Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'help'

English Word: help

Key Russian Translations:

• помощь /pəˈmoɕʲtɕ/ - [Noun, Formal, Singular]
• помогать /pəməˈɡatʲ/ - [Verb, Informal, Infinitive]

Frequency: High (commonly used in everyday conversations, media, and formal writing)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner for basic noun usage; B1 for verb conjugations, as it involves understanding Russian verb aspects)

Pronunciation (Russian):

помощь: /pəˈmoɕʲtɕ/

Note on помощь: The 'щ' sound is a soft, palatalized fricative, similar to 'sh' in 'shoe' but softer; stress is on the second syllable.

Audio: []

помогать: /pəməˈɡatʲ/

Note on помогать: The 'г' is a voiced velar fricative; the verb has imperfective aspect, and the final 'ть' is often softened in speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Noun: Assistance, aid, or support given to someone in need

Translation(s) & Context:

• помощь - Used in formal or everyday contexts for tangible or intangible aid, such as in emergencies or daily life.

Usage Examples:

• Я нуждаюсь в помощи от друзей. (Ya nuzhdayus' v pomoshchi ot druzey.)

  I need help from friends. (This shows the noun in a personal, informal context.)

• В чрезвычайных ситуациях скорая помощь прибывает быстро. (V chrezvychaynykh situatsiyakh skoraya pomoshch' pribyvaet bystro.)

  In emergencies, emergency help arrives quickly. (Demonstrates formal usage in official scenarios.)

• Его помощь в ремонте была неоценимой. (Yego pomoshch' v remonte byla neozenennoy.)

  His help with the repair was invaluable. (Illustrates the noun with possessive structures.)

• Помощь от государства необходима для бедных семей. (Pomoshch' ot gosudarstva neobkhodima dlya bednykh semey.)

  Help from the government is necessary for poor families. (Shows usage in social or political contexts.)

• Без твоей помощи я бы не справился. (Bez tvoey pomoshchi ya by ne spravilsya.)

  Without your help, I wouldn't have managed. (Highlights emotional or dependent scenarios.)

Verb: To assist or provide aid to someone

Translation(s) & Context:

• помогать - Used for ongoing or repeated actions; imperfective aspect, common in informal speech or narratives.

Usage Examples:

• Она всегда помогает соседям с покупками. (Ona vsegda pomogaet sosedam s pokupkami.)

  She always helps the neighbors with shopping. (This example shows habitual action in daily life.)

• Можно ли помочь с этим заданием? (Mozhno li pomoch' s etim zadaniem?)

  Can I help with this task? (Illustrates polite requests in work or educational settings.)

• Дети помогают родителям по дому. (Deti pomogayut roditelyam po domu.)

  Children help their parents around the house. (Demonstrates family dynamics and routine activities.)

• Врачи помогают пациентам выздороветь. (Vrachi pomogayut patsientam vyzdorovet'.)

  Doctors help patients recover. (Shows professional contexts with infinitive forms.)

• Он помогает мне учить русский язык. (On pomogaet mne uchit' russkiy yazyk.)

  He helps me learn the Russian language. (Highlights educational or supportive interactions.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'помощь' (feminine noun, third declension), it follows standard feminine noun patterns with inflections for case and number. It is invariable in plural forms in some contexts.

For 'помогать' (imperfective verb, first conjugation), it conjugates irregularly in some forms due to aspectual pairs. Example conjugations in present tense:

Note: The perfective counterpart is 'помочь' (pomoch'), which has its own conjugations.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • поддержка (podderzhka) - Similar to 'support', often used in emotional contexts.
  • вспоможение (vspomozhenie) - More formal, implying auxiliary aid.
• Antonyms:
  • препятствие (prepyatstvie) - Obstacle or hindrance.
  • вред (vred) - Harm or damage.

Related Phrases:

• оказать помощь (okazat' pomoshch') - To provide help; used in situations requiring immediate action.
• попросить о помощи (poprosit' o pomoshchi) - To ask for help; common in polite requests.
• взаимная помощь (vzaimnaya pomoshch') - Mutual help; implies reciprocal support in relationships.

Usage Notes:

'Помощь' as a noun directly corresponds to 'help' in English but is often used in more formal or institutional contexts, such as government aid. For the verb 'помогать', choose it for ongoing actions; pair it with its perfective form 'помочь' for completed actions. Be mindful of Russian's aspect system: 'помогать' is imperfective. In informal speech, it's common to use with prepositions like 'в' (in) or 'с' (with) to specify the type of help.

• When translating 'help' as a verb, consider the context to select the appropriate aspect.
• In formal writing, 'помощь' might require genitive case in phrases like 'нужда в помощи' (need for help).

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'помогать' with its perfective pair 'помочь'. For example, incorrectly using 'помогать' for a one-time action: Wrong: "Я помогаю ему вчера" (incorrect tense usage). Correct: "Я помог ему вчера" (I helped him yesterday). Another error is misdeclining 'помощь' in sentences, e.g., saying "Я видел помощь" instead of "Я видел помощь" (which is correct in accusative, but errors occur in other cases).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, offering 'помощь' (help) is a key value, especially in community and family settings, reflecting the concept of 'коллективизм' (collectivism). For instance, during holidays like New Year's, mutual help is emphasized, symbolizing solidarity and resilience in the face of historical challenges like the Soviet era.

Related Concepts:

• поддержка
• взаимопомощь
• спасение