What is aid? Pronunciation and usage in English

aid means . Learn how to pronounce and use aid through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of aid

aidnoun

/eɪd/
Definition & pronunciation of aid

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "aid." It's a tricky one for some learners! Here's a breakdown:

The most common and generally accepted pronunciation is: /eɪd/

Let's break that down further:

  • /eɪ/: This is the key part. It's a diphthong, meaning it's a blended vowel sound. It starts like the "e" in "bed" and smoothly slides up to the sound in "hay." Think "ay" as in "day" or "say."
  • /d/: This is a simple, short "d" sound, like the end of "dad."

Putting it together: It sounds like "ay-d".

Here's a little more detail to help you:

  • Stress: The stress is on the first syllable ("ay").
  • Rhyme: It rhymes with "day," "say," or "bay."

Resources to help you hear it:

  • Google: Search "How to pronounce 'aid' in English" and you’ll find audio examples on Google.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/aid/ This website has pronunciations from native speakers.
  • YouTube: Search for "How to pronounce 'aid' in English" on YouTube for video tutorials.

To summarize, focus on that blended "ay" sound and then a short "d."

Do you want me to:

  • Break down the pronunciation further?
  • Give you some example sentences to practice with?

Usage and examples with the word aid in English

Let's break down how to use the word "aid" in English. It's a versatile word with several different meanings, so understanding the context is key. Here's a breakdown, categorized with examples:

1. As a Noun (Things That Help):

  • General Assistance: This is the most common usage. "Aid" refers to something that helps someone or something.

    • Example: "The charity provided aid to the victims of the hurricane." (Meaning: supplies, money, whatever helped the victims.)
    • Example: "Medical aid arrived quickly after the earthquake." (Meaning: medical supplies and personnel)
    • Example: "He received aid and comfort from his family during his illness." (Meaning: support and care)

  • Specific Supplies: "Aid" can refer to specific items intended to help.

    • Example: "They sent food aid to the starving country." (Meaning: packaged food supplies)
    • Example: "Prisoners received aid in the form of clothing and blankets."
    • Example: "The injured soldier received aid from the paramedics." (Meaning: first aid supplies like bandages and antiseptic.)

  • Legal Aid: Assistance with legal matters.

    • Example: “He received legal aid to represent him in court.”

2. As a Verb (To Give Help):

  • To Provide Assistance: This is the core meaning of "aid" as a verb.

    • Example: "The government will aid in rebuilding the damaged city." (Meaning: to help rebuild)
    • Example: “The training program will aid students in developing their skills.” (Meaning: to help them develop skills)
    • Example: “Donations will aid in the fight against poverty.” (Meaning: to help the fight)

  • To Promote (Less Common): Sometimes used to mean to encourage or facilitate something.

    • Example: "The new policy will aid economic growth." (Meaning: to help or promote growth)

3. Short for “Aid and Abet”:

  • This is a legal term meaning to help someone commit a crime.
    • Example: "He is accused of aid and abet in the robbery." (Meaning: he helped the robbers commit the crime.)

Here's a table summarizing the different uses:

Part of Speech Meaning Example
Noun Assistance, help "They provided humanitarian aid."
Noun Specific supplies "The package contained medical aid."
Verb To provide assistance "The company will aid in the project."
Verb To promote (less common) "The reforms will aid progress."
Legal Term To help a crime “He is accused of aid and abet.”

Tips for Using “Aid” Correctly:

  • Context is Crucial: Pay close attention to the sentence and surrounding text to understand whether "aid" is being used as a noun or a verb.
  • Synonyms: Consider using synonyms like “assistance,” “help,” “support,” “relief,” or "supplies" depending on the specific situation.

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What are you trying to write about? (e.g., a news article, a story, an email?)
  • Can you give me an example sentence where you're thinking of using "aid"?

Synonyms for the word aid

Idioms of the word aid

in aid of something/somebody
(British English)in order to help something/somebody
  • collecting money in aid of charity
what’s… in aid of?
(British English, informal)used to ask why something is happening
  • What's all this crying in aid of?

Comment ()