Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'help'

English Word: help

Key Russian Translations:

• помощь [ˈpɐ.mɐɕʲ] - [Noun, Formal, Singular]
• помогать [pɐ.mɐˈɡatʲ] - [Verb, Informal, Imperfective]

Frequency: High (Commonly used in everyday conversations, media, and official contexts)

Difficulty: A2 (Elementary) for basic noun form; B1 (Intermediate) for verb conjugations, as it involves understanding Russian verb aspects

Pronunciation (Russian):

помощь: [ˈpɐ.mɐɕʲ]

Note on помощь: The 'щ' sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh' (like in 'fresh cheese'), which can be challenging for beginners; stress is on the first syllable.

помогать: [pɐ.mɐˈɡatʲ]

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

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

As a noun: Assistance, aid, or support provided to someone.

Translation(s) & Context:

• помощь - Used in formal or everyday contexts for general aid, such as in emergencies or daily life (e.g., medical help).

Usage Examples:

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

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

• Врачи оказывают помощь пострадавшим. (Vrachi okazyvayut pomoshch' postradavshim.)

  Doctors are providing help to the victims. (Demonstrates 'помощь' in a professional, formal setting.)

• Эта организация предоставляет финансовую помощь. (Eta organizatsiya predostavlyaet finansovuyu pomoshch'.)

  This organization provides financial help. (Illustrates 'помощь' with an adjective for specificity.)

• Без помощи невозможно закончить проект. (Bez pomoshchi nevozmozhno zakonchit' proekt.)

  Without help, it's impossible to finish the project. (Shows 'помощь' in a hypothetical or dependent clause.)

As a verb: To assist, aid, or support someone.

Translation(s) & Context:

• помогать - Used for ongoing or repeated assistance, often in informal speech (e.g., helping with tasks).

Usage Examples:

• Я помогаю маме по дому. (Ya pomogayu mame po domu.)

  I help my mom around the house. (This example uses 'помогать' in the present tense for habitual actions.)

• Друзья помогали мне в трудную минуту. (Druz'ya pomogali mne v trudnuyu minutu.)

  Friends helped me in a difficult moment. (Shows past tense usage for completed actions.)

• Он всегда помогает соседям. (On vsegda pomogaet sosedam.)

  He always helps the neighbors. (Illustrates third-person usage in a general statement.)

• Мы помогаем друг другу в учёбе. (My pomogaem drug drugu v uchebe.)

  We help each other with studying. (Demonstrates reciprocal action with pronouns.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'помощь' (feminine noun, third declension):

It follows standard feminine noun patterns with irregularities in some cases. Below is a table of its declensions:

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	помощь	помощи
Genitive	помощи	помощей
Dative	помощи	помощам
Accusative	помощь	помощи
Instrumental	помощью	помощами
Prepositional	помощи	помощах

For 'помогать' (imperfective verb, first conjugation):

It is an irregular verb in terms of aspect but follows standard conjugation patterns. Example conjugations in present tense:

Person	Singular	Plural
1st	помогаю (pomogayu)	помогаем (pomogaem)
2nd	помогаешь (pomogaesh')	помогаете (pomogaete)
3rd	помогает (pomogaet)	помогают (pomogayut)

Note: This verb pairs with its perfective counterpart 'помочь' (pomoch') for completed actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: поддержка (podderzhka) - more about emotional support; содействие (sodeystvie) - formal assistance in professional contexts.
• Antonyms: препятствие (prepyatstvie) - obstacle or hindrance.

Related Phrases:

• оказать помощь (okazat' pomoshch') - To provide help; Meaning: Used in situations requiring immediate or official assistance, e.g., in first aid.
• попросить о помощи (poprosit' o pomoshchi) - To ask for help; Meaning: Common in everyday requests, emphasizing politeness in social interactions.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'помощь' as a noun directly corresponds to 'help' in English but is often used in more formal or structured contexts, such as government aid. For the verb 'помогать', it's imperfective, so it's ideal for describing ongoing help, unlike its perfective form 'помочь' for one-time actions. Choose 'помощь' for tangible aid and 'помогать' for actions; be mindful of case agreements in sentences, e.g., always decline the noun based on its role.

Common Errors:

• Common mistake: Using 'помогать' when a perfective verb is needed, e.g., saying "Я помогаю проект" instead of "Я помогу с проектом". Correct: "Я помогаю с проектом" for ongoing help. Explanation: English speakers often overlook Russian verb aspects, leading to tense mismatches.

• Another error: Forgetting noun declension, e.g., saying "Нуждаюсь в помощь" instead of "Нуждаюсь в помощи". Correct: Always use the correct case, here genitive. Explanation: This confuses sentence structure and sounds unnatural to native speakers.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, offering 'помощь' (help) is a key value, especially in community settings like mutual aid among neighbors or in rural areas. Phrases like 'оказать помощь' reflect a cultural emphasis on collective support, rooted in historical contexts like Soviet-era communal living, which can make refusals of help seem rude.

Related Concepts:

• спасение (spaseniye)
• поддержка (podderzhka)