מה לעזאזל?
The Hebrew phrase for "wtf" is מה לעזאזל?
מה לעזאזל? is used to express shock, confusion or annoyance regarding a situation or someone's behavior.
Meaning: What the fuck (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is literally "what the devil?", where לעזאזל means "to the devil".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
מה לעזאזל? is considered a mild and informal expression, making it a more socially acceptable version of a profanity, similar to the English "what the hell?" Additionally, younger generations may occasionally use the English acronym "WTF" in informal Hebrew slang.
Did you know?
- The word עֲזָאזֵל is derived from the ancient practice of sending a scapegoat off a cliff as a ritualistic cleansing of sins.
- While English speakers use 'the devil' as a generic figure of evil, the Hebrew term refers specifically to a legendary entity or place from ancient Semitic traditions.
- The word עזאזל is used in Hebrew to describe something that has been completely discarded or sent away forever.
Example sentences for Hebrew are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wtf” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries לעזאזל, מה, CC BY-SA 4.0.
