how to ask a friend for help with homework in spanish

Asking for Help In Spanish

Here are some useful phrases for when you need a hand in Spanish!

¿ Tienes un momentito (e.g. para ayudarme con la cena)? – Have you got a moment (e.g. to help me with dinner)?

¿Me puedes echar una mano (e.g. con mis deberes)? Can you lend me a hand (e.g. with my homework)?

Juan me echó un cable en la reunión cuando me quedé en blanco – Juan helped me out in the meeting when I went blank/couldn’t remember what I was going to say.

Si mi suegra se enrolla mucho, ¡ échame un capote y dime que me necesitas! – If my mother in law starts going on and on, help me out and tell me that you need me!

(Note, echar un capote is a phrase that comes from the world of bullfighting, when the capote , or cape, was used by other bullfighters to distract a bull from further attacking an injured bullfighter on the ground – it’s a common phrase but does not mean that we condone bullfighting!)

Notice a few other great Real Spanish phrases from the above sentences:

– Quedarse en blanco – to go blank / forget what you want to say

– Enrollarse – to go and on

Not Spanish, But Great Anyway: Lending friends a hand!

I want to ‘ echar un cable ‘ to two great initiatives which, although they are not directly Spanish-learning related, you might like, or know someone who will.

First of all, my friend John and I have launched a site called Making Time To Live – it’s about getting out, away from the screen, and being more creative, and we’d love people all round the world to join in.

Check it out here: https://makingtimetolive.com/

Secondly, people often ask us if there is a ‘Notes in English’ – for Spanish friends or intercambios learning English – we don’t have one, but a great friend of mine has set up ingles.fm which works very much along Notes in Spanish lines, and is run by very talented people. Pass it on to your English learning Spanish friends!

Check it out here: https://ingles.fm/ (they also have a sale on at the moment, so it’s a good time to tell people about it!)

¡Buen fin de semana a todos!

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Here’s How To Ask For Help In Spanish [Formal And Informal]

• Read time 7 mins

If you’re ever in a situation where you need help in a Spanish-speaking country, you’re going to need to know how to ask for it.

In circumstances like this, knowing the correct Spanish phrases can save your life (even literally!).

It’s better to know the phrase before you travel and it’s always good to be prepared for emergencies just in case.

In this article, you’ll learn how to say “help” in Spanish in different ways for different circumstances.

Let’s start with the basics.

How do you say “help” in Spanish?

The most common way to say “help” in Spanish is the word ayuda .

On its own, it can be used in severe circumstances.

Say a un ladrón or una ladrona (that’s a thief) steals your purse, you might shout ¡ayuda! to get the attention of passers-by.

Even though auyda is one way to ask for help, it might not always be correct as this is technically a noun, not an imperative or verb.

Depending on who you’re asking for help, there are many ways to request assistance in serious scenarios.

Here’s how to conjugate the verb ayudar in the imperative mood, which only has four different verb conjugations :

How to use the ayudar in the imperative mood

Most of the time you might find yourself using the imperative mood when asking for help.

For example, if you were involved in a hit and run accident and you need one person’s help, you would say ¡ayúdeme! with an e in the middle.

This is the formal way of addressing a stranger as it uses the usted version.

If you’re asking for help from a friend in a serious scenario, the word you’d use is ¡ayúdame! with an a in the middle, (which is an informal way to ask for help as it uses the tú version).

Again, this is an imperative phrase.

And if you’re asking for help from a group of strangers, you’d say ayúdenme .

This is the imperative, formal, plural usted version.

How do you pronounce ayúdeme?

The correct way to pronounce ayúdeme is ah-yoo-deh-meh.

The emphasis of the word is on the letter u as indicated by the tilde (accent mark).

Ayúdame is pronounced ah-yoo-dah-meh, again with emphasis in the letter u , and we pronounce ayúda like this: ah-yoo-dah. But…

…What are some other ways to say “help” in Spanish?

But there are certainly other scenarios where you’ll need to ask for help in Spanish.

Let’s check out some of the other examples in the table below.

How should you ask for assistance in a shop?

One common situation where you’ll need to ask for help is in the supermarket.

Say you find yourself searching for a particular brand of food in the supermercado one day, and for some reason, you just can’t find it!

What’s the correct way to ask for assistance in situations like these?

You could start by getting the store assistant’s attention with perdone , which means “excuse me” in Spanish.

Then, follow this with ¿me puede ayudar? and not ¿me puedes ayudar? as the correct version to use is the formal one because you don’t personally know the store assistant.

In some situations, you’ll typically hear shop assistants asking you ¿le puedo asistir? if you’re looking a little lost and unsure where to find what you’re looking for.

Note, they’re also using the formal version and not ¿te puedo asistir?

Pedir vs preguntar: when should you use each of these verbs when asking for help?

If you’re looking for ways to ask for help in Spanish, you might have done a quick translation and found that preguntar and pedir are synonyms meaning “to ask”.

While they have similar meanings, in the context of asking for help in Spain, we use the phrase pedir ayuda .

For example, if you can see that someone is struggling to cut the grass in their garden, you might tell them to pide ayuda a alguien con la césped .

In this case, you notice that the verb pedir needs to be conjugated and takes the imperative form in this situation.

Use the verb preguntar when you have a question, as that’s what this Spanish word means. For instance, if you’re studying a Spanish course and are unsure about how to conjugate the verb pedir , you might ask:

Una pregunta—¿cómo se conjuga el verbo pedir?

How should you offer assistance to someone in Spanish?

There are formal and informal ways to offer assistance to someone in Spanish.

If you’re helping a friend with an errand, like offering to drive them somewhere, you might say ¿te ayudo? or ¿te echo una mano? which mean “should I help you?” or “should I give you a hand?” respectively.

The phrase dar una mano is a simple Spanish idiom that’s similar to the English version “give someone a hand” .

Some variations of this idiom include ¿me das una mano? (which is the informal way of asking someone to give you a hand) and the imperative version dame una mano .

When you use this idiom to ask for help, in any of its many versions, keep in mind that mano is a feminine noun, which is why you would use the feminine article una .

You shouldn’t say ¿me das un mano?

If you’re offering a stranger help, because you don’t know them, you should treat them with respect and use the usted version – ¿le doy una mano?

The phrase you might alternatively use is ¿le ayudo? and the full phrase for this particular situation would be:

¿Le ayudo a cruzar la calle, señor/a?

How should you ask for help in serious scenarios in Spanish?

You could find yourself in an extreme situation and need someone’s help.

If you’ve got home from work and found someone unconscious in your home, socorro is the phrase to use.

It’s a commonly used word in very severe scenarios that you’ll hear in Spanish speaking countries.

Using the subjunctive when asking quiero que me ayudes

Some scenarios might not be as grave as the situation above.

You might want to reiterate to your partner that you want help with chores around the house; that’s where you would use quiero que me ayudes .

Now, quiero que me ayudes uses the subjunctive mood , which means the verb ayudar in this case is conjugated in the subjunctive tense and uses an e instead of an a.

What you should remember when asking someone for help more than once is that you might need to use the subjunctive tense , which is used for three main reasons:

• This scenario hasn’t happened—the partner has not helped out around the house and it is a hypothetical situation.
• There are two people or subjects present in the sentence which is indicated by the full version of this sentence ( yo quiero que tu me ayudes ).
• The word que regularly indicates that the subjunctive mood should be used.

Asking for help in Spanish: key points to remember

If you find yourself needing to ask for help in Spanish, here are the key things to remember:

The common way to ask for help in serious situations is socorro .

If you need help in a supermarket or retail store, start with perdone , then ask ¿me puede ayudar?

The idiom dar una mano can be used in informal and formal situations depending on who you’re offering help to.

Now you’ve got the right expressions and vocab, ask for help in Spanish with confidence and solve difficult situations without fear.

Can you share any other ways to ask for help in Spanish?

Write it in the comments section below.

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Essential Chunks and Phrases to Ask for HELP in Spanish in ANY Situation

Welcome to Spring Spanish! In this article, te voy a enseñar cómo pedir ayuda en español (I am going to teach you how to ask for help in Spanish). Entonces, ¿me ayudas? (So, can you help me?) You will learn some of the most useful chunks que te ayudarán (that will help you) to ask for help in any situation!

1. Useful phrases to ask for help in Spanish

¡ayúdame a ayudarte.

This literally means “HELP ME TO HELP YOU”

Disculpe, ¿podría ayudarme? or Disculpa, ¿podrías ayudarme? (Excuse me, could you help me?)

We use Disculpe in formal situations, when we use usted , while in informal situations, we use  Disculpa , when we use tú .

If you are in doubt about when to use Usted or Tú , then check out the video that Paulisima, another Spring Spanish teacher, made to teach you the difference.

Necesito ayuda, por favor . (I need help, please.)

This phrase is usually accompanied by a preposition, like para (to).

Necesito ayuda para … (I need help to…)

• … encontrar (to find something), e.g. un hotel (a hotel), el aeropuerto (the airport), un taxi (a taxi), una tienda (a store), un parque (a park), la estación de tren (the train station), la estación de policía (the police station) .
• … marcar un número telefónico internacional (to dial an international phone number)
• … enamorar a un chico (to make a boy fall for me). —And once you are in love, then check Cory’s video about the Language of love and seduce him or her in Spanish 🤭

¿Puede(s) o podría(s)? (Can you? or Could you?)

This question will be used with complementary verbs such as:

• ¿Puedes pasarme la pluma? (Can you give me the pen?) 
• ¿Podrías despertarme mañana? (Could you wake me up tomorrow?)
• ¿Puede ayudarme con mi tarea? (Can you help me with my homework?)
• ¿Podría manejar más lento? (Could you drive more slowly?) — Please use this one when you are on a taxi in Mexico City. It would be really useful!

¿Me ayudas? (Could you help me?) or ¡Ayúdame, por favor ! (Help me, please!)

• ¿Me ayudas a hacer el desayuno? (Can you help me to make breakfast?)
• Ayúdame a cargar esto, por favor. (Help me to carry this, please.)

¿Te importaría? (Would you mind?)

• ¿Te importaría traerme una botella con agua? (Would you mind bringing me a water bottle?)
• ¿Te importaría llamar a tu mamá? (Would you mind calling your mother?)
• ¿Te importaría llevarme al aeropuerto? (Would you mind driving me to the airport?)

¿Me echas una mano? (Can you give me a hand?)

• ¿Me echas una mano con las bolsas? (Can you give me a hand with the bags?)

¿Puedo pedirte un favor? (Can I ask you for a favor?) or ¿Me podrías hacer un favor? (Could you do me a favor?)

By the way, in Mexico we love sarcasm, so Mexican moms will use a typical phrase that sounds similar to this one, but without the question marks:

• ¿Me podrías hacer EL favor de recoger tu cuarto? (Could you do me THE favor of picking up your bedroom?) 

So, in this case, she is not asking, she is demanding you to do it.

2. Bonus phrases to ask for help in Spanish in emergency situations

Well guys, now you have lots of chunks to use on your next trip or to impress your Spanish speaker friends. However, I have some bonus phrases if you ever find yourself in an undesirable situation (I hope you don’t), but just in case then please bear in mind the following phrases:

• You are getting robbed or need someone to help: ¡Auxilio! Socorro! Ayúdenme!
• You need to call the ER: ¿Podrías llamar al 911, por favor?
• You need an ambulance: ¿Puedes pedir una ambulancia?
• You need a pharmacy: Necesito ayuda para encontrar una farmacia .
• You need to go to the police station: ¿Te importaría llevarme a la estación de policía?

And if you ever need help to ask where to find something, you could use any of these:

• ¿Dónde está _______? (when asking for specific places) or ¿Dónde hay _______? (when asking for any place)
• ¿Dónde está el hotel “Las Maravillas” / la embajada Americana (the US Embassy) / la estación de policía (the police station)?   
• ¿Dónde hay un hotel (a hotel) / una farmacia (a drug store) / un hospital (a hospital) ? 

3. Learn Spanish with FREE Spanish Training

Ahora que ya sabes cómo pedir ayuda (now that you know how to ask for help), ¿por qué no te ayudas a aprender español? (Why don’t you help yourself in learning Spanish? ) We have a whole series of Spanish beginner videos, so feel free to check them out on our channel! 

And if you want to learn more chunks and to understand how our chunk method works to improve your Spanish in less time, then sign up to the free training we are offering on our website. By doing so, you will have access to free sample Spanish lessons straight from our Academy!

Traveler, Dog Lover and Creative, are just a few characteristics of María-Fernanda. She is from the beautiful South East Coast in Mexico where "La Bamba" song was born: Veracruz. María Fernanda is a great company if you want to spend your days laughing, learning fun facts and dancing salsa, merengue, bachata or whatever that makes you shake it! She considers herself an ambassador of her country and Spanish Language, as she loves sharing about her culture to the people of the places she has been, so far more than 50 countries in the world and lived in 5 of them while studying abroad.

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• Asking For Help in Spanish

Learning how to ask for help in Spanish is a crucial skill, enabling effective communication and assistance during your language journey. Familiarise yourself with phrases such as "¿Puedes ayudarme?" (Can you help me?) and "Necesito ayuda" (I need help), to confidently seek support in various situations. Mastering these expressions will not only enhance your linguistic proficiency but also enrich your interactions and experiences in Spanish-speaking environments.

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What dictates the choice between using 'tú' and 'usted' when asking for help in the Spanish language?

When asking for directions in Spanish, how should you start your question to be polite?

Why is learning how to ask for help in Spanish important?

In a scenario where you didn't understand directions given in Spanish, what could you say?

Which phrase would you use to ask for a typical dish recommendation in a Spanish-speaking region?

What are the polite expressions to start a request for help in Spanish?

Why is it important to specify the type of help you need in Spanish?

What is important to remember about asking for help in Spanish-speaking countries regarding cultural etiquette?

How does asking for help in Spanish broaden your communication skills?

How can knowing how to ask for help in Spanish boost your confidence?

What is the correct way to ask for help in Spanish using a polite expression?

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Why Learning How to Ask for Help in Spanish is Important

Mastering the skill of asking for help in Spanish can significantly broaden your linguistic reach and improve your confidence in a variety of situations. Whether you find yourself in a Spanish-speaking country or interacting with Spanish speakers, knowing how to express your need for assistance is crucial. This skill not only enhances your communication abilities but also opens up a world of opportunities for deeper cultural understanding and connection.

Broadening Your Communication Skills in Spanish

Expanding your ability to ask for help in Spanish does more than just allow you to communicate basic needs; it deepens your understanding of the language and culture. To effectively ask for help, you must understand the nuances of politeness and formality in Spanish, which can vary widely depending on the region and context. This knowledge can significantly enhance your overall communication skills in Spanish, making your interactions more meaningful and fulfilling.

Here are a few phrases to get started:

• ¿Puede ayudarme? - Can you help me?
• ¿Me podría dar una mano? - Could you lend me a hand?
• Necesito ayuda con esto. - I need help with this.

Note: Remembering to use the polite form ( usted ) when necessary can make a big difference in how your request is received.

Adding a smile and saying 'por favor' (please) can make your request for help much more well-received.

Building Confidence in New Situations

Knowing how to effectively ask for help in Spanish can significantly boost your confidence when faced with new or challenging situations. Whether you are navigating public transportation, ordering food in a restaurant, or seeking medical assistance, the ability to ask for and receive help is empowering. As your fluency and confidence grow, so does your willingness to engage in conversations, explore new places, and make the most of your experiences in Spanish-speaking environments.

Practicing these phrases can help build your confidence:

• No entiendo, ¿puede explicarlo otra vez? - I don't understand, can you explain it again?
• ¿Habla inglés? - Do you speak English?
• Estoy perdido/a, ¿me podría ayudar? - I'm lost, could you help me?

The more you practice, the more naturally these phrases will come to you in real-life situations, reducing anxiety and enabling more seamless interactions.

Key Phrases for Asking for Help in Spanish

Knowing how to politely ask for help in Spanish is a valuable skill that can improve communication in everyday situations. This guide focuses on the key phrases and vocabulary needed to navigate Spanish-speaking environments with confidence.

Polite Expressions to Start Your Request

When asking for help in Spanish, starting with a polite expression can set a positive tone for the interaction. It shows respect for the person you're asking for help and increases the likelihood of a helpful response.

Polite expressions include:

• Disculpe - Excuse me
• Perdón - Pardon
• Por favor - Please

These expressions should be the first words in any request for assistance, demonstrating good manners and respect for the person you are addressing.

Example: Disculpe, ¿podría ayudarme? - Excuse me, could you help me?

Remember, Disculpe is used to politely get someone's attention, while Perdón is used both to get attention and to apologize.

Essential Vocabulary for Everyday Assistance

The vocabulary for asking for help in everyday situations involves specific words and phrases designed to clearly communicate your needs. Familiarizing yourself with these terms can make navigating Spanish-speaking environments much easier.

Essential Vocabulary:

Example: Necesito ayuda urgente con este mapa. - I need urgent help with this map.

Understanding how to frame your request can significantly affect the outcome of your interaction. When in need of specific assistance, including the context can be immensely helpful. For instance, instead of simply stating you need help, specify the type of help you're looking for. This detail enables the person you're asking to better understand how they can assist you.

For example: Necesito información sobre cómo llegar al museo. - I need information on how to get to the museum. In this case, specifying that you need information on how to get somewhere makes it easier for the other person to provide precise directions or advice.

Using the word urgente should be reserved for situations that require immediate attention to convey the seriousness of your request.

Understanding the Nuances of Asking for Help in Spanish

Successfully navigating social interactions in Spanish-speaking countries involves more than just direct translation of words; it requires an understanding of cultural nuances and etiquette. Grasping the subtleties of asking for help in Spanish can enhance your communication skills, making your requests more effective and culturally sensitive.

Cultural Tips for Asking for Aid in Spanish-speaking Countries

When asking for help in Spanish-speaking countries, being aware of cultural expectations is crucial. These tips can guide you to ask for aid respectfully and effectively.

Firstly, always begin with a greeting and a polite phrase such as 'Disculpe' (Excuse me) or 'Por favor' (Please). Secondly, use the formal 'you' ( usted ) when addressing strangers, especially those who appear to be older or in a position of authority, out of respect. Lastly, showing gratitude with 'muchas gracias' (thank you very much) after receiving help not only is polite but also fosters a positive interaction.

Personal space and body language matter; maintain a respectful distance and be mindful of your gestures when asking for help.

The Difference Between Formal and Informal Requests

The Spanish language has distinct forms of address for formal and informal situations, which impacts how requests for help are made. Understanding when to use tú (informal) and usted (formal) can make a big difference in your interactions.

In general, use tú with people you know well, like friends or family, and usted in situations requiring a degree of respect or formality, such as speaking with professionals or elders. This distinction is not just about verb conjugation but also involves choosing appropriate phrases that match the level of formality.

For instance, an informal request for help amongst friends could be '¿Me puedes ayudar?' ( Can you help me? using tú ), while a formal request may look like '¿Podría ayudarme?' ( Could you help me? using usted ). Although both phrases convey the same request, the verb form and pronoun used signal the necessary level of respect for the situation.

Informal Request: A casual plea for aid, typically used among peers or in relaxed social settings.

Formal Request: A polite and respectful solicitation for assistance, suitable in more serious or respectful contexts.

Example of a Formal Request: 'Disculpe, señor, ¿podría indicarme cómo llegar a la estación de tren?' - Excuse me, sir, could you tell me how to get to the train station?

Example of an Informal Request: 'Oye, ¿me ayudas con esto?' - Hey, can you help me with this?

Practice Scenarios for Asking for Help in Spanish

Enhancing your ability to ask for help in Spanish through practice scenarios is a practical approach to becoming more fluent and confident in real-world situations. Below you’ll find guidance on navigating common situations where asking for help is necessary, alongside interactive examples to cement your learning.

Navigating Common Situations Where You Might Need Help

Finding yourself in situations where you need assistance is common, especially in environments where Spanish is widely spoken. Whether you're trying to navigate public transportation, order food in a restaurant, or require medical assistance, knowing how to ask for help is essential.

Consider these scenarios and accompanying phrases:

• Getting directions: ¿Puede mostrarme en el mapa cómo llegar a...? (Can you show me on the map how to get to...?)
• Ordering food: ¿Me recomienda un plato típico de la región? (Can you recommend a typical dish from the region?)
• Seeking medical aid: Necesito ver a un médico, ¿dónde está el hospital más cercano? (I need to see a doctor, where is the nearest hospital?)

Remember, being polite by starting with Disculpe (Excuse me) and ending with Gracias (Thank you) will always facilitate a better response.

Using gestures can help convey your message when words fail, but always be respectful of cultural norms.

Interactive Examples to Strengthen Your Skills

To truly master asking for help in Spanish, engaging with interactive examples can provide both the practice and confidence needed for real-life interactions. These examples simulate everyday scenarios, encouraging you to apply what you’ve learned in a dynamic context.

Imagine you are lost in a large Spanish-speaking city. You approach someone for directions to your hotel, using the phrase Disculpe, estoy perdido/a, ¿podría indicarme cómo llegar al hotel...? (Excuse me, I’m lost, could you direct me to the hotel...?). The person responds but speaks quickly, and you don’t catch everything they say. Here, you can follow up with ¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor? (Can you speak slower, please?) or No entiendo, ¿puede repetirlo? (I don’t understand, can you repeat that?).

Interactive Scenario: Using an app or a language exchange partner, try simulating the scenario where you need to report a lost item to the police: Disculpe, quisiera reportar un objeto perdido. ¿Me puede ayudar? (Excuse me, I would like to report a lost item. Can you help me?)This practice encourages you to think on your feet and adapt the learned phrases to the specific needs of a conversation.

Practice Scenario: A simulated situation designed to mirror real-life contexts where language skills can be applied and tested.

Asking For Help in Spanish - Key takeaways

• Asking for help in Spanish is important for broadening communication skills, fostering cultural understanding, and building confidence in various social situations.
• Key phrases for asking for help in Spanish include polite requests such as "¿Puede ayudarme?" (Can you help me?) and expressions of courtesy like "Disculpe" (Excuse me), "Perdón" (Pardon), and "Por favor" (Please).
• Understanding cultural nuances, such as using the formal "usted" for respect and incorporating appropriate body language, is crucial when to ask for help in Spanish.
• The Spanish language distinguishes between formal and informal requests, with "usted" used in formal contexts, while "tú" is used informally amongst friends or in relaxed environments.
• To improve the ability to ask for help in Spanish, engaging with interactive examples and practicing scenarios like reporting a lost item or seeking directions can be very effective.

Flashcards in Asking For Help in Spanish 12

'Tú' is used for informal situations with friends or family, while 'usted' is for formal contexts like speaking with professionals or elders.

Starting with 'Oye' (Hey) is the most direct approach.

Because it is a requirement for all Spanish language learners to focus only on asking for help.

¿El hotel está lejos? (Is the hotel far?)

¿Me puede dar la carta?

You should start with phrases like ¿Qué tal? (How are you?), Buenas tardes (Good afternoon).

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What dictates the choice between using 'tú' and 'usted' when asking for help in the Spanish language?

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How to ask for help in Spanish: A Conversation Guide

Do you know how to ask for help in Spanish in case of an emergency? 

Let’s not be dramatic, but how would you ask for help if you get lost in a secluded beach town in Mexico? 

Learning how to ask for help in Spanish is a crucial topic when learning the language. However, there are different ways to do it, and not all apply to every situation. 

To achieve fluency in Spanish, you must learn to recognize these situations and the correct vocabulary to use in each one. 

Keep reading if you wish to understand the importance of knowing how to ask for help in Spanish and learn basic vocabulary and phrases to ask for help in Spanish. 

You will learn about different scenarios and conversation examples and when you need to apply your newly acquired knowledge in the Spanish language.

Join 559 million people on the planet who speak Spanish! Sign up for your free trial Spanish class today. ➡️

The Importance of Knowing How to Ask for Help in Spanish

Knowing how to ask for help in your language is vital, as you never know when you might need it.

Well, asking for help in Spanish is the same, especially if you’re in a Spanish-speaking country or community. 

Communicating is the primary function of any language. However, some ideas are more urgent to communicate than others, including asking for help. 

Knowing how to order your drinks at a Mexican beach town is nice, but you must also know how to communicate your message to the locals in an emergency.

Take a look at 100+ Basic Spanish Words and Phrases for Travelers  

Basic vocabulary and Phrases for Requesting Help

So, how do you say help in Spanish? Well, the Spanish word for help is ayuda , but as you may know by now, things aren’t as simple as that in Spanish. Let me explain. 

In case of an emergency, you can simply say ¡ayuda! and people will come to help you. 

However, in Spanish, help is also a verb that takes the form of ayudar . Let’s look at the present, simple past, and future tense conjugations of the verb help in Spanish.

Other words you can use to say help in Spanish are socorro, auxilio , and ayúdame or ayúdeme . 

These last two terms translate as help me in Spanish, and their only difference is that ayúdame is informal while ayúdeme is formal. 

However, during an emergency, the formality of the word isn’t that important. 

Phrases and Questions to Ask for Help in Spanish

The following are some of the most common phrases and questions used to ask for help in Spanish: 

Can you help me? 

This simple question can be translated in multiple ways to Spanish. Let’s see the most usual ones. 

¿Me ayudas? ( informal )

¿Me ayuda? (formal)

¿Me puedes ayudar? (informal)

¿Me puede ayudar? (formal)

Could you help me?

Similar to the previous question, just change “can” to “could”  to make it slightly more polite. 

¿Podrías ayudarme? (informal) 

¿Podría ayudarme? (formal)

Add por favor at the end of these six questions, and you’ll have the same as “Can you help me please?” and “Could you help me please?”

Would you mind helping me?

A not-so-direct variant signals that your need for help isn’t that urgent or desperate. 

¿Te importaría ayudarme? (informal)

¿Le importaría ayudarme? (formal)

Can somebody help me? 

This question is usually asked after a couple of initial but unanswered tries for help. 

¿Puede alguien ayudarme?

I need help

A straightforward request for help.  

Necesito ayuda

Could you give me a hand? 

The first time we don’t include the word “help” in this lesson. 

The same thing happens in Spanish. The word ayuda is replaced by the idiom of dar una mano, which means the same as in English: to lend a hand or to help someone.

¿Me podrías dar una mano?

¿Me das una mano?

Different Scenarios Where Asking for Help May Be Necessary

Let’s go through different scenarios where asking for help or even offering to help in Spanish may be necessary. 

Imagine that you’re buying clothes at a shop in Argentina and need help from the shop assistant. 

How would you ask for help? Which option of those seen above would apply in this case? 

Miss, can you help me, please? 

Señorita, ¿podría ayudarme, por favor?

In a Government Office

Let’s say you’re doing some tedious but urgent paperwork at a government office, and you’re lost. 

They asked you to provide a specific document, but you don’t know where is the office you’re supposed to get it. What do you do? 

How do you ask for help in Spanish in this case? Well, you just approach the nearest person that looks like they work there and ask directly. 

Excuse me, I need help. 

Disculpe, necesito ayuda. 

In an Emergency

This might be the most dramatic scenario. 

You just had a terrible car crash, and you need help to take your friend out of the car. A few bystanders are looking at you and the scene, but no one’s helping. 

How do you ask them to help you in Spanish? 

Help me to take him out of the car! 

¡Ayúdenme a sacarlo del carro!

You Got Lost

In this scenario, you got lost in the woods or perhaps fell off a cliff and broke a leg, and there’s nobody around to be seen. 

Which is the way to ask for help in this situation?

¡Socorro! (you could also shout ¡Auxilio! to the same effect) 

Cultural Considerations and Polite Language

As you continue developing your Spanish language skills, you’ll become more accustomed to the formal (tú, vosotros) and informal (usted, ustedes) versions of the 2nd person in Spanish. 

Actually, in the vocabulary studied above, when you read “formal” and “informal,” it was nothing else but to let you know which of the 2nd person conjugations we were using at the time. 

However, a few cultural considerations are important to note when talking about how to ask for help in Spanish. 

For starters, the language in Spain is much more informal than in Latin America. 

Spanish people rarely use the usted or ustedes and often avoid the por favor and gracias . In a nutshell, they cut to the chase and go straight to the point. 

On the other hand, Latin American people use a language still imbued with past centuries’ formality. 

Colombia, for instance, rarely uses the tú as a conjugation, while no Latin American person ever uses the vosotros conjugation.

Practical Examples and Dialogues in Spanish

In this conversation practice, we’ll take you through a few examples of how to ask for help and how the conversation may develop. 

Dialogue #1 – In a Shop

A – Hi, can you help me, please?  

B – Yeah, sure. What do you need?

A – I’m looking for this medium-sized T-shirt, but I can’t find any. 

B – Let me take a look. 

A – Thank you very much.

A – Hola, ¿me puede ayudar por favor?

B – Sí claro, ¿qué necesita?

A – Estoy buscando esta camiseta en tamaño mediano, pero no encuentro ninguna. 

B – Déjeme ver.   

A- Muchas gracias. 

Dialogue #2 – A Flat Tire

A –  What happened?

B – I’ve got a flat tire. Could you give me a hand?

A – Sure.

B – Thank you!

A – ¿Qué pasó? 

B – Se me ponchó una llanta. ¿Podrías darme una mano?

A – Por supuesto. 

B – ¡Gracias! 

Dialogue #3 – In a Car Crash

A – Help! Can somebody help me?

B – Yes, we’re here. What do you need?

A – I can’t unlock my seatbelt. Can you help me with that? 

B – Sure, done! 

A – Thank you very much! 

A – ¡Auxilio! ¿Puede alguien ayudarme? 

B – Sí, aquí estamos. ¿Qué necesitas?

A – No puedo desconectar mi cinturón de seguridad, ¿me puedes ayudar con eso?

B – Seguro, ¡listo!

A – ¡Muchas gracias!

When Asking for Help in Spanish, Practice Makes Perfect

Like most things in life, mastering how to ask for help in Spanish requires a lot of practice. 

Because you may learn the needed vocabulary or the proper phrases, but languages are complex creatures, and practicing it is the only way to learn its hidden intricacies. 

Only then you can feel the need for an extra por favor or gracias , or in which situation might be better to use the correct phrase. 

These 50 Simple Spanish Questions to Ask in a Conversation can help you to keep practicing at home. 

Another option would be to sign up today for a free trial class with one of our certified, native Spanish-speaking teachers from Guatemala and start speaking Spanish from your first class. 

No payments or credit cards are required. We offer flexible scheduling and student-tailored Spanish programs.  

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“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

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