How to Say "There Is" in Spanish

hay

/ˈai/

The Spanish phrase for "there is" is hay.

Which one should you use?

Unlike English, which distinguishes between 'there is' and 'there are', Spanish uses the single form hay for both.

The form hay is used for both singular and plural subjects.

/ˈai/

English speakers often mistakenly try to conjugate hay for plural subjects (e.g., saying *han* instead of hay), but hay remains invariable.

Spanish speakers use hay to express an obligation in the phrase hay que, which translates to 'one must' or 'it is necessary to'.
The word hay is actually a contraction of 'it has there' from Old Spanish. It is a linguistic fossil that combines the verb 'to have' with a locative pronoun.
The phrase ¿hay? is often used as a shorthand way to ask 'is there any left?' or 'is there more?' without naming the object.

Aquí no hay nada.
There is nothing here.
Tatoeba #1591598 by Shishir, translation #1588785 by CM
No hay nadie ahí.
There is no one there.
Tatoeba #2372670 by hayastan, translation #1841569 by CK
No hay nada listo.
There is nothing ready.
Tatoeba #1151751 by Shishir, translation #1351546 by marcelostockle
Hay una reunión importante hoy.
There is an important meeting today.
Hay mucha gente en la oficina.
There are many people in the office.
Hay un problema que necesitamos resolver.
There is a problem we need to solve.
Hay un concierto esta noche.
There is a concert tonight.
837 more sentences on Tatoeba

Alejandro and María are looking for a place to eat.

Alejandro

Tengo hambre, ¿hay un restaurante cerca?
I'm hungry, is there a restaurant nearby?
María

Sí, hay uno a la vuelta.
Yes, there is one around the corner.
Alejandro

Genial, ¿hay mesas libres?
Great, are there any free tables?
María

Creo que hay muchas ahora.
I think there are many now.

Sources

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