ayuda
/aˈʝuda/
In Spanish, help is ayuda.
The word ayuda is used to provide assistance to someone or something. While it is the general term for assistance, you may encounter other words depending on the level of urgency or the context of the situation.
Meaning: transitive: provide assistance to (someone or something) (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The noun ayuda is derived from the verb ayudar, which means to help.
Which one should you use?
Ayuda is the general word for assistance. In contrast, socorro and auxilio are more urgent and are typically used as cries for help in life-threatening situations.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ayuda can function in two ways: it can be the third-person singular present indicative of the verb ayudar (meaning he/she helps or you formal help), or it can be the third-person singular imperative (the command 'help!').
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈʝuda/
When do people say it?
If you are in an urgent or distressing situation requiring immediate assistance, you might use the cry socorro.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, offering ayuda to a stranger is often met with a polite refusal first, as a social grace to avoid seeming needy.
- In a legal or formal context, the term ayuda can refer specifically to a government subsidy or grant rather than a physical act of assistance.
- The word ayuda shares a historical lineage with the Latin 'iuvō', which means 'to help or to rejoice'.
Examples in context
- Ven aquí y ayuda.Come here and help.This sentence shows how to use ayuda as a command.Tatoeba #1229896 by wallebot, translation #3100621 by mhenderson5
- No pedí tu ayuda.I didn't ask for your help.This sentence shows ayuda used as a noun meaning assistance.Tatoeba #2314129 by marcelostockle, translation #2290270 by CK
- Ve a pedir ayuda.Go get help.This sentence demonstrates requesting ayuda as a noun.Tatoeba #2774186 by marcelostockle, translation #2230766 by CK
- ¡Necesito ayuda!I need help!
- Solicito su asistenciaI request your assistance
- ¡Socorro! ¡Necesito ayuda!Help! I need assistance!
- ¿Puedes ayudarme con esto?Can you help me with this?
- ¡Échame una mano con estas bolsas!Give me a hand with these bags!
- ¡Auxilio! ¡Alguien ayúdeme!Help! Someone help me!
- Por favor, ¿me puedes ayudar?Please, can you help me?
- Necesito una ambulanciaI need an ambulance
- Llama a la policíaCall the police
- 1986 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro is carrying heavy boxes into the house.
- AlejandroEstas cajas son muy pesadas.These boxes are very heavy.
- ElenaYo te ayuda con eso, Alejandro.I'll help you with that, Alejandro.
- AlejandroMuchas gracias, Elena.Thank you very much, Elena.
- ElenaDe nada, vamos a entrar.You're welcome, let's go inside.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ayuda, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ayuda, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
