מה

See also: Appendix:Variations of "ma" and Appendix:Variations of "me"

Contents

Hebrew

Pronoun

מָה • (má) m or f

1. what

   ‏מה זאת אומרת?‎‎ ― ma zot oméret? ― What does it mean? [literally What is this saying?]

   ‏מה אתה שואל?‎‎ ― ma atá sho'el? ― What [are] you asking?

   ‏מה נשמע?‎‎ ― ma nishmá? ― How are you? [literally What [is] being heard?]

2. which

Usage notes

• In traditional Hebrew grammar can also be vocalized as מַה (má) (with the doubling of the following consonant) or מֶה (mé). The vowel is determined by the following word and behaves the same way as the vowel in הַ־‎ (há). However, the Academy of the Hebrew Language recommends always using the vocalization מָה (má).

Interjection

מָה • (má)

1. An expression of wonder or amazement.
   • Genesis 28:17, with translation of the New International Version:

     ‏וַיִּירָא וַיֹּאמַר מַה־נּוֹרָא הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה אֵין זֶה כִּי אִם־בֵּית אֱלֹהִים וְזֶה שַׁעַר הַשָּׁמָיִם׃‎‎

     He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”

   • Psalms 119:97, with translation of the Jewish Publication Society:

     ‏מָה־אָהַבְתִּי תוֹרָתֶךָ כָּל־הַיּוֹם הִיא שִׂיחָתִי׃‎‎

     O how love I Thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

2. Response that confirms that the speaker is paying attention (usually said unhappily).

Usage notes

• In traditional Hebrew grammar can also be vocalized as מַה (má) (with the doubling of the following consonant) or מֶה (mé). The vowel is determined by the following word and behaves the same way as the vowel in הַ־‎ (há). However, the Academy of the Hebrew Language recommends always using the vocalization מָה (má).

Anagrams

• הם‎