מַה שְׁלוֹמְךָ
Ma Shlomkha
“How are you?”
Ma Shlomkha (מַה שְׁלוֹמְךָ) is a Hebrew phrase meaning “how are you?,” pronounced “mah shlom-KHA.” The literal translation is “what is your peace?.” Used after an initial greeting to ask about someone's well-being. The phrase changes form based on the gender of the person addressed.
| Hebrew | מַה שְׁלוֹמְךָ |
|---|---|
| Transliteration | Ma Shlomkha |
| English Meaning | How are you? |
| Literal Translation | What is your peace? |
| Pronunciation | mah shlom-KHA |
| Category | Greetings & Common |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew. The phrase appears in various forms in the Hebrew Bible. In 2 Samuel 20:9, Joab asks Amasa 'Hashalom atah akhi?' (Are you well, my brother?) — using the same root construction. |
| Scripture Reference | Genesis 43:27 |
In English, 'how are you?' is often just social lubricant — nobody expects a real answer. But the Hebrew equivalent, Ma Shlomkha (to a man) or Ma Shlomekh (to a woman), asks something far more profound: 'What is your shalom?' You're not asking about someone's mood — you're inquiring about the state of their wholeness, their completeness, their peace. The word shalom sits right at the heart of this question, connecting a casual daily interaction to one of the deepest concepts in Hebrew thought. And because Hebrew is a gendered language, you must know who you're addressing, making the question inherently more personal.
Scripture Reference: Genesis 43:27
“He asked them about their welfare (shalom) and said, 'Is your aged father well (hashalom)?'”
Where Does “Ma Shlomkha” Come From?
Biblical Hebrew. The phrase appears in various forms in the Hebrew Bible. In 2 Samuel 20:9, Joab asks Amasa 'Hashalom atah akhi?' (Are you well, my brother?) — using the same root construction.
When and How to Say “Ma Shlomkha”
Standard follow-up after greeting someone. In casual modern Hebrew, many Israelis use 'Ma nishma?' (What's up?) or 'Ma koreh?' (What's happening?) instead. Ma Shlomkha remains the polite, traditional form.
Cultural Context of Ma Shlomkha
In Israel, Ma nishma and Ma koreh have largely replaced Ma Shlomkha in everyday speech among younger people. But Ma Shlomkha is still taught first in Hebrew courses and remains the polite form. The masculine (-kha) vs. feminine (-ekh) ending is an important cultural marker.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say “How are you?” in Hebrew?
“How are you?” in Hebrew is Ma Shlomkha (מַה שְׁלוֹמְךָ), pronounced “mah shlom-KHA.” The literal translation is “What is your peace?.” Used after an initial greeting to ask about someone's well-being. The phrase changes form based on the gender of the person addressed.
How do you pronounce Ma Shlomkha?
Ma Shlomkha is pronounced “mah shlom-KHA.” The literal meaning is “What is your peace?.”
What is the difference between Ma Shlomkha and Ma Shlomekh?
Ma Shlomkha (מַה שְׁלוֹמְךָ) is used when speaking to a male, and Ma Shlomekh (מַה שְׁלוֹמֵךְ) when speaking to a female. Hebrew is a gendered language, so possessive suffixes change based on the gender of the person addressed. The -kha suffix means 'your' (masculine) and -ekh means 'your' (feminine).
How do you respond to Ma Shlomkha?
The standard response is 'Tov, todah' (Good, thanks) or 'Beseder, todah' (Fine, thanks). You can also say 'Baruch Hashem' (Praise God) or 'Metzuyan' (Excellent). Ask back with 'Ve'atah?' (And you? — to a male) or 'Ve'at?' (And you? — to a female).
What does Ma nishma mean?
Ma nishma (מה נשמע) literally means 'What is heard?' and functions like 'What's up?' in English. It's a more casual, modern Hebrew alternative to Ma Shlomkha. Young Israelis overwhelmingly prefer Ma nishma in casual settings.
Sources & Further Study
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