יש גשר קטן על המים.

יש is the Hebrew existential word meaning there is or there are.

So יש גשר קטן על המים literally means something like there exists a small bridge over the water.

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

• יש גשר = there is a bridge
• יש גשרים = there are bridges

In present-tense Hebrew, the verb to be is usually omitted.

But here, יש is not just the normal word is. It is used specifically to express existence:

• הגשר קטן = the bridge is small
• יש גשר קטן = there is a small bridge

So this sentence is not describing a known bridge first; it is introducing the existence of one.

This is the normal order for an existential sentence in Hebrew:

יש + noun + adjective/complements

So:

• יש = there is
• גשר קטן = a small bridge
• על המים = over/on the water

Also, in Hebrew, adjectives usually come after the noun:

• גשר קטן = small bridge
• not קטן גשר

Because גשר is a masculine singular noun, the adjective has to agree with it.

So:

• גשר קטן = a small bridge
• סירה קטנה = a small boat

Agreement in Hebrew usually matches in gender and number.

Because גשר here is indefinite: a bridge, not the bridge.

• גשר קטן = a small bridge
• הגשר הקטן = the small bridge

With יש, Hebrew very often introduces something new or indefinite, so יש גשר קטן is very natural.

The basic meaning of על is on, upon, or over, depending on context.

With a bridge, English usually says over the water, even though Hebrew uses על.

So in this sentence:

• על המים is best understood as over the water

If you used מעל, that would more strongly emphasize above the water.

המים means the water.

In this sentence, Hebrew naturally uses the definite form:

• על המים = over the water

Just על מים can exist in other contexts, but here it sounds less natural. With a bridge, על המים is the normal phrasing.

Because מים is one of those Hebrew nouns that has a plural form but usually refers to a substance, not multiple separate items.

So even though it means water, it looks grammatically plural.

For example:

• המים קרים = the water is cold

Notice that קרים is plural too.

This is just a feature of the word מים; learners usually have to memorize it as a special case.

A common pronunciation is:

yesh GE-sher ka-TAN al ha-MA-yim

A simple transliteration is:

Yesh gesher katan al hamayim.

Approximate stress:

• יש = yesh
• גשר = GE-sher
• קטן = ka-TAN
• המים = ha-MA-yim

You use אין as the negative of יש:

אין גשר קטן על המים.

That means:

There is no small bridge over the water
or
There isn’t a small bridge over the water

So:

• יש = there is / there are
• אין = there is no / there are no

Not if you want a full neutral sentence meaning There is a small bridge over the water.

Without יש, גשר קטן על המים sounds more like a phrase or fragment: a small bridge over the water.

To make it a normal existential sentence, you need יש.

Compare:

• יש גשר קטן על המים = There is a small bridge over the water
• גשר קטן על המים = a small bridge over the water