Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Hay poco riesgo si caminas recto por la avenida durante el día. - There is little risk if you walk straight along the avenue during the day.

Hay is the impersonal form of the verb haber used to express existence. In English it translates to “there is” or “there are.” So hay poco riesgo means “there is little risk.”

Why is it poco riesgo instead of un poco de riesgo?

Poco riesgo means “little risk” as a noun phrase describing a small amount of danger. Un poco de riesgo would also mean “a little risk,” but it emphasizes quantity in a slightly more informal or conversational way. In this sentence, poco riesgo is more concise and idiomatic for warning statements.

What does caminas recto mean, and could you say camines recto instead?

Caminar recto means “to walk straight.” Here si caminas recto uses the present indicative because it expresses a general condition: “if you walk straight.” You would use the present subjunctive camines recto only in subordinate clauses after expressions of doubt, desire or commands, not in a simple “if” that states a factual condition.

Is caminar recto the same as caminar derecho or seguir derecho?

Yes and no. In many Latin American countries, caminar recto and caminar derecho both mean “to walk straight.” However, seguir derecho is more common in everyday spoken Spanish (especially Mexico) to tell someone “go straight.” Caminar recto sounds a bit more formal or written.

Why choose por la avenida instead of en la avenida?

Por in this context means “along” or “through.” Saying caminar por la avenida emphasizes movement along the length of the avenue. En la avenida would simply locate the walking on the avenue without stressing direction or path.

Why is it durante el día and not por el día?

Durante means “during” and frames the entire time period in which something happens: “during the day.” Por can sometimes mean “during,” but in time expressions por el día would more often imply “for daytime hours” or “throughout the day” in a less precise way. Durante el día is the most straightforward translation of “in the daytime.”

Could you reorder the sentence, for example put durante el día at the beginning?

Yes. Spanish is flexible: Durante el día, hay poco riesgo si caminas recto por la avenida.
Moving durante el día to the front simply shifts emphasis but doesn’t change the overall meaning.