יש מים.

there is

Breakdown of יש מים.

• מים: water

Questions & Answers about יש מים.

What does יש mean here?

יש is an existential word. In this sentence, it means there is or there are.

So יש מים means something like:

• There is water
• There’s some water

It is not a regular verb in the same way as English to be.

Why isn’t there a separate word for is or there?

Hebrew often expresses existence with יש all by itself.

In English, you need a structure like there is.
In Hebrew, יש already covers that idea.

So:

• יש מים = There is water
• יש ספר = There is a book
• יש אנשים = There are people

You do not add a separate word for there.

Why is מים used for water? It looks plural.