?מי אתה
mi ata?
The phrase "who are you?" in Hebrew is translated as ?מי אתה (mi ata?).
This phrase is used to ask a person for their identity.
What does it mean word for word?
The expression consists of the word מי, which means "who" and the pronoun אתה, which means "you" in the masculine singular form.
Which one should you use?
The form ?מי אתה is the direct way to ask for identity, but it can sound blunt or even confrontational depending on your tone, much like "Who are you?" in English.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes based on the gender and number of the people being addressed. Use ?מי אתה (mi ata) when addressing a man or a male child. Use ?מי את (mi at) when speaking to a woman.
How do you pronounce it?
mi ata?
Did you know?
- Depending on the context, asking ?מי אתה can be used as a rhetorical challenge to someone's authority rather than a request for their name.
- The directness of ?מי אתה is a hallmark of the 'Israeli directness' culture, where being blunt is often seen as being honest rather than rude.
- While אתה means 'you', it is related to ancient words in Aramaic and Ugaritic that meant 'to come' or 'to go home'.
Examples in context
- אני לא מכירה אותך, ?מי אתהani lo makira otcha, ?mi ataI don't know you, who are you?
Example conversation
Itay answers the door to a stranger.
- איתי Itay?מי אתהmi ata?Who are you?
- מאיה Mayaאני השכנה החדשה, מאיה.ani hashakhna khadasha, Maya.I am the new neighbor, Maya.
- איתי Itayנעים להכיר אותך, מאיה.naim lehakir otakh, Maya.Nice to meet you, Maya.
- מאיה Mayaגם אני, תודה!gam ani, toda!Me too, thanks!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries אתה, מי, CC BY-SA 4.0.
