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Using hay = there is / there are in Spanish

Written by qualified Spanish expert Inma Sánchez BA
Last updated: 2024-02-19
21 questions

"There is/There are" in Spanish

In Spanish we use hay to say there is or there are. Read and listen to these examples:

Hoy hay muchas olas en el mar.Today there are many waves in the sea.

Hay muchas cometas en el cielo.There are many kites [alt: comets] in the sky.

En el campo hay muchas flores.In the field there are many flowers.

Hay mucha leche en la nevera.There is a lot of milk in the fridge.


In Spanish, you use hay whether it is followed by one item or many, unlike in English.
GRAMMAR: Hay is an impersonal form that comes from the third person of the verb haber in El Presente, literally meaning, it has.

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Examples and resources

Hay una piscina en mi vecindario.There is a swimming pool in my neighbourhood.
Hay mucha leche en la nevera.There is a lot of milk in the fridge.
Hay un pájaro en mi ventana.There is a bird in my window.
Hay muchas cometas en el cielo.There are many kites [alt: comets] in the sky.
En el campo hay muchas flores.In the field there are many flowers.
Hoy hay muchas olas en el mar.Today there are many waves in the sea.
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