Ever walked through a Jerusalem market, pointed at something delicious, and suddenly realized you had no idea how to ask questions in Hebrew—like “What is that?” If so, welcome—this post is for you. Whether you’re trying to learn Hebrew for travel, study, or just figuring out how to ask in Hebrew without sounding robotic, mastering questions is a shortcut to real conversations. Let’s strip away the mystery and build your confidence one “איך” at a time.
Question Words Cheat‑Sheet – Essential Hebrew Question Words
| English | Hebrew | Transliteration | Sound Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| What | מה | mah | Open your mouth wide—like saying “maa!” to a sheep |
| Who | מי | mee | Think of “me,” stretched out |
| Where | איפה | ey‑foh | Glide the ey like “hey,” then foh |
| When | מתי | mah‑tai | Stress the tai—rhymes with “Thai” |
| Why | למה | lah‑mah | Same first syllable as “llama,” minus the extra l |
| How | איך | eykh | The kh is a soft throat sound—pretend you’re fogging up glass |
Memorize this table; it’s your Hebrew grammar Swiss Army knife. I keep a sticky note of these six words on my laptop lid—works like a charm. Curious how these interact with other parts of speech? Check out our guide on Hebrew prepositions with examples to expand your grammar toolkit.
1. Word Order: Flip It or Keep It?
In English we might say, “Where are you going?” Hebrew keeps the question word out front too:
איפה אתה הולך?
Eyfo ata holekh?
“Where are you going?”
Notice anything missing? That pesky “are.” Hebrew often skips helper verbs, so the structure is:
[Question word] + [Subject] + [Verb] + …
Simple, right? No need to flip the verb before the subject as in Spanish or French. That alone saves beginner headaches. For a broader understanding of sentence structure, read The Basics of Hebrew Sentence Structure for Beginners—it pairs perfectly with this guide.
2. Yes/No Questions: Intonation Is Everything
Hebrew has no separate word for “do” in questions. Just raise your pitch at the end:
אתה גר בירושלים?
Ata gar be‑Yerushalayim?
“Do you live in Jerusalem?”
Think of it like holding a verbal tennis ball in the air—your voice arcs upward on the last syllable. Practice in front of a mirror; your eyebrows will rise automatically. (Seriously, try it.)
Pro tip: In casual speech you might hear ?”נכון (Na‑khon?) tagged on at the end. It’s the Israeli “right?” and doubles as a softener.
3. Tiny But Mighty: איך Does Double Duty
Here’s a fun twist: איך (eykh) means both “how” and “how come.” Context tells you which.
Surprising fact: Religious texts sometimes spell it with a silent alef afterward—אֵיךָ—but modern street Hebrew drops the vowel points. Don’t sweat it; Israelis will understand you either way.
4. Pronunciation Pointers
- ח / כ (kh) – That back‑of‑the‑throat rasp. Practice whispering “Bach” (as in the composer) until you nail it.
- ר (resh) – A light buzz, halfway between French r and Spanish rolled r. If you can gargle, you can say it.
- Vowels are short and punchy. No slow drawls—Hebrew loves efficiency.
- Stick these sounds to muscle memory early, and your questions will sound Israeli‑ish instead of tourist‑y.
5. Common Pitfalls (and How to Dodge Them)
Mixing up “ma” and “mi.”
Mnemonic: ma = what both have an a.
Forgetting gender agreement.
“Where are you going?” to a female becomes איפה את הולכת? (Eyfo at holekhet?).
Using English word order in yes/no questions.
Don’t insert “do”—just inflect your voice.
6. Quick Memory Hacks
Story Chain: Imagine a llama (lama?) asking “why” on a desert road, meets a sheep saying “maa,” then they both hop on a taxi (matai? “when”) to Tel Aviv. Silly images = sticky memories.
Sticky Note Drill: Every time you open your fridge, ask it a question in Hebrew. My fridge now knows more small talk than some of my cousins.
7. Mini‑Dialogue Practice
דני: מה אתה שותה?
Dana: אני שותה קפה. ואתה?
Danny: שותה תה.Danny: Ma ata shoteh? — “What are you drinking?”
Dana: Ani shota kafe. Ve‑ata? — “I’m drinking coffee. And you?”
Danny: Shoteh te. — “Drinking tea.”
Read it aloud, switch roles, then swap מה with איפה to ask “Where are you drinking?”
8. How to Ask Politely in Hebrew
Hebrew can sound blunt to English ears, but adding אפשר (efshar – “is it possible”) greases the wheels:
אפשר לשאול שאלה?
Efshar lish’ol she’ela?
“May I ask a question?”
Drop this sprinkle of courtesy, and shopkeepers will often reply with a surprised smile.
9. Your Turn: Ask Away!
Tonight, pick any object around you and fire off six quick questions using the words above. Example:
- מה זה?
- מי משתמש בזה?
- איפה מצאת את זה?
- מתי קנית את זה?
- למה אתה צריך את זה?
- איך זה עובד?
Say them out loud twice. Tomorrow, swap items and repeat. Congratulations—you’re already thinking in questions.
One‑Minute Recap
- Hebrew questions keep straightforward word order—no extra helper verbs.
- Yes/no questions rely on upward intonation.
- Six Hebrew question words cover most real-life exchanges.
- Practicing asking questions in Hebrew boosts confidence fast.
Final Spark
Write your name on a sticky note in Hebrew letters, slap it on your laptop, and ask yourself out loud: איך קוראים לי? (Eykh kor’im li? – “What’s my name?”). It’s a tiny daily reminder that you can already ask—and answer—questions in Hebrew. Keep at it, and soon Tel Aviv billboards will start making sense.