Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Vocabulary
Reload this Page Ayudar vs. Auxiliar
Register Help/FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Search

Ayudar vs. Auxiliar

 

Vocab questions, definitions, usage, etc

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1
Old September 25, 2010, 09:05 AM
laepelba's Avatar
laepelba laepelba is offline
Diamond
  
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Suburbs of Washington, DC (Northern Virginia)
Posts: 4,683
Native Language: American English (Northeastern US)
laepelba is on a distinguished road
Send a message via AIM to laepelba Send a message via Yahoo to laepelba
Ayudar vs. Auxiliar
Are these two words completely interchangeable as synonyms, or are there different situations in which one or the other is used? Thanks!
__________________
- Lou Ann, de Washington, DC, USA
Específicamente quiero recibir ayuda con el español de latinoamerica. ¡Muchísimas gracias!
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2
Old September 25, 2010, 12:44 PM
irmamar's Avatar
irmamar irmamar is offline
Diamond
  
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,071
Native Language: Español
irmamar is on a distinguished road
Auxiliar can be a noun, too, but I guess you are referring to the verb.

Auxiliar and ayudar can be synonyms in some occasions, although I would use "auxiliar" for more important or dramatic situations:

Ayúdeme, por favor, a cambiar la rueda de mi coche/auto/carro.
Auxilie a ese niño, que se está ahogando.

In the second sentence, I could use "ayude" instead of "auxilie". But in the first I would find exaggerated that interchange (unless the driver were escaping from some difficult situation, such a volcano, a flood or something similar, where a flat tyre would be a distressing situation).

I've found here a better definition than that given in the DRAE:

auxiliar1 v. tr. Ayudar a una persona, especialmente a librarse de un peligro o a satisfacer una necesidad importante.

I hope it helps.
Reply With Quote
  #3
Old September 25, 2010, 04:15 PM
laepelba's Avatar
laepelba laepelba is offline
Diamond
  
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Suburbs of Washington, DC (Northern Virginia)
Posts: 4,683
Native Language: American English (Northeastern US)
laepelba is on a distinguished road
Send a message via AIM to laepelba Send a message via Yahoo to laepelba
It helps a lot! Thanks, Irma!!
__________________
- Lou Ann, de Washington, DC, USA
Específicamente quiero recibir ayuda con el español de latinoamerica. ¡Muchísimas gracias!
Reply With Quote
  #4
Old September 25, 2010, 04:24 PM
irmamar's Avatar
irmamar irmamar is offline
Diamond
  
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,071
Native Language: Español
irmamar is on a distinguished road
You're welcome, but this is my personal interpretation. Maybe in other countries that is different, I don't know.
Reply With Quote
  #5
Old September 26, 2010, 07:03 AM
Perikles's Avatar
Perikles Perikles is offline
Diamond
  
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Tenerife
Posts: 4,814
Native Language: Inglés
Perikles is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by irmamar View Post
Auxiliar and ayudar can be synonyms in some occasions
I don't think you can say that. Obviously what you mean is that they have the same meaning sometimes. But two words are either synonyms or not. It's like saying that you are sometimes a vegetarian.
Reply With Quote
  #6
Old September 26, 2010, 01:02 PM
irmamar's Avatar
irmamar irmamar is offline
Diamond
  
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,071
Native Language: Español
irmamar is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Perikles View Post
I don't think you can say that. Obviously what you mean is that they have the same meaning sometimes. But two words are either synonyms or not. It's like saying that you are sometimes a vegetarian.
Yes, you're right. I wanted to say that they were interchangeable in some occasions. Sorry for my bad expression. But I think Lou Ann understood me.

(English is not my first language, not even my second)
Reply With Quote
  #7
Old September 26, 2010, 01:05 PM
laepelba's Avatar
laepelba laepelba is offline
Diamond
  
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Suburbs of Washington, DC (Northern Virginia)
Posts: 4,683
Native Language: American English (Northeastern US)
laepelba is on a distinguished road
Send a message via AIM to laepelba Send a message via Yahoo to laepelba
Quote:
Originally Posted by irmamar View Post
But I think Lou Ann understood me.
Yes, I did!
__________________
- Lou Ann, de Washington, DC, USA
Específicamente quiero recibir ayuda con el español de latinoamerica. ¡Muchísimas gracias!
Reply With Quote
  #8
Old September 26, 2010, 01:07 PM
irmamar's Avatar
irmamar irmamar is offline
Diamond
  
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,071
Native Language: Español
irmamar is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by laepelba View Post
Yes, I did!
Menos mal.
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »
 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Auxiliar DailyWord Daily Spanish Word 8 June 19, 2009 06:18 PM
ayudar "con" or ayudar "en" littlekim70 Vocabulary 13 March 17, 2008 05:20 AM
Ayudar, Por Favor. Trevorp1594 Grammar 2 February 16, 2008 01:55 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:54 AM.

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.

Contact Us - Tomisimo Home - Archive - Terms of Service - Top
X