What is help? Pronunciation and usage in English

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

Definition & pronunciation of help

helpverb/noun

/hɛlp/
Definition & pronunciation of help

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "help" in English. It's a surprisingly tricky word for many learners!

Here's the breakdown:

The most common and generally accepted pronunciation is:

  • /hɛlp/ (rhymes with "bell" or "tell")

Let's break that down further:

  • "he": This sound is like the "e" in "bed." It's a short, open "e" sound.
  • "lp": This is the tricky part. It’s pronounced like "l" followed immediately by "p." It's NOT a long "l" sound, and it’s not a long "p" sound. They blend together quickly. Think of saying "help" really fast - the L and P almost become one sound.

Here’s a more detailed way to think about it:

  1. Start with: "He" - like "bed"
  2. Then quickly add: "Lp" - very quickly.

Resources to hear the pronunciation:

  • Google Translate: Type "help" into Google Translate, click the speaker icon, and you'll hear the pronunciation.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/help/ – This website has pronunciations from native speakers.
  • Youglish: https://youglish.com/w/help - This lets you see how the word is pronounced in actual videos - extremely helpful!

Common Mistakes:

  • Pronouncing "help": This is a very common mistake. It's adding an extra "p" sound.
  • Long "l" or long "p": Avoid making the "l" or "p" sounds longer than necessary. They are very short and blended.

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

  • What is your native language? (This helps me understand potential pronunciation challenges you might have.)

Usage and examples with the word help in English

Let's break down how to use the word "help" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word! Here's a breakdown, categorized for clarity:

1. Asking for Help (The Most Common Use)

  • "Can you help me?" - This is the standard way to ask for assistance with a task. (e.g., "Can you help me carry these groceries?")
  • "Could you help me?" - Slightly more polite than "Can you help me?"
  • "I need help." - A direct statement of needing assistance. (e.g., "I need help with this math problem.")
  • "Please help!" – Urgent request for help.
  • "Would you mind helping me?" – A polite way to ask, showing consideration for the other person’s time.

2. Offering Help

  • "I can help you." - Offering your assistance. (e.g., "I can help you with the dishes.")
  • "Let me help." - Offering to assist with a specific task. (e.g., "Let me help you move that box.")
  • "How can I help?" – Asking how you can be of assistance. (e.g., "How can I help you with your project?")

3. Giving Help (Actions)

Here, "help" is often part of a verb phrase:

  • "Help me up." - To assist someone to stand.
  • "Help him with his homework." - To assist someone with their schoolwork.
  • "Help her carry the baby." – To support someone in holding a baby.
  • "Don't help me bother you!" - To prevent someone from inconveniencing you.

4. "Help" as a Noun (Meaning Assistance)

  • "I need some help." (Referring to assistance) - "I need some help understanding this concept."
  • "He gave me a lot of help." (Referring to assistance received) - "He gave me a lot of help with my presentation."
  • "That was a lot of help!" (Expressing gratitude for assistance) - "That was a lot of help – thank you!"
  • "A helping hand": This is an idiom meaning assistance or support. – "I’m so sorry for your loss; I’m here with a helping hand."

5. "Help" as a Verb (Meaning To Assist – Less Common)

  • "I helped him with his work." – This means you actively assisted him. (Focuses on your contribution to the action.)
  • "She helped the injured bird." – You provided assistance to the bird.

6. Idiomatic Expressions with "Help"

  • "Don't count on me to help you with that." (Meaning: Don't expect me to assist you)
  • "It's raining cats and dogs – (help!)” - (A humorous exaggeration – sometimes people jokingly add "help!" when saying this.)
  • "That's a help!" (Often said with relief - meaning "That's good news!")

7. Different Levels of Formality

  • Informal: “Give me a hand!” (meaning “Help me!”)
  • Formal: “We are pleased to offer assistance.”

Resources for Further Learning:

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

  • What specifically are you trying to use "help" in? (e.g., asking for help with a specific task, talking about offering help, understanding a particular idiom?)

Synonyms for the word help

Idioms of the word help

somebody cannot help (doing) something | somebody cannot help but do something
used to say that it is impossible to prevent or avoid something
  • I can't help thinking he knows more than he has told us.
  • He can’t help being ugly.
  • She couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking.
  • It couldn't be helped (= there was no way of avoiding it and we must accept it).
  • He never does more work than he can help (= he does as little as possible).
  • I always end up having an argument with her, I don't know why, I just can't help it.
  • I couldn't help it if the bus was late (= it wasn't my fault).
  • She burst out laughing—she couldn't help herself (= couldn't stop herself).
  • She won’t be invited again, not if I can help it (= if I can do anything to prevent it).
give/lend a helping hand
to help somebody
    God/Heaven help somebody
    (informal)used to say that you are afraid somebody will be in danger or that something bad will happen to them
    • God help us if this doesn't work.
    so help me (God)
    used to swear that what you are saying is true, especially in a court of law

      Comment ()