Translation of Spanish word "hay" to English
hay
/ai/
Meaning
Verbthird-person singular simple present indicative of there be. Used to indicate the existence of something physical or abstract. See also there are.
How to use
The word 'hay' is used in Spanish to express the existence of something, similar to 'there is' or 'there are' in English. It's a very common verb, and its usage is generally informal, although it can be used in formal contexts as well. One crucial grammatical nuance to note is that 'hay' is often used with the verb 'ser' to form the present perfect tense.
🇬🇧 English
there is / there are
Example
Hay muchos libros en la biblioteca.
There are many books in the library.
Hay un hombre aquí para verte.
There is a man here to see you.
Your personal vocabulary
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Common phrases
- hay que— there is to
- hay que hacer— there is to do
- no hay— there is no
- hay mucho— there is a lot
- hay poco— there is little
📖 Related grammar
Frequency rank: #38 in Spanish
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Spanish word "hay" mean?▼
The Spanish word "hay" means "there is / there are" in English.
How do you pronounce the Spanish word "hay"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "hay" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "hay"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Hay muchos libros en la biblioteca." (which translates as "There are many books in the library.").
More Core Verbs words
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