Why Achoo Is Learned Sound

Sneezing is involuntary, but the "achoo" part is not, because hearing people often add a learned sound effect to make the sneeze seem socially normal. Deaf people still sneeze, but many do not tack on an English-style "achoo" and instead only make whatever airflow noise the reflex naturally produces. Different countries teach different sneeze sound effects, so French speakers may go with "achoum," while Japanese speakers use "hakashun." Researchers say people cannot control the sneeze reflex itself, but they can still modify the sound in ways that match what their culture expects.

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