How to Ask “How Are You?” in Hebrew

When you want to ask someone how they are in Hebrew, the most useful phrases to know are מה נשמע?, מה שלומך?, and מה קורה?. They overlap a lot in everyday Israeli speech, but they do not feel exactly the same.

The most common options

מה נשמע?

Pronunciation: ma nishma?

This is one of the most common casual greetings in Israel. It is closer to “What’s up?” or “How’s it going?” than to a formal “How are you?”

Use it with:

• friends
• classmates
• coworkers you know a bit
• people around your age

It is friendly and very natural, but not the best choice in a formal setting.

מה שלומך?

Pronunciation: ma shlomcha? / ma shlomech?

This is closer to “How are you?” in English and can sound a little more complete or polite than מה נשמע?.

Use:

• מה שלומך? when speaking to a man
• מה שלומך? when speaking to a woman

In Hebrew writing, the ending changes by gender, and in speech people usually hear the difference clearly. If you are not sure which form to use, choose the one that matches the person you are speaking to.

מה קורה?

Pronunciation: ma kore?

This is very casual, like “What’s happening?” or “What’s going on?”

It can feel more relaxed than מה נשמע?, so it is best with people you know well.

What people usually answer

Israeli answers are often short. You do not need a long explanation unless you actually want to keep talking.

Common replies include:

• בסדר — okay
• טוב — good
• לא רע — not bad
• סבבה — cool / fine / all good

A simple exchange can look like this:

• מה נשמע?
• בסדר, מה איתך?

Or:

• מה שלומך?
• טוב, תודה. ומה איתך?

What about מה איתך?

מה איתך? means “How about you?” or “And you?”

It is usually a follow-up, not the first question. People often say it very quickly after answering.

If you are speaking to a man, the spoken form is מה איתך?. If you are speaking to a woman, the form changes in Hebrew speech as well. Because this phrase depends on gender and pronunciation, it is best to learn it in full context rather than trying to build it word by word.

Which one should you use?

If you want the safest everyday option, start with:

• מה נשמע? for casual situations
• מה שלומך? when you want to sound a little more polite

A simple rule of thumb:

• מה נשמע? = casual, relaxed, everyday
• מה שלומך? = friendly, a bit more formal
• מה קורה? = very casual, very familiar

A few practical tips

1. Do not translate too literally. These are social greetings, not serious questions about your health.
2. Match the relationship. With a cashier, neighbor, or new acquaintance, מה נשמע? is usually safe. With someone you do not know well, מה שלומך? can sound smoother.
3. Short answers are normal. In Israel, people often ask and answer quickly, then move on.
4. Tone matters. The same phrase can sound warm, rushed, joking, or very casual depending on how it is said.

If you want more practical Hebrew for everyday situations, this kind of greeting often leads into other real-life interactions, like Hebrew for Cashier Phrases in Israel or How to Say No Politely in Hebrew.