יש פנדל!

There is a penalty kick!

Breakdown of יש פנדל!

• יש: there is
• פנדל: penalty kick

Questions & Answers about יש פנדל!

What does יש do in this sentence?

יש means there is / there are or there exists. It is the standard Hebrew way to say that something exists or is present.

So in יש פנדל!, יש is the part that means there is or it’s a.

Unlike English, Hebrew does not need a separate word like there in this kind of sentence.

Why isn’t there a verb meaning is?

In the present tense, Hebrew usually does not use a separate verb equivalent to English is / are in simple sentences.

For example:

• הוא מורה = He is a teacher
• יש פנדל = There is a penalty

So even though English needs is, Hebrew often leaves it out in the present tense.

What exactly is פנדל?

פנדל is a borrowed word, used especially in sports, from penalty. In everyday Hebrew, especially in soccer context, it usually means a penalty kick or a penalty call.

So יש פנדל! is the kind of thing someone might shout during a match when a penalty has been awarded.

Why is there no a before פנדל?