היי, מה נשמע?
hai, ma nishma?
The English phrase "hi, how are you?" is translated into Hebrew as היי, מה נשמע? (hai, ma nishma?)
The phrase is a common informal greeting used to ask someone about their current well-being. You can also use שָׁלוֹם to say hello in both formal and informal settings.
What does it mean word for word?
The expression מה נשמע? literally translates to "what is heard?"
Which one should you use?
There are different ways to ask how someone is depending on the desired register. מה נשמע? is a colloquial option, whereas מה שלומך? is a more formal or standard way to ask "how is your welfare?" Additionally, the phrase שָׁלוֹם, איך אתה/את? serves as an informal way to say "Hello, how are you?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For more formal or standard situations, use מה שלומך?
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase מה נשמע? is grammatically gender-neutral and can be used when addressing men, women or groups.
How do you pronounce it?
hai, ma nishma?
Did you know?
- The word שָׁלוֹם used for 'hello' comes from the root for 'peace' and 'wholeness'. In Hebrew, greeting someone is literally wishing them a state of completeness.
- The word מה (what) shares the same ancient Semitic roots as the Arabic word 'ma', showing a linguistic connection between Hebrew and its neighbors.
- In modern Israeli street slang, you might hear people respond to 'how are you?' by saying 'nishma' (it is heard) as a way of saying 'everything is fine'.
Examples in context
- היי, מה נשמע?hey, ma nishma?Hi, how are you?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries מה, CC BY-SA 4.0.
