Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): En la azotea hay plantas y una mesa para la merienda. - On the rooftop there are plants and a table for the snack.

Use impersonal haber (hay) to introduce the existence of something: “there is/are.” When you’re just saying something exists in a place, use hay.

En la azotea hay plantas y una mesa. = There are plants and a table (we’re introducing them). Use estar to locate specific, known things:
En la azotea están las plantas y la mesa. = The plants and the table (the ones we already know about) are on the rooftop.

Does hay change for plural?

No. Hay is the same for singular and plural.

Hay una mesa.
Hay plantas. Past tenses are also number‑invariant: hubo (preterite), había (imperfect) work for both singular and plural.

Why is there no article before plantas?

After hay, Spanish often omits the article with plural or uncountable nouns when speaking generally.

Hay plantas = There are plants (in general). You can add unas to mean “some/a few” or to suggest a limited, not‑all amount:
Hay unas plantas = There are some plants.

Why una mesa and not la mesa?

Una mesa introduces a non‑specific table (a table). La mesa would imply a specific, known table (the table we’ve talked about or can identify).

Can I say Hay plantas y una mesa en la azotea instead?

Yes. Both word orders are fine:

En la azotea hay… (starts with the location for emphasis/topic)
Hay … en la azotea (starts with existence) Meaning doesn’t change; it’s about focus.

Is en the right preposition for “on” here? Why not sobre?

Yes. En covers “in/on/at” and is the default for location: en la azotea.
Sobre means “on top of” or “over” and is used when that nuance matters. Sobre la azotea can sound redundant or overly literal here.

What’s the difference between azotea, techo, tejado, and terraza?

Azotea: flat, accessible rooftop/roof terrace (very common term in Latin America).
Techo: roof or ceiling (the structural cover; also the inside ceiling).
Tejado: sloped/tiled roof (more frequent in Spain).
Terraza: terrace/patio, which can be on the ground, a balcony, or the rooftop. In many places you could also say en la terraza (de la azotea).

Does planta ever mean “floor” (of a building)?

Yes, in set phrases like planta baja (ground floor) or planta alta, though in Latin America piso is the usual word for “floor.” In this sentence, plantas clearly means “plants” from context.

Why is it para la merienda and not por la merienda?

Para expresses purpose or intended use: a table intended for snack time.
Por indicates cause, exchange, route, time periods, etc. Por la merienda would suggest “because of the snack” or “around snack time,” not the table’s purpose.

Can I say para merendar instead of para la merienda?

Yes. Both are natural:

Una mesa para la merienda = a table for (the) snack time.
Una mesa para merendar = a table for snacking (using the verb). The infinitive highlights the action; the noun phrase highlights the mealtime event.

What exactly is la merienda in Latin America?

It’s typically an afternoon/early‑evening snack (between lunch and dinner). Usage varies:

Mexico, Colombia, Central America: merienda and merendar are understood; also hear refrigerio, tentempié.
Argentina/Uruguay: la merienda ~ afternoon tea/coffee with pastries.
Chile: similar idea exists, and you’ll also hear once. Across Latin America, la merienda is widely understood.

Why is it la merienda and not just merienda?

Meals usually take the definite article in Spanish when you refer to them generically as mealtimes:

El desayuno, el almuerzo, la merienda, la cena. You omit the article with the verb: desayunar, almorzar, merendar, cenar.

How do I pronounce hay, ahí, and ay?

hay (there is/are): like English “eye.”
ahí (there): “ah-EE,” stress on the second syllable.
ay (ouch/oh!): like English “aye.”
They’re spelled and stressed differently and mean different things.

How do you pronounce azotea? What about the letter z?

In Latin America, z sounds like an English “s.” Syllables: a-zo-TE-a, with stress on te: “ah-so-TE-ah.”

Could I say mesa de merienda?

You can, but it’s a bit different:

Mesa para la merienda = a table intended for snack time (purpose).
Mesa de merienda = a “snack table” (type/classification), or a table set up with snacks (like a buffet).
Use para for clear purpose; use de when naming a type, content, or context.

When does y change to e?

Y becomes e before words that begin with the “i” sound (i/hi): padres e hijos, agua e hielo. In this sentence it stays y because the next word is una, which doesn’t start with that sound.

How do I make the sentence negative?

Put no before hay. You can also use ni (neither/nor) and ninguna (no/none):

En la azotea no hay plantas ni mesa.
En la azotea no hay ninguna mesa.

If the plants and the table are already known, how would I say it?

Switch to estar with definite articles:

En la azotea están las plantas y la mesa. Or: Las plantas y la mesa están en la azotea.

Can I add quantities or adjectives?

Yes:

En la azotea hay muchas plantas y una mesa pequeña.
En la azotea hay unas diez plantas.
En la azotea hay plantas muy bonitas.

Why do we need the article in en la azotea? Could I say “en azotea”?

Spanish normally uses an article with singular, countable nouns after a preposition. En la azotea refers to a specific rooftop (the one in context).
Use en una azotea for “on a rooftop” (non‑specific). En azotea is not idiomatic.