01
der Helfer
helper
A person who helps someone else with an activity or in a difficult situation, or provides support.
example
Beim Umzug hatten wir zum Glück viele fleißige Helfer.
Luckily, we had many hardworking helpers for the move.
der Helfer
helper
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word formation
'Der Helfer' (the helper) is derived from the verb 'helfen' (to help). The ending '-er' is added to the verb stem to refer to a male person who performs this activity. This pattern is very common in German.
EXAMPLE
Wer anderen hilft, ist ein Helfer.
Someone who helps others is a helper.
Typical collocations
When a person is meant, 'Helfer' (helper) is often combined with adjectives such as 'freiwillig' (voluntary), 'fleißig' (hardworking), or 'ehrenamtlich' (volunteer/unpaid). A well-known expression is also 'Helfer in der Not' (helper in need).
EXAMPLE
Für das Fest suchen wir noch freiwillige Helfer.
We are still looking for volunteer helpers for the festival.
Context clue
When 'Helfer' (helper) refers to a tool or object, it is often used with adjectives such as 'klein' (small), 'praktisch' (practical), or 'nützlich' (useful). The context, e.g. 'Küche' (kitchen), 'Haushalt' (household), or 'Garten' (garden), also makes this meaning clear.
EXAMPLE
Dieser Korkenzieher ist ein praktischer Helfer.
This corkscrew is a practical helper.
Compare with
Helfer vs Hilfe
help
'die Hilfe' and 'der Helfer' are closely related, but they do not refer to the same thing. 'Hilfe' means the support itself, or sometimes something that provides support. 'Helfer' means a person who helps, or also a useful tool. Learners may confuse the words because they come from the same word family. The important point is: you receive 'Hilfe' (help), but the person who helps is a 'Helfer' (helper).
Helfer
Beim Stadtfest zeigen die Helfer den Besuchern den Weg zum Eingang.
At the town festival, the helpers show visitors the way to the entrance.
Hilfe
Im Zug hat meine Mutter Hilfe bekommen, weil ihr Koffer zu schwer war.
On the train, my mother got help because her suitcase was too heavy.
In real life
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