Updated on March 6, 2024
Assistance is a powerful word that carries a significant weight in any language. It signifies the act of helping or giving aid to someone in need, and it is a fundamental aspect of human connection and compassion. The concept of assistance is deeply ingrained in various cultures and societies, and it has been a cornerstone of human civilization since the dawn of time.
Throughout history, we have seen countless examples of assistance in different forms, from small acts of kindness to large-scale humanitarian efforts. From volunteering in local communities to providing disaster relief worldwide, the spirit of assistance is alive and well in every corner of the globe.
Moreover, understanding the translation of assistance in different languages can be a valuable tool for building bridges across cultures and fostering global understanding. For instance, the French translation of assistance is 'assistance,' while the Spanish translation is 'asistencia.' Meanwhile, in German, it is 'Hilfe,' and in Mandarin Chinese, it is '援助' (yuánzhù).
In this article, we will explore the translations of assistance in various languages, shedding light on the cultural nuances and historical contexts that shape our understanding of this important concept.
Afrikaans | hulp | ||
Afrikaans 'hulp' derives from Middle Dutch 'hulpe' which is related to Scandinavian 'hjälp' and English 'help'. | |||
Amharic | እርዳታ | ||
The Amharic word 'እርዳታ' can also mean 'support' or 'aid'. | |||
Hausa | taimako | ||
"Taimako" can also mean "protection", "support", or "cooperation". | |||
Igbo | enyemaka | ||
The word "enyemaka" can also mean "help" or "support". | |||
Malagasy | assistance | ||
In Malagasy, "assistance" has the alternate meaning of "help on a trial or exam" | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | thandizo | ||
The word "thandizo" in Nyanja (Chichewa) can also mean "help" or "support". | |||
Shona | rubatsiro | ||
The word "rubatsiro" is also used to describe the act of assisting someone in a specific task or undertaking. | |||
Somali | caawimaad | ||
The term 'caawimaad' also carries the connotation of collaboration, companionship, and reciprocity. | |||
Sesotho | thuso | ||
The word 'thuso' in Sesotho also means "help" or "aid". | |||
Swahili | msaada | ||
The Swahili word "msaada" is also used to refer to a "gift" or "donation" | |||
Xhosa | uncedo | ||
Uncedo derives from 'ukucedana', 'help oneself'. | |||
Yoruba | iranlọwọ | ||
The word "iranlọwọ" can also mean "help" or "support". | |||
Zulu | usizo | ||
The Zulu word 'usizo' is also related to the word 'izo,' meaning 'something.' | |||
Bambara | dɛmɛni | ||
Ewe | kpekpeɖeŋunana amewo | ||
Kinyarwanda | ubufasha | ||
Lingala | lisalisi | ||
Luganda | obuyambi | ||
Sepedi | thušo | ||
Twi (Akan) | mmoa a wɔde ma | ||
Arabic | مساعدة | ||
The word 'مساعدة' can also mean 'aid, support, or relief' in Arabic. | |||
Hebrew | סִיוּעַ | ||
The word סִיוּעַ can also refer to a legal concept, specifically to the provision of assistance to a crime or violation. | |||
Pashto | مرسته | ||
The word "مرسته" in Pashto can also mean "sympathy" or "help". | |||
Arabic | مساعدة | ||
The word 'مساعدة' can also mean 'aid, support, or relief' in Arabic. |
Albanian | ndihmë | ||
The word "ndihmë" is derived from the proto-Albanian word *nīmā, meaning "care, help, aid". | |||
Basque | laguntza | ||
The Basque word "laguntza" derives from the Proto-Basque word *lakon-, meaning "to help". | |||
Catalan | assistència | ||
"Assistència" derives from the Latin "assistentia" meaning "presence" and can also refer to "audience" or "assembly" in Catalan. | |||
Croatian | pomoć | ||
The word "pomoć" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*pomъgь", which means "help" or "aid". | |||
Danish | hjælp | ||
The Danish word "hjælp" derives from the Old Norse word "hjalp," meaning "aid, help" or "support" in battle. | |||
Dutch | bijstand | ||
The word "bijstand" in Dutch also means "social assistance" and is derived from the Middle Dutch word "bijstant", meaning "support" or "assistance". | |||
English | assistance | ||
The word "assistance" is derived from the Latin word "assistere," meaning "to stand by or near." | |||
French | assistance | ||
In French, "assistance" can also mean "audience" or "attendance." | |||
Frisian | assistinsje | ||
In Dutch, the word "assistance" is "assistentie", which is derived from the Latin word "assistentia", meaning "standing by" or "being present". | |||
Galician | asistencia | ||
In Galician, "asistencia" is a Latinism that also means "presence" or "attendance". | |||
German | hilfe | ||
The word 'Hilfe' is derived from the Old High German word 'hilfa', which means 'help' or 'support'. | |||
Icelandic | aðstoð | ||
In Icelandic, the word "aðstoð" can also refer to a person who helps with farm work. | |||
Irish | cúnamh | ||
The Irish word "cúnamh" is cognate with the Welsh "cwnnu" and the Breton "kontañ" and means "gathering together". | |||
Italian | assistenza | ||
The origin of the word "assistenza" is the Latin "assistentia", meaning "a standing by, presence". | |||
Luxembourgish | assistenz | ||
"Assistenz" in Luxembourgish can mean not only "assistance" but also "apprenticeship" or "auxiliary". | |||
Maltese | għajnuna | ||
'Għajnuna' is derived from the Arabic word 'ghun', meaning 'help' or 'assistance', and is also used in a medical context to refer to 'first aid'. | |||
Norwegian | assistanse | ||
The etymology of "assistance" in Norwegian can be traced back to the Latin word "assistere". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | assistência | ||
The word "assistência" derives from the Latin "assistentia", meaning "presence", and can also refer to social welfare or a body of people providing such services. | |||
Scots Gaelic | cuideachadh | ||
The word "cuideachadh" is also used to refer to a gift or a kindness given to someone in need. | |||
Spanish | asistencia | ||
The word "asistencia" in Spanish is derived from the Latin "assistentia", meaning "presence or attendance"} | |||
Swedish | bistånd | ||
Bistånd, 'help', was historically a loanword from German (Beistand), but later came to be seen as a native Swedish compound from bi 'by' + stånd 'help'. | |||
Welsh | cymorth | ||
The word "cymorth" is derived from the Welsh word "cymor", meaning "comrade", and the suffix "-th", meaning "quality". It can also refer to a group of people who come together to provide help or support. |
Belarusian | дапамога | ||
The word “дапамога” is derived from the Proto-Slavic word “помога”, which means “help” or “aid”. | |||
Bosnian | pomoć | ||
The word "pomoć" is a cognate of the Polish word "pomoc", both derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*pomogti", meaning "to help". | |||
Bulgarian | помощ | ||
The word "помощ" is derived from the Proto-Slavic "*pomogti" meaning "to help". | |||
Czech | pomoc | ||
The word "pomoc" is rooted in Proto-Slavic "*pomoć" ("aid"), also cognate to Proto-Indo-European "*peh₂mo-" ("protect"), and akin to English "help" and "heal". | |||
Estonian | abi | ||
The word "abi" in Estonian originates from the Proto-Finnic word *av(i)jo, meaning "aid" or "help." | |||
Finnish | apua | ||
The word "apua" is also used in the context of giving birth, meaning "to help with the birth". | |||
Hungarian | támogatás | ||
Támogatás derives from the Hungarian verb 'támogat', meaning to prop up or shore up. | |||
Latvian | palīdzību | ||
"Palīdzību" is derived from the word "palīdzēt," which means "to help" or "to assist." | |||
Lithuanian | pagalba | ||
The word "pagalba" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂eǵʰ-, meaning "to follow". | |||
Macedonian | помош | ||
"Помош" originates from the old Slavic word "*pomogь", which also means "help" in Russian, "pomoc" in Serbian, "pomoc" in Slovenian, and "pomoć" in Croatian. | |||
Polish | wsparcie | ||
Wsparcie can also mean support or backing in Polish, not just 'assistance'. | |||
Romanian | asistenţă | ||
The Romanian word "asistenţă" ultimately derives from the Latin noun "assistentia" (presence, attendance), meaning "the state of being present". The word entered Romanian through French "assistance" which has the same meaning as its Romanian counterpart. | |||
Russian | помощь | ||
The word "помощь" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *pomog-, meaning "help" or "aid." | |||
Serbian | помоћ | ||
The word "помоћ" in Serbian can also refer to a "helper" or "assistant". | |||
Slovak | pomoc | ||
The word "pomoc" originates from the Proto-Slavic word *pomoć, meaning "to help" or "to lend a hand". | |||
Slovenian | pomoč | ||
The word "pomoč" comes from the Proto-Slavic word *pomogъ, cognate with the verb *mogtī, meaning "to be able". | |||
Ukrainian | допомога | ||
The word "допомога" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *dopomoga, meaning "help". |
Bengali | সহায়তা | ||
The word 'সহায়তা' can also mean 'help', 'support', or 'aid'. | |||
Gujarati | સહાય | ||
The Gujarati word "સહાય" can also be used to refer to a helper, an aid, or a supporter. | |||
Hindi | सहायता | ||
The word "सहायता" is also used to refer to a person who provides assistance, such as a helper or an assistant. | |||
Kannada | ನೆರವು | ||
In Kannada, 'ನೆರವು' (assistance) can also refer to support, aid, help, relief, or subsidy. | |||
Malayalam | സഹായം | ||
The Malayalam word 'സഹായം' not only means assistance, but also derives from the Sanskrit word 'sahaya', which refers to a companion or friend. | |||
Marathi | मदत | ||
' मदत' ('assistance') is a derivative of 'मद', meaning 'intoxicating drink', and is also used to refer to the act of begging for alms. | |||
Nepali | सहायता | ||
सहायता (sahayata) is derived from the Sanskrit word 'saha' meaning 'together' and 'aya' meaning 'to go', hence signifying 'going together' or 'assisting'. | |||
Punjabi | ਸਹਾਇਤਾ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සහාය | ||
The word 'සහාය' is derived from Sanskrit 'सहाय' (sahaya), meaning 'friend', 'companion', or 'ally'. | |||
Tamil | உதவி | ||
The Tamil word "உதவி" also connotes "support", "help", and "aid", reflecting its broader meaning beyond mere assistance. | |||
Telugu | సహాయం | ||
The word "సహాయం" is derived from the root word "సహ" meaning "with" or "together". | |||
Urdu | مدد | ||
The word "مدد" in Urdu is derived from the Arabic word "مد" meaning "to stretch out" and also has the alternate meanings of "help" and "support." |
Chinese (Simplified) | 帮助 | ||
The word "帮助" can also mean "to help" or "to aid". | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 幫助 | ||
The word "幫助" is also used in the phrase "self-help," which refers to taking action to improve oneself without relying on outside assistance. | |||
Japanese | 援助 | ||
Historically, 援助 was used in legal contexts meaning "to rescue," and in Buddhist contexts as "to provide (spiritual) guidance" | |||
Korean | 보조 | ||
보조 translates literally as "help to walk" and can refer to both literal assistance with walking or figurative assistance with accomplishing something. | |||
Mongolian | тусламж | ||
The word "тусламж" also means "help" or "cooperation". | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | အကူအညီ | ||
Indonesian | pendampingan | ||
"Pendampingan" is derived from the Indonesian word "damping", meaning "to accompany" or "to guide". In Javanese, it can also mean "to assist" or "to help". | |||
Javanese | pitulungan | ||
In Old Javanese, the word "pitulungan" also carries the meaning of "reward" or "payment" for a service. | |||
Khmer | ជំនួយ | ||
The word "ជំនួយ" (assistance) in Khmer is derived from the Pali word "sannutti" or the Sanskrit word "sanniyata", both meaning "to come close". It also means "to provide support or help". | |||
Lao | ການຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອ | ||
Malay | pertolongan | ||
The Malay word "pertolongan" (assistance) is ultimately derived from the Sanskrit word "pratyarthi" (help), and its other meanings include "help" and "aid". | |||
Thai | ความช่วยเหลือ | ||
The Thai word "ความช่วยเหลือ" is also used figuratively to indicate "assistance by advice or information" | |||
Vietnamese | hỗ trợ | ||
The word "hỗ trợ" is derived from Chinese 助, and also means "to prop up" or "to help someone stand up." | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | tulong | ||
Azerbaijani | yardım | ||
"Yardım" is ultimately derived from Middle Persian "ayār" ("aid, succour"). The same word, via Arabic, gave the Turkish word "yardım" ("aid"), with the same sense. | |||
Kazakh | көмек | ||
The word "көмек" (kömek) can also mean "aid" or "support" in Kazakh. | |||
Kyrgyz | жардам | ||
"Жардам" means "assistance" in Kyrgyz and its root, "жар-," can also mean "burning" or "heat". | |||
Tajik | кӯмак | ||
"Кӯмак" is Persian for "help" or "succor". | |||
Turkmen | kömek | ||
Uzbek | yordam | ||
The word "yordam" is derived from the Persian word "yardam" which also means "assistance". | |||
Uyghur | ياردەم | ||
Hawaiian | kōkua | ||
"Kōkua" also means "support," "encouragement," and "help." | |||
Maori | awhina | ||
The term 'awhina' also has connotations of 'helping to uplift' and 'support', conveying the idea of empowering individuals or communities. | |||
Samoan | fesoasoani | ||
The Samoan word "fesoasoani" is derived from "fesoasoanivaa", which means "to help carry". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | tulong | ||
"Tulong" is derived from the root word "tulong", which means "to support" or "to help". |
Aymara | yanapt’awinaka | ||
Guarani | pytyvõ | ||
Esperanto | helpo | ||
The word "helpo" derives from the Old English word "help" and the root "ghalb-," meaning "to seize or conquer." | |||
Latin | auxilium | ||
In Latin, "auxilium" also signified "infantry" or "allied troops". |
Greek | βοήθεια | ||
The Greek word "βοήθεια" not only means "assistance", but also implies a "cry for help" | |||
Hmong | kev pab | ||
The word "kev pab" shares its etymology with the word "pab" (to help) and the word "pab" (to ask for help). | |||
Kurdish | alîkarî | ||
The word "alîkarî" in Kurdish shares the same root with the word "alîkar" which means "helper" or "assistant" in Turkish. | |||
Turkish | yardım | ||
Yardım originates from the Persian word 'yard' meaning 'support' and 'assistance' | |||
Xhosa | uncedo | ||
Uncedo derives from 'ukucedana', 'help oneself'. | |||
Yiddish | הילף | ||
The Yiddish word "הילף" ("assistance") is derived from the Middle High German word "hilf," meaning "help." | |||
Zulu | usizo | ||
The Zulu word 'usizo' is also related to the word 'izo,' meaning 'something.' | |||
Assamese | সহায় | ||
Aymara | yanapt’awinaka | ||
Bhojpuri | सहायता दिहल जाला | ||
Dhivehi | އެހީތެރިކަން ފޯރުކޮށްދިނުން | ||
Dogri | सहायता दी | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | tulong | ||
Guarani | pytyvõ | ||
Ilocano | tulong | ||
Krio | ɛp fɔ ɛp dɛn | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | هاوکاری | ||
Maithili | सहायता | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯇꯦꯡ ꯄꯥꯡꯕꯥ꯫ | ||
Mizo | tanpuina pek a ni | ||
Oromo | gargaarsa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସହାୟତା | ||
Quechua | yanapay | ||
Sanskrit | सहायता | ||
Tatar | ярдәм | ||
Tigrinya | ሓገዝ ምግባር | ||
Tsonga | mpfuneto | ||