Hello Junkies
How are you? I hope you’re doing well because you’re about to learn 10 ways to ask How Are You in Hebrew. This is a must-know conversational phrase that everyone uses, right? Well, let’s make you smarter in Hebrew by teaching you 10 ways instead of 1!
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Hebrew Lesson: Top 10 Ways to Ask How Are You In Hebrew
As a fun bonus, here’s a free Hebrew Audio Lesson that you can listen to. It’s all about Hebrew greetings. This lesson was generously provided by HebrewPod101.com. Just click the play button on the black player below.
- Absolute Beginner S1 #1 – Say Hello in Hebrew
1) How Are You?
- Female – מַה שְּׁלוֹמֵךְ?
- Ma shlomekh?
- Male – מַה שְּׁלוֹמְךָ?
- Ma shlomkha?
This is the most common and polite way to say how are you in Hebrew to someone you don’t know or you don’t meet often. Literally, it means “What is your peace?”
If someone uses this phrase, they want to hear a full answer as well, they really care for you. It is a formal and gentle phrase to use. The spelling is the same for male or female but the pronunciation is not.
2) What’s happening?
- מה קורה?
- Ma kore?
This is the common way for young people or close friends to ask “how are you?” It can be used as a substitute for “Hello” as if the inquirer is not waiting for an answer.
Although it is not slang, it is not recommended to use this formal encounters. For a close male friend, you’ll want to say:
- מה קורה אחי?
The addition is אחי (achi) which means “my brother.” This is a very common way to express closeness.
3) What’s new?
- מה חדש?
- Ma hadash?
This means “What’s new?” but it’s also used as a shorter version for “What’s new in your life?” or as a combination of “How are you” and “Anything new?” It is common to use it around friends that you haven’t seen a long time.
4) How are you feeling?
- איך אתה?
- Eich ata?
- איך את?
- Eich at?
Why are there 2 phrases? Well, it depends who you’re talking to.
- את – at – (you are)– when talking to a woman
- אתה – ata – you are )– when talking to a man
The interpretation is “How you?” or “How are you feeling?” People use it in order to know how the other person feels physically or emotionally — especially after some event has happened. In a sense, you’re asking about their feelings about that thing.
5) What’s up? in Hebrew
- מה נשמע?
- Ma nishma?
This is THE best phrase for any situation, not matter who are you talking to. If you have any doubt which phrase to use, use this.
Oddly, it means “what’s audible” or “what we will hear”, and yet, it is one the most common greetings and a common way to ask how are you in Hebrew.
It’s never used as it literal meaning. If you will think about, it actually means “what are we going to hear about your life today?”
6) What’s walkin’? What’s rollin’?
- מה הולך?
- Ma holech?
Literally, this phrase means “What’s walking?”
Yes, it sounds weird at first but it’s slang for “how everything is going” or “What’s rollin?” You should use it with your friends or with people you’ve met on the street for a quick talk.
7) What’s with you?
- מָה אִתְּךָ? (to a Male)
- Ma eitcha?
- מָה אִתָּךְ? (to Female)
- Ma eitach?
In English you’ll probably use it when you are mad at someone. In Hebrew it’s just a common way to really find out what’s with someone.
Or if someone asks you “how are you” and you want to find out what’s going on with them as well, just say “good, and מה איתך” It means “Good, and what about you?”
8) What’s the business?
- מה עניינים?
- Ma einyanim?
You might think that this is an odd way to ask how are you in Hebrew. Well, in Israel, it’s quite common and does not involve business at all. It’s just a polite and modern way to ask “how are you” and “what are you doing lately?” all together.
9) How are you feeling? (Another way)
- איך אתה מרגיש?
- Eich ata margish?
- איך את מרגישה?
- Eich at margisha?
The literal meaning is “how are you feeling?” Here, the speaker is concerned about someone’s health situation or current mood. It is said quite often to people that don’t feel well. This phrase shows sympathy and care, if you know that someone had a rough time – use this phrase as a way to start and talk about it.
As we have already learned in section 4:
- את (you are)– woman
- אתה (you are )– man
10) What’s up? (slang)
- מה המצב?
- Ma hamatzav?
This is a slang phrase for what’s up in Hebrew. Literally, it means “what is the situation.” You can use it use it with friends and relatives.
Now you know 10 ways to say How Are You in Hebrew!
Do you know of other unique ways? Leave a comment below and I’ll add it to this list. I read all the comments!
Want more lessons and resources?
Later!
~ Written by the Main Junkie
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