How to pronounce “hay”
Hear how “hay (there is / there are)” sounds in Spanish, then read the breakdown below.
Accent
Breakdown
| Meaning | there is / there are |
|---|
| Syllables | hay (1) |
|---|
| Stress | One syllable, so there is nothing to choose. |
|---|
| IPA | /ˈaj/ |
|---|
Tips for English speakers
Common mistake: The h is silent, so it sounds like English "eye", not "HAY".
- The h is silent.
- Keep every vowel short and pure: a = "ah", e = "eh", i = "ee", o = "oh", u = "oo". No gliding.
Learn more: Stress and accent marks · Spanish vowels
Example sentences
Hay un banco cerca.There's a bank nearby.
¿Hay una farmacia por aquí?Is there a pharmacy around here?
More words
Pronounce any other Spanish word →