Wochenende muss ich stark husten und trinke viel Tee.
Since the weekend, I have had to cough badly and have been drinking a lot of tea.