יש מיליון אפשרויות.

there is

Breakdown of יש מיליון אפשרויות.

• אפשרות: option
• מיליון: million

Questions & Answers about יש מיליון אפשרויות.

What does יש mean here?

יש is the Hebrew word used for there is / there are in an existential sentence.

So in יש מיליון אפשרויות, יש tells you that something exists or is available:

• יש זמן = there is time
• יש בעיה = there is a problem
• יש אפשרויות = there are possibilities

It does not change for singular vs. plural. The same יש works for both there is and there are.

Why doesn’t Hebrew use a normal verb for are here?

In English, you say there are a million possibilities with the verb to be. In Hebrew, present-tense existential sentences usually use יש instead.

So Hebrew does not normally say something equivalent to are a million possibilities in this kind of sentence. The natural structure is:

יש + noun phrase

That is why יש מיליון אפשרויות is the normal way to say it.

Why is the word order יש מיליון אפשרויות and not something else?

The most basic and natural word order for this kind of sentence is:

יש + quantity/noun

So:

• יש מיליון אפשרויות
• יש הרבה אנשים
• יש כמה דרכים

Starting with יש is the standard way to introduce existence: there is / there are.

Other word orders may be possible in special contexts, but for a learner, יש מיליון אפשרויות is the normal pattern to remember.