How to Say "Why" in Hebrew - How To Say Guide

לָמָּה

To say why in Hebrew, say לָמָּה. A more formal word is מַדּוּעַ (madúa’). If unsure, use לָמָּה. Wiktionary also lists לָמָה (láma).

Meaning: (interrogative) for what reason (adv)

Ways to say it

לָמָּה asks for what reason. It is the most common way to say why in everyday spoken Hebrew. Without vowel marks it is written למה.

לָמָּה is a contraction of the preposition meaning to or for and the question word meaning what, so it literally means for what.

לָמָּה is the everyday word. מַדּוּעַ is more formal or literary. You may also see it written לָמָה (láma).

While לָמָּה is the standard way to ask why, a person might respond to a 'why' question with a single word, ככה (kacha), which means 'just because' or 'like that'.
In a religious or liturgical context, the phrase לָמָּה is frequently used in the Psalms to address God in a state of spiritual crisis or abandonment.
In modern Israeli slang, people often repeat the word לָמָּה twice (לָמָּה לָמָּה) to express a sense of disbelief or frustration, similar to saying 'But why on earth?' in English.

אנא תסביר לי, למה אתה מאמין שהחלטה זו הכי טובה?
Please explain to me why you believe this decision is the best?
מדוע פגשתם אתמול ולא סיפרתם לי על זה?
Why did you meet yesterday and not tell me about it?
לָמָּה הַחֲנוּת סְגוּרָה הַיּוֹם?
lama hachanut sgura hayom?
Why is the shop closed today?
לָמָּה אַתְּ לֹא אוֹכֶלֶת?
lama at lo ochelet?
Why are you not eating?

Maya and Noam are talking about a cancelled trip.

נועם Noam

אנחנו לא נוסעים מחר.
anachnu lo nos'im machar.
We aren't traveling tomorrow.
מאיה Maya

לָמָּה? מה קרה, נועם?
lama? ma kara, Noam?
Why? What happened, Noam?
נועם Noam

המזג אוויר גרוע מאוד.
hamizag avir garua me'od.
The weather is very bad.
מאיה Maya

זה ממש מעצב, מאיה.
ze mamash me'atzev, Maya.
That is really sad, Maya.

Sources

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