The question: intonation and question words
Word order does not change in a question: "you understand" and "you understand?" are the same sentence — intonation decides. The bookish particle haim may open the question, but in live speech you hardly ever hear it. For example: “מה שלומך?” — How are you? A rule from the Hebrew course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Word order does not change in a question: "you understand" and "you understand?" are the same sentence — intonation decides. The bookish particle haim may open the question, but in live speech you hardly ever hear it.
Question words come first, as in English: ma — what, mi — who, eifo — where, kama — how much, eich — how, matai — when, lama — why.
There is one trap: kama and lama differ in the first letter but sound close — ask again instead of guessing.
By example
- מה שלומך?ма шломха?How are you?
- איפה הבנק?эйфо ха-банк?Where is the bank?
- כמה זה עולה?кама зэ оле?How much is it?
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
How to form a question in Hebrew?
Question words come first, as in English: ma — what, mi — who, eifo — where, kama — how much, eich — how, matai — when, lama — why.
Is the particle im needed in Hebrew questions?
Word order does not change in a question: "you understand" and "you understand?" are the same sentence — intonation decides. The bookish particle haim may open the question, but in live speech you hardly ever hear it.
Hebrew question words where how much why?
Question words come first, as in English: ma — what, mi — who, eifo — where, kama — how much, eich — how, matai — when, lama — why.
What does it look like in a Hebrew example sentence?
“מה שלומך?” (ма шломха?) — How are you? A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.