necesitar ayuda
/neθesitaɾ aʝuda/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'need help' is translated into Spanish as necesitar ayuda.
The phrase is used to express the requirement of assistance from someone else to complete a task or solve a problem. In practical conversation, you will often use specific variations to state who needs the help, such as necesito ayuda for 'I need help'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb necesitar (to need) and the noun ayuda (help).
Which one should you use?
While necesitar ayuda is the dictionary infinitive form meaning 'to need help', in actual conversation, you will almost always use a conjugated form such as necesito, necesitas or necesitamos to match the person performing the action.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because necesitar ayuda is an infinitive, it must be conjugated to match the subject of your sentence. For example, necesito ayuda means 'I need help' and necesitas ayuda is the second-person singular used for the informal 'you' (tú). The form necesita ayuda can mean 'he/she needs help' or 'you (formal) need help' depending on the context of the conversation.
How do you pronounce it?
/neθesitaɾ aʝuda/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking contexts, if you want to ask for help more naturally, you might use the verb echar una mano, which literally translates to 'to throw a hand'.
- While necesitar ayuda is the standard way to ask for help, in emergency situations, Spanish speakers often shout ¡Auxilio! or ¡Socorro! instead.
- The Spanish verb necesitar is a direct descendant of the Medieval Latin 'necessitō', which carried the sense of being 'obliged' or 'compelled' to do something.
Examples in context
- Tom va a necesitar ayuda.Tom will need help.This sentence uses necesitar ayuda to show a future need.Tatoeba #2656659 by Shishir, translation #2215707 by CK
- Es difícil ayudar a las personas que no creen necesitar ayuda.It's difficult to help people who don't believe they need help.This sentence uses necesitar ayuda to discuss the difficulty of helping people who do not believe they require assistance.Tatoeba #1100559 by Shishir, translation #1096390 by CK
- Disculpe, necesito un poco de ayuda. ¿Podría indicarme cómo llegar a la estación de tren?Excuse me, I need a little help. Could you tell me how to get to the train station?
- ¿Me puedes ayudar a arreglar mi bicicleta?Can you help me fix my bicycle?
- Si vas a estudiar, vas a necesitar ayuda.If you are going to study, you are going to need help.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel is struggling to move a heavy table.
- DanielEsta mesa es muy pesada.This table is very heavy.
- María¿Necesitas ayuda, Daniel?Do you need help, Daniel?
- DanielSí, creo que voy a necesitar ayuda.Yes, I think I'm going to need help.
- MaríaEstá bien, yo te ayudo.All right, I will help you.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ayuda, necesitar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
