Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'help'

English Word: help

Key Russian Translations:

• помощь [pɐˈmoʂʲ] - [Noun, General, Singular; Used in everyday contexts for assistance or aid]
• помогать [pɐmɐˈɡatʲ] - [Verb, Informal; Used for the action of providing help]
• вспомогать [fsprɐˈmɐɡatʲ] - [Verb, Formal; Used in more official or technical contexts for supporting or aiding]

Frequency: High (The word and its translations are commonly used in daily conversations, literature, and media in Russian-speaking regions.)

Difficulty: A2 for basic noun usage (e.g., помощь); B1 for verb conjugations (e.g., помогать), as it involves understanding Russian verb aspects and inflections per CEFR standards.

Pronunciation (Russian):

помощь: [pɐˈmoʂʲ] (The 'щ' sound is a soft, voiceless palatal fricative, similar to 'sh' in 'she' but softer.)

помогать: [pɐmɐˈɡatʲ] (Emphasize the second syllable; the 'г' is a voiced velar fricative, like 'g' in 'go'.)

вспомогать: [fsprɐˈmɐɡatʲ] (The initial 'вс' cluster can be tricky for beginners; it's pronounced as a quick 'fs' sound.)

Note on помощь: This word has a soft ending, so the final consonant may vary slightly in fast speech, potentially sounding like [pɐˈmoɕʲ] in informal dialects.

Note on помогать: As an imperfective verb, it implies ongoing action; be cautious with stress shifts in conjugated forms.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Assistance or aid (as a noun)

Translation(s) & Context:

• помощь - Used in general contexts for offering or needing support, such as in emergencies or daily life (e.g., in conversations about problem-solving).

Usage Examples:

• Мне нужна помощь с ремонтом машины. (I need help with repairing the car.)

  Translation: I need help with repairing the car. (This example shows the noun in a practical, everyday context.)

• Его помощь была неоценимой во время кризиса. (His help was invaluable during the crisis.)

  Translation: His help was invaluable during the crisis. (Illustrates the noun in a formal or emotional setting.)

• Без посторонней помощи невозможно закончить проект. (Without outside help, it's impossible to finish the project.)

  Translation: Without outside help, it's impossible to finish the project. (Demonstrates usage in professional scenarios.)

• Помощь от друзей всегда ценится. (Help from friends is always appreciated.)

  Translation: Help from friends is always appreciated. (Shows social and relational contexts.)

Meaning 2: To assist or provide aid (as a verb)

Translation(s) & Context:

• помогать - Commonly used for ongoing or repeated actions of helping, in informal settings like family or casual interactions.
• вспомогать - Applied in formal contexts, such as professional or educational environments, implying supplementary support.

Usage Examples:

• Можешь помочь мне с домашним заданием? (Can you help me with my homework?)

  Translation: Can you help me with my homework? (This highlights informal, daily use with a question structure.)

• Она помогает пожилым людям в их повседневных делах. (She helps elderly people with their daily tasks.)

  Translation: She helps elderly people with their daily tasks. (Shows the verb in a habitual action context.)

• Врачи вспомогают пациентам во время операции. (Doctors assist patients during the operation.)

  Translation: Doctors assist patients during the operation. (Illustrates formal usage in a medical scenario.)

• Мы помогаем друг другу в трудные времена. (We help each other in difficult times.)

  Translation: We help each other in difficult times. (Demonstrates reciprocal verb usage in emotional contexts.)

• Он помогает в благотворительных проектах. (He helps with charitable projects.)

  Translation: He helps with charitable projects. (Shows application in altruistic or community settings.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For помощь (feminine noun, third declension): This noun follows standard feminine patterns with variations in cases and numbers. It is invariable in plural forms in some contexts but commonly used in singular.

For помогать (imperfective verb, first conjugation): This verb conjugates based on tense, aspect, and person. It has imperfective aspect, meaning ongoing actions.

For вспомогать: Similar conjugation to помогать, but often used in formal writing with less variation.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • поддержка (podderzhka) - Similar to 'support', but more emotional or sustained.
  • взаимопомощь (vzaimopomoshch') - Emphasizes mutual help, often in team contexts.
  • содействие (sodeistvie) - Formal synonym for assistance in official matters.
• Antonyms:
  • препятствие (prepyatstvie) - Obstacle or hindrance.
  • вред (vred) - Harm or damage.

Related Phrases:

• оказать помощь [okazat' pomoshch'] - To provide help; Used in emergency or professional situations. (Meaning: Offering immediate assistance.)
• взаимная помощь [vzaimnaya pomoshch'] - Mutual help; Common in social or community contexts. (Meaning: Reciprocal support among groups.)
• просить о помощи [prosit' o pomoshchi] - To ask for help; Everyday phrase for seeking aid. (Meaning: Requesting assistance politely.)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'help' as a noun (e.g., помощь) is often used in the genitive case when indicating possession or need, such as 'нужна помощь' (help is needed). For verbs like помогать, choose based on context: use it for imperfective actions (ongoing help), and pair with perfective forms like помочь for completed actions. English speakers should note that Russian has aspect distinctions, so 'to help' might require both imperfective (помогать) and perfective (помочь) verbs. In formal settings, вспомогать is preferred over помогать for a more professional tone.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the nominative case incorrectly, e.g., saying "Мне нужна помощь" as "Мне нужна помощи" (wrong genitive form).

  Correct: "Мне нужна помощь" – Explanation: The genitive case is required after words like 'нужна', but beginners often mix cases due to English's lack of declensions.

• Error: Confusing verb aspects, e.g., using "помогать" for a one-time action instead of "помочь".

  Correct: Use "помочь" for completed help, like "Я помогу тебе" (I will help you). – Explanation: This leads to tense mismatches; English speakers might overlook the perfective-imperfective distinction.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, offering help (e.g., through помощь or помогать) is deeply tied to concepts of community and solidarity, influenced by historical events like the Soviet era's emphasis on collective support. Phrases like "взаимная помощь" reflect a cultural value of mutual aid, especially in rural or family settings, though in urban areas, it might be more transactional.

Related Concepts:

• поддержка (podderzhka)
• совет (sovet)
• взаимодействие (vzaimodeistvie)