j'ai besoin de ton aide
The English phrase "I need your help" is translated into French as j'ai besoin de ton aide.
A phrase used to tell someone that you require their assistance to do something.
Which one should you use?
If you want to say 'I need help' generally without specifying whose help, use j'ai besoin d'aide.
How does it change in a sentence?
Use ton aide when speaking to a friend, family member or someone you address with 'tu'. Use votre aide instead of ton aide when speaking to a stranger, a superior or a group of people.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly omit the preposition de (or d') which is required after besoin in French.
Did you know?
- In urgent or desperate situations, a French speaker might replace aide with secours, which shifts the meaning from 'assistance' to 'rescue'.
- The word besoin originates from an Old Frankish root meaning 'to look after', making it a linguistic relative of the modern French word soigner, meaning 'to treat' or 'to care for'.
- While aide means 'help', it is also a common noun in French for a female domestic worker or an assistant, such as an aide-soignante in a hospital.
Examples in context
- J'ai besoin de ton aide.I need your help.This example shows the basic way to state your need for assistance using j'ai besoin de ton aide.Tatoeba #6611 by TRANG, translation #257113 by CK
- C'est pourquoi j'ai besoin de ton aide.That's why I need your help.This sentence demonstrates how to use the phrase to provide a reason for the request using j'ai besoin de ton aide.Tatoeba #3602404 by sacredceltic, translation #3591620 by CK
- J'ai besoin de ton aide pour trouver Tom.I need your help to find Tom.This example shows how to include a specific purpose for the help using j'ai besoin de ton aide.Tatoeba #2982148 by Blabla, translation #6779602 by Eccles17
- Excusez-moi, Monsieur/Madame, j'ai besoin de votre aide pour finaliser ce rapport.Excuse me, Sir/Madam, I need your help to finalize this report.
- Hey, j'ai besoin de ton aide pour déménager ce week-end.Hey, I need your help to move this weekend.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel is trying to move a heavy table in the living room.
- GabrielLéa, j'ai besoin de ton aide ici.Léa, I need your help here.
- LéaBien sûr, Gabriel, qu'est-ce qu'il y a ?Of course, Gabriel, what is it?
- GabrielPeux-tu m'aider avec cette table ?Can you help me with this table?
- LéaOui, je vais t'aider tout de suite.Yes, I will help you right away.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aide, besoin, de, j'ai, ton, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
