Мне нужна помощь
Mne nuzhna pomoshch
The English phrase "I need help" is expressed in Russian as Мне нужна помощь (Mne nuzhna pomoshch).
The phrase Мне нужна помощь is used to express that you require assistance from another person.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase translates to "To me is needed help".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase Мне нужна помощь, the word Мне (to me) is in the dative case because the person receiving the need is the indirect object. Note that if you were to say "I need a person", the word нужен would change to masculine to match the person.
How do you pronounce it?
Mne nuzhna pomoshch
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often try to use a direct translation of "I need" (Я нуждаюсь), but Мне нужна помощь is the much more natural and common way to express this in daily Russian.
Did you know?
- While Мне нужна помощь is a general request, Russians in an emergency often shout Помогите! (Help!), which uses the imperative mood to command someone to act immediately.
- The term помощь entered the Russian language via Old Church Slavonic, the liturgical language of the Orthodox Church.
- Because помощь is a feminine noun, the adjective нужна (needed) must also be feminine, regardless of whether the person asking for help is a man or a woman.
Examples in context
- Здесь мне нужна помощь.I need help here.This sentence is useful for specifying a location where you need help using Мне нужна помощь.Tatoeba #4085211 by odexed, translation #3559967 by CK
- Думаю, мне нужна помощь.I think I need help.This sentence is useful for expressing a thought about needing help using Мне нужна помощь.Tatoeba #3264822 by Inego, translation #2407817 by CK
- Почему мне нужна помощь?Why do I need help?This sentence is useful for asking a question about why you need help using Мне нужна помощь.Tatoeba #4401160 by odexed, translation #2633240 by meerkat
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Dmitry and Anastasia are in the office together.
- Дмитрий DmitryАнастасия, мне нужна помощь с этим отчётом.Anastasiya, mne nuzhna pomoshch' s etim otchotom.Anastasia, I need help with this report.
- Анастасия AnastasiaКонечно, Дмитрий, я сейчас посмотрю.Konechno, Dmitriy, ya seychas posmotryu.Of course, Dmitry, I will look at it now.
- Дмитрий DmitryСпасибо, ты очень выручишь меня.Spasibo, ty ochen' vyruchish' menya.Thank you, you will really help me out.
- Анастасия AnastasiaБез проблем, давай приступим.Bez problem, davay pristupim.No problem, let's get started.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries мне, помощь, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
