מה נשמע?
What's up?
Ma nishma
Casual way to ask how someone is doing.
Context: Literally means "what do we hear?". Very common informal greeting.
How to Use "What's up?" in a Conversation
Example conversation:
A: Literally means "what do we hear?".
B: מה נשמע?
This phrase is considered casual in register and is at a beginner difficulty level for Hebrew learners.
How to Pronounce "מה נשמע?"
Ma nishma
Break it down: Ma — nishma
Hebrew is read from right to left. The transliteration above follows English reading order (left to right) to help you pronounce each sound correctly.
Cultural Tips for Using This Phrase
In Israel, casual communication is the norm. Israelis appreciate directness and informality, so this phrase fits right into everyday conversation.
This phrase stays the same regardless of the speaker's gender, making it easy to learn and use for beginners.
Body language matters in Israel. When saying "what's up?", Israelis often accompany greetings with warm eye contact and sometimes a handshake or cheek kiss between friends.
Learning "What's up?" — Quick Reference
| Hebrew | מה נשמע? |
| Pronunciation | Ma nishma |
| English | What's up? |
| Category | greetings |
| Difficulty | beginner |
| Gender-specific | No — same for everyone |
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