Yesh Ei Sham (Gidi Gov): meaning, lyrics and the Hebrew it teaches
יֵשׁ אִי שָׁם means 'there is an island somewhere'. It is one of the gentlest songs in the Israeli canon — a promise that somewhere there is a calmer place — and its simple, repeated Hebrew makes it ideal for beginners.
What the title means
יֵשׁ (yesh) = there is. אִי (i) = island. שָׁם (sham) = there. Together: 'there is an island somewhere out there' — the classic Hebrew existential sentence, with no verb 'to be' at all.
The song and the Zehu Ze! connection
Gidi Gov is one of the most beloved Israeli performers — singer with Kaveret, solo artist, and a face of the legendary comedy show Zehu Ze!. The song is carried by his warm, unhurried delivery, which is why learners can follow almost every word without slowing the track down.
Vocabulary from the song
- אִי i — island
- שָׁם sham — there
- יָם yam — sea
- שֶׁקֶט sheket — quiet, calm
- חֲלוֹם chalom — dream
- לָשׁוּב lashuv — to return
Practise it on Shir-ly
Yesh Ei Sham is fully word-synced on Shir-ly with nikud, transliteration and translations, plus games built from its own lines: fill the blanks, scrambled line, prepositions, verb conjugation, everyday sentences and a Gidi Gov / Zehu Ze! culture quiz.
Frequently asked questions
What does Yesh Ei Sham mean?
'There is an island somewhere' — יש (there is) + אי (island) + שם (there).
Who sings Yesh Ei Sham?
Gidi Gov, the Kaveret singer and Zehu Ze! star.
How do you say 'there is' in Hebrew?
יֵשׁ (yesh) for 'there is', אֵין (ein) for 'there isn't'.
Is it good for beginners?
Yes — slow tempo, clear diction and very high-frequency vocabulary.