Lesson 34: There Is, There Isn’t
Hebrew has no verb “to have.” Instead it uses יֵשׁ (yesh, “there is”) and אֵין (ein, “there isn’t”) — and for “having,” it literally says “there is to me.” Tap any line to hear it.
There is / there isn’t
יֵשׁ פֹּה בֵּית קָפֶה?
yesh po beit kafe?
Is there a café here?
יֵשׁ, מִמּוּל.
yesh, mimul.
Yes, across the way.
אֵין חָלָב בַּמְּקָרֵר.
ein chalav bamekarer.
There’s no milk in the fridge.
Having something
יֵשׁ לִי זְמַן.
yesh li zman.
I have time. (literally “there is to me”)
אֵין לִי כֶּסֶף.
ein li kesef.
I don’t have money.
יֵשׁ לְךָ עֵט?
yesh lecha et?
Do you have a pen?
Asking
מָה יֵשׁ לֶאֱכֹל?
ma yesh le’echol?
What is there to eat?
יֵשׁ בְּעָיָה?
yesh be’aya?
Is there a problem?