Why does Google Translate sound rude in Hebrew?

It picks a gender and a register at random, then stays there. Hebrew needs both before the verb. baba asks who is speaking and who is listening first.

Don’t say this in Hebrew: Google Translate vs Israeli

The short answer

Google Translate is not wrong so much as unmarried to a situation. These are the sentences that make a native speaker blink.

Hebrew inflects to the speaker and the listener. Set both before you pick a verb.
baba is a translation tool, not a course. It gets the line right for the room you are in.

By baba TeamLast updated: September 11, 2026

What do you actually say?

I am fine

אני בסדר

Ani beseder

Not “ani tov” as a complete life update. Beseder is the weather of the soul. Tov describes a thing.

How are you?

מה נשמע?

Ma nishma?

Not a full “how are you doing today my friend.” Ma nishma or ma kore is the street. Ma shlomcha is the auntie.

I miss you

מתגעגע אליך

Mitga’agea elecha / mitga’aga’at elayich

The verb carries your gender and the preposition carries theirs. This is where GT falls over.

Gender. Speaker: mitga’agea (m) / mitga’aga’at (f). Listener: elecha (m) / elayich (f).

Congratulations

מזל טוב

Mazal tov

Not “berachot” as a toast unless you are actually blessing. Mazal tov is the room.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Google Translate sound rude in Hebrew?: It picks a gender and a register at random, then stays there. Hebrew needs both before the verb. baba asks who is speaking and who is listening first.

Hebrew for don’t say