מה שמך?
ma shimcha?
מה שמך? (ma shimcha?) is the Hebrew phrase for "what is your name?"
This phrase is used to ask a person for their name.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ma (what) and shimcha (your name), where the -cha suffix denotes the masculine "your".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form מה שמך? is used specifically when addressing a male.
How do you pronounce it?
ma shimcha?
Did you know?
- The term שמך shares a root with the Arabic word for 'fish', which originally derived from a meaning of 'source of sustenance'.
- The word מה (what) is part of a vast linguistic family shared by Aramaic and Arabic across the Middle East.
Example conversation
Two people meet for the first time at a gathering.
- דניאל Danielשלום, מה שמך?Shalom, ma shimcha?Hello, what is your name?
- מאיה Mayaשמי מאיה, ושלך?Shmi Maya, ve-shelcha?My name is Maya, and yours?
- דניאל Danielאני דניאל, נעים להכיר.Ani Daniel, naim le-hakir.I am Daniel, nice to meet you.
- מאיה Mayaנעים להכיר גם אותך.Naim le-hakir gam otcha.Nice to meet you too.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries מה, שמך, CC BY-SA 4.0.
