Expression · A2 · Spanish glossary
Hay que: one must, you have to
hay que
Pronunciation: eye keh (stress the capital letters)
Hay que means “one must, you have to” in English.
Quick answer
- Meaning: one must, you have to
- How to say it: eye keh
- Level: Elementary (A2)
What “hay que” means and how to use it
Hay que plus an infinitive means “one must” or “you have to.” It states a general obligation, not tied to one person.
Examples with audio
- Hay que estudiar para aprender.You have to study to learn.
- Hay que llegar temprano.One must arrive early.
- No hay que preocuparse.There is no need to worry.
Usage tip
Hay que is impersonal and never changes for the person. For a personal duty, use “tener que.” For past, use “había que.”
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “one must, you have to” in Spanish?
“one must, you have to” in Spanish is “hay que.” It is pronounced eye keh, with the stress on the syllable in capital letters.
How do you pronounce “hay que”?
Say eye keh. The syllable in capital letters gets the stress. Press the speaker button at the top of this page to hear it.
Practice “hay que” for free
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