Learning how to ask questions is the foundation of any conversation in a new language.

Hebrew question words are short, simple, and used in almost every daily interaction.

Memorizing these essential words will instantly improve your ability to communicate in Israel.

You’ll use these words to ask for directions, get to know people, and shop at the local market.

I’ll break down exactly how to say who, what, where, when, why, and how in spoken Hebrew.

The main Hebrew question words

Before we look at specific examples, let’s review the basic vocabulary.

Here’s a quick reference table of the most essential question words in Hebrew.

Who in Hebrew

The word for “who” in Hebrew is מי (mi).

This word sounds exactly like the English word “me”.

It’s an easy phonetic trick for English speakers to remember.

You’ll use this word whenever you need to identify a person.

What in Hebrew

The word for “what” in Hebrew is מה (ma).

This is arguably the most common question word you’ll hear in Israel.

It’s used to ask for information, clarify something, or simply express confusion.

You’ll also hear it in many popular Hebrew slang greetings.

For example, the famous greeting “what’s up” literally translates to “what is heard”.

Where in Hebrew

To ask “where” in Hebrew, you use the word איפה (eifo).

This word is essential for travelers navigating the streets of Tel Aviv or Jerusalem.

You’ll use it to locate bathrooms, train stations, and restaurants.

If you want to ask “where to” instead of just “where”, you must use a different word.

The word for “where to” is לאן (lean).

When in Hebrew

The Hebrew word for “when” is מתי (matai).

You’ll need this word to discuss schedules, meetups, and transportation.

Why in Hebrew

The word for “why” in Hebrew is למה (lama).

It sounds exactly like the furry animal from South America.

Literally translated, the prefix “le” means “to” and “ma” means “what”.

So the word lama basically means “to what” or “for what”.

How in Hebrew

To ask “how” in Hebrew, you’ll use the word איך (eich).

This is an incredibly helpful word for language learners.

You can use it to ask native speakers how to pronounce or translate things.

How much and how many in Hebrew

The Hebrew word כמה (kama) translates to both “how much” and “how many”.

You don’t need to learn two separate words for countable and uncountable nouns.

This word is vital for shopping at the local markets.

Summary of Hebrew question words

Learning these basic question words is a huge milestone for beginners.

Once you know these words by heart, you can navigate almost any basic conversation in Israel.