A1 Spanish grammar

Hay in Spanish: Say There Is and There Are

Hay in Spanish means both there is and there are. The form does not change for singular or plural nouns, which makes it useful for saying what exists in a place or situation.

Use hay in Spanish for existence

Hay introduces something that exists or is available. It stays the same with singular and plural nouns: Hay un parque and Hay dos parques.

Hay un libro en la mesa.

There is a book on the table.Hay introduces one non-specific book, so un libro follows it naturally.

Quick check

Choose “There is a park.”

Choose a natural noun phrase after hay

Use an indefinite article, a number, or a bare plural noun when introducing something: hay una mesa, hay tres sillas, or hay problemas.

Hay tres sillas en la cocina.

There are three chairs in the kitchen.Hay does not change even though tres sillas is plural.

Ask questions and make hay negative

Use ¿Hay...? to ask whether something exists. Put no directly before hay to say that it does not: No hay leche.

No hay café.

There is no coffee.No goes immediately before hay to make the statement negative.

Common mistakes

Hayn dos mesas.

Hay dos mesas.

Hay never receives a plural ending; use the same form with one or many things.

Hay el libro en la mesa.

Hay un libro en la mesa.

When introducing a non-specific thing, hay normally uses an indefinite article rather than a definite article.

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Hay FAQ

What does hay mean in Spanish?

Hay means both there is and there are when you say that something exists or is available.

Does hay change for plural nouns?

No. Use hay with both singular and plural nouns: Hay una mesa and Hay dos mesas.

How do you ask “Is there...?” in Spanish?

Use ¿Hay...? followed by the thing you are asking about, such as ¿Hay un banco aquí?

How do you say “there is no” in Spanish?

Put no before hay: No hay. For example, No hay agua means There is no water.

Continue learning

Plural nounsLearn how to form Spanish plural nouns with -s and -es, change words ending in z, and match plural articles correctly.Basic negationLearn Spanish negation with no before the verb, plus beginner patterns using nunca, nada, and tampoco.Spanish travel vocabularyUse hay to ask what services and places are available.Spanish conversation practiceUse hay in guided situations about places, plans, and everyday needs.