Learn about hay, ahí and ay in Spanish
These three Spanish words may sound very similar to non-Spanish speakers but they have very different meanings:
Hay = there is/there are
Ahí = there
¡Ay! = ouch!/ oh!/ ow!
Their spelling is also similar so this can create confusion!
Let's see some sentences with these words in context so the difference is clear:
- Hay is the verb in the sentence; it comes from haber. If it's followed by que it indicates obligation.
- Ahí is an adverb of place, like allí and aquí.
- Ay is an interjection used generally as an exclamation (with corresponding exclamation marks [¡ !]), indicating surprise or pain.
Hay and ay are pronounced the same but there is more emphasis on ay because of the exclamation: ¡ay!
Ahí is not pronounced the same as hay and ay. The stress and accent are on the -í, so it is more recognizable and distinguishable from the other two words because of the emphasis at the end.
Remember that you do not sound the "h" in Spanish. It's very common mistake to mispronounce "hay" as a kind of English "hey!"
See also:
Want to make sure your Spanish sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Brainmap today »
