ayuda
noun
Help is ayuda in Mexico, and the request is ¿Me ayudas? A common casual version is ¿Me echas la mano?, which asks someone to lend a hand.
Meaning: assistance or a request for aid (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| ayuda | noun |
| ¿Me ayudas? | informal |
| ¿Me echas la mano? | casual, Mexico |
To ask for help politely use ¿Me puede ayudar?, with usted. To shout for help use ¡Auxilio! or ¡Ayuda!
Which one should you use?
¿Me echas la mano? is friendly and used for small favors. Ayúdame, por favor is more direct.
How does it change in a sentence?
Use ayudar as the verb and ayuda as the noun.
Did you know?
- The phrase echar la mano literally means "to throw the hand".
Examples in context
- Necesito ayuda, por favor.I need help, please.
- ¿Me puede ayudar con esto?Can you help me with this?
- ¿Me echas la mano?Can you give me a hand?
Example conversation
Rubén asks the shop attendant Marisol for help in a hardware store in Toluca.
- RubénDisculpe, ¿me puede ayudar?Excuse me, can you help me?
- MarisolClaro, ¿qué busca?Of course, what are you looking for?
- RubénUn foco de luz blanca.A white light bulb.
