יש ברית בין המדינות.

there is

Breakdown of יש ברית בין המדינות.

• בין: between
• מדינה: country
• ברית: alliance; pact

Questions & Answers about יש ברית בין המדינות.

What does יש mean in this sentence?

יש means there is or there are.

In יש ברית בין המדינות, it introduces the existence of something: a treaty/alliance/covenant exists between the countries/states.

A key point for English speakers: יש does not change for singular vs. plural.

• יש ברית = there is a treaty / there exists a treaty
• יש בריתות = there are treaties

So even though English changes between is and are, Hebrew keeps יש the same.

Why does the sentence start with יש?

This is the normal Hebrew way to say that something exists.

Hebrew often uses the pattern:

יש + noun

So:

• יש ספר = there is a book
• יש בעיה = there is a problem
• יש ברית = there is a treaty / an alliance exists

For an English speaker, this can feel a bit like starting with there is rather than with the noun itself. That is exactly the idea.

Why is it ברית and not הברית?