What are germs?

Germs are tiny living things. They spread because they ride on hands. You cannot see them. Soap helps wash them away.

Germs are very tiny living things, too small to see with just your eyes. Some germs can make you sick if they get inside your body and grow there. They can ride on hands, sneezes, and shared toys, like glitter that sticks and spreads. Washing hands helps send many germs down the sink.

Germs are tiny living things, or tiny bits from living things, that are too small to see without a microscope. Some are bacteria, which are one-cell living things. Some are viruses, which need to get inside cells to make more viruses. Germs can get into our bodies from hands, coughs, food, or cuts. Some can make us sick because they grow or bother our cells. But many germs are helpful. Fun fact: trillions of friendly germs live in your gut and help you digest food.