Hay, Ahí, Ay

Explanation

Quick Answer

The words hay(there is/are), ahí(there), and ay(oh) are pronounced similarly in Spanish, but they have very different meanings!

Read on to find out how to pronounce hay, ahí, and ay in Spanish!

The word hay means there is or there are and can be followed by a singular or plural noun.

examples
Hay un árbol en el jardín. There's a tree in the garden.
Hay muchas mesas en la clase. There are many tables in the classroom.

Here's how to pronounce the word hay in Spanish!

Notice that hay has one syllable and, therefore, the stress is placed on that one syllable (hay)!

The word ahí is an adverb that means (there).

examples
El libro está ahí. The book is there.
¿Ya estás ahí? Are you already there?

Here's how to pronounce the word ahí in Spanish!

Notice that ahí has two syllables and the stress is placed on the last syllable (hí)!

The word ay can mean ow, ouch, oh dear, or jeez.

examples
¡Ay! ¡Acabas de pisarme el pie! Ow! You just stepped on my foot!
¡Ay! ¡Cómo duele! Ouch! That really hurts!

Here's how to pronounce the word ay in Spanish!

Notice that ay has one syllable and, therefore, the stress is placed on that one syllable (ay)!

Now let's take a look at some sentences that contain the words hay, ahí, and ay in Spanish!

Spanish	English
¡Ay! Qué susto.	Jeez! What a scare.
Ahí está.	There he is.
¡Ay! ¡Me pisaste el pie!	Ow! You stepped on my foot.
¿Hay mucha gente?	Are there a lot of people?
¿Estás ahí?	Are you there?
¿Qué hay^ ahí?^	What's there?
¡Ay! Me duele ahí.	Ouch! It hurts there.
¿Hay alguien ahí?	Is there anyone there?
¡Ay! Hay algo ahí dentro.	Oh, dear! There's something in there.
Ahí hay un gato.	There's a cat there.
Hay mucho ruido ahí.	There's a lot of noise there.
¡Ay! ¿Estás segura de que no hay un ratón ahí?	Oh, dear! Are you sure there's not a mouse there?