¿qué hay en tu mochila?
/ˈke ˈai en tu moˈt͡ʃila/word by word
The phrase "what is in your backpack" in Spanish is translated as ¿qué hay en tu mochila?
This phrase is used to ask a question about the contents of a person's backpack.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of qué (what), hay (there is/are), en (in), tu (your) and mochila (backpack).
Which one should you use?
The verb hay is used here to ask about existence (what exists inside), rather than using tiene (has), which would imply the backpack itself possesses the items.
How does it change in a sentence?
Replacing the possessive adjective tu with su changes the question from the informal "your" to the formal "your", as in ¿qué hay en su mochila?
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈke ˈai en tu moˈtʃila/
Did you know?
- The word mochila actually traces its roots back to a term for an 'errand boy'. It is believed to be a borrowed word from the Basque word motxil, which is a diminutive form of a word meaning 'boy'.
- In some Spanish-speaking countries, the word mochila is used specifically for backpacks, while in others, terms like morral or bolso are more common for different styles of bags.
- The word hay is an impersonal verb, meaning it does not change based on whether you are asking about one item or a hundred items in the mochila.
Examples in context
- ¿Qué llevas en tu mochila de deportes?What do you have in your sports backpack?
- Hay un libro y un lápiz en mi mochila.There is a book and a pencil in my backpack.
- Dime, ¿qué hay en tu mochila?Tell me, what is in your backpack?
Example conversation
Two students are talking before class.
- DanielHola Lucía, ¿qué hay en tu mochila?Hi Lucía, what is in your backpack?
- LucíaTengo mis libros y un cuaderno, Daniel.I have my books and a notebook, Daniel.
- Daniel¿Tienes el libro de historia también?Do you have the history book too?
- LucíaSí, lo tengo aquí adentro.Yes, I have it in here.
