Questions
Yes/no questions and question words.
A yes/no question uses the same words as a statement; only the voice rises at the end. In writing, the question mark shows it. Formal Hebrew can start the question with הַאִם ha'im. Answer with כֵּן ken "yes" or לֹא lo "no".
- ata ra'ev?Are you hungry?to a man
- ha'im yesh she'elot?Are there any questions?formal
Question words
The question word comes first, and the rest of the sentence keeps statement order. There is nothing like English "do".
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| מָה ma | what |
| מִי mi | who |
| אֵיפֹה eifo | where |
| לְאָן le'an | where to |
| מֵאֵיפֹה me'eifo | where from |
| מָתַי matai | when |
| לָמָּה lama | why |
| אֵיךְ eikh | how |
| כַּמָּה kama | how much, how many |
| אֵיזֶה eize, אֵיזוֹ eizo, אֵילוּ eilu | which (m., f., pl.) |
- eifo ata gar?Where do you live?to a man
- me'eifo at?Where are you from?to a woman
- le'an ha'otobus haze nose'a?Where does this bus go?
- kama ze ole?How much does it cost?
- lama lo?Why not?
Everyday questions
- ma shlomkha?How are you?to a man
- ma shlomekh?How are you?to a woman
- ma nishma?How's it going?
- eikh kor'im lekha?What's your name?to a man; literally "how do they call you"
- ma hasha'a?What time is it?
Cards from this guide
10 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Sentences cards.
How do you turn a statement into a yes/no question in spoken Hebrew?
Raise your voice at the end; the words stay the same.
What word can start a yes/no question in formal Hebrew?
הַאִם (ha'im)
How do you ask a man where he lives?
אֵיפֹה אַתָּה גָּר? (eifo ata gar?)
אֵיפֹה (eifo) or לְאָן (le'an): which asks 'where' with a verb of going?
לְאָן
How do you ask a woman where she's from?
מֵאֵיפֹה אַתְּ? (me'eifo at?)
What does כַּמָּה (kama) mean?
'How much' or 'how many'
What's 'which' before a masculine noun like סֵפֶר (book)?
אֵיזֶה (eize)
How do you ask a man 'How are you?' using שָׁלוֹם (peace)?
מָה שְׁלוֹמְךָ? (ma shlomkha?)
How do you ask a man 'What's your name?' with קוֹרְאִים (they call)?
אֵיךְ קוֹרְאִים לְךָ? (eikh kor'im lekha?)
How do you ask what time it is?
מָה הַשָּׁעָה? (ma hasha'a?)