hay
Lemma Details
Translation: there is; there are; there exists
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: Derived from the Old Spanish 'ha' (third person singular of 'haber', meaning 'to have') plus the adverb 'y' (meaning 'there'). 'Haber' comes from Latin 'habere' (to have, to hold). This impersonal construction evolved to express existence or presence, similar to French 'il y a'. Unlike English 'there is/are', 'hay' is invariable regardless of whether the following noun is singular or plural.
Commonality: 95%
Guessability: 20%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Hay un libro en la mesa.
There is a book on the table.
Hay muchas personas en el parque.
There are many people in the park.
No hay leche en la nevera.
There is no milk in the refrigerator.
Hay que estudiar para el examen.
It is necessary to study for the exam.
¿Hay algo que pueda hacer?
Is there anything I can do?
Mnemonics
- Think of 'hay' as saying 'I' with an H in front - 'h-eye' - to remember it means 'there is/are'
- Associate 'hay' with the English phrase 'Hey, there is something there!' to remember its meaning of existence or presence
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
'Hay' is one of the most frequently used verbs in Spanish. Unlike English, which changes form based on whether the following noun is singular or plural ('there is a book' vs 'there are books'), 'hay' remains the same regardless of number. The expression 'hay que' is extremely common to express obligation or necessity.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Hay' means 'there is/are' while 'ahí' means 'there' (location). They sound similar but have different functions and spellings.
Notes: Both words are pronounced similarly in many Spanish dialects, which contributes to the confusion.
Mnemonic: 'Hay' has a 'y' at the end for 'yes, something exists' while 'ahí' has an 'í' which you can imagine as a pointing finger indicating a location.
Explanation: 'Hay' means 'there is/are' while 'ay' is an exclamation of pain or surprise (like 'ouch' or 'oh').
Confused word:
¡Ay! Me duele la cabeza.
Ouch! My head hurts.
Notes: The 'h' in Spanish is silent, so these words sound identical despite having different meanings and spellings.
Mnemonic: 'Hay' has an 'h' for 'having' something exist, while 'ay' without the 'h' is just a reaction.