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"Hay" is a form of "hay", an impersonal verb which is often translated as "there is". "Sí" is a form of "sí", an adverb which is often translated as "yes". Learn more about the difference between "hay" and "sí" below.
hay(
ay
)An impersonal verb is a verb with no apparent subject (e.g., Llueve en España.).
a. there is (singular)
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
Hay un problema con el nuevo modelo del celular.There is a problem with the new model of the cell phone.
a. is there (singular)
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
¿Hay un parque por aquí?Is there a park around here?
sí(
see
)An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
a. yes
¿Quieres ir al cine? - Sí, pero primero hay que comer.Do you want to go to the movies? - Yes, but let's eat first.
2. (emphatic)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Yo sí quiero acompañarlos a Disney.I do want to go with you to Disney World.
Ella no aprobó, pero yo sí.She didn't pass, but I did.
An interjection is a short utterance that expresses emotion, hesitation, or protest (e.g., Wow!).
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
A pronoun is a word that stands in for a noun (e.g., she).
a. himself (third person singular masculine)
Suele jugar ajedrez con sí mismo.He usually plays chess against himself.
b. herself (third person singular feminine)
¡Se envió una carta a sí misma!She sent a letter to herself!
c. itself (third person singular)
El hilo se está enredando en sí.The string is getting tangled up in itself.
e. yourself (second person singular formal)
Solo desea el bien para sí.You only wish good for yourself.
f. yourselves (second person plural formal)
¡Solo tienen que creer en sí mismos!You just have to believe in yourselves!