hay
/ˈai/
The Spanish phrase for "there is" is hay.
hay is used to express that something exists or is present in a particular place. To ask a question such as "is there…?" or "are there…?", you use the same form hay but apply a rising intonation to your voice.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form hay is invariant, meaning it stays the same whether the subject is singular or plural.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈai/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using está to mean "there is". While está means "is", it is only used to describe a state or a location, not to express the existence of something.
When do people say it?
When writing questions that begin with hay, remember to use an inverted question mark (¿) at the start of the sentence, such as in ¿ Hay alguien en la casa?
Did you know?
- In some contexts, hay can be used to express a necessity, such as in the phrase hay que, meaning 'it is necessary to'.
- The word hay actually contains a hidden meaning of 'it has there', combining the verb 'to have' with a pronoun meaning 'there'.
- In Spanish, hay functions as an impersonal verb, meaning it has no actual subject and cannot be conjugated for person.
Examples in context
- Aquí no hay nada.There is nothing here.This sentence shows how to say there is nothing in a specific location using hay.Tatoeba #1591598 by Shishir, translation #1588785 by CM
- No hay nadie ahí.There is no one there.This sentence demonstrates using hay to indicate the absence of people.Tatoeba #2372670 by hayastan, translation #1841569 by CK
- No hay nada listo.There is nothing ready.This sentence illustrates using hay to state that nothing is in a ready state.Tatoeba #1151751 by Shishir, translation #1351546 by marcelostockle
- Hay una casa en la colina.There is a house on the hill.
- Hay muchos libros en la biblioteca.There are many books in the library.
- Existen muchas oportunidades en esta ciudad.There are many opportunities in this city.
- Existen varios restaurantes cerca de aquí.There are several restaurants nearby.
- Hay una fiesta en mi casa esta noche.There is a party at my house tonight.
- Está quedando poco tiempo para la reunión.There is little time left for the meeting.
- Hay varios libros en la estantería.There are several books on the shelf.
- 837 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are looking for a restaurant in the city.
- Lucía¿Hay algún restaurante abierto cerca?Is there any restaurant open nearby?
- JavierSí, hay uno en la esquina.Yes, there is one on the corner.
- Lucía¡Qué bien! ¿Hay mucha gente?Great! Is there a lot of people?
- JavierNo, no hay mucha gente ahora.No, there aren't many people right now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry hay, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hay, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
