der Hilferuf
cry for help
A loud call or scream from a person who is in an emergency or danger and urgently needs help.
EXAMPLE
Die Bergsteiger hörten in der Ferne einen leisen Hilferuf.
The mountaineers heard a faint cry for help in the distance.
der Hilferuf
cry for help
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Meanings
der Hilferuf
cry for help
In a figurative sense, an action, statement, or signal that shows someone is in great emotional or material distress and needs support, even if this is not said directly.
EXAMPLE
Sein plötzlicher Rückzug aus dem sozialen Leben war ein stummer Hilferuf.
His sudden withdrawal from social life was a silent cry for help.
Usage tips
Word composition
The word is built very logically and consists of 'Hilfe' (help) and 'Ruf' (call). So it literally describes a call with which someone asks for help.
EXAMPLE
Plötzlich hörte man einen lauten Hilferuf aus dem Wald.
Suddenly, a loud cry for help could be heard from the forest.
Typical collocations
A 'Hilferuf' (cry for help) is often combined with certain verbs. You can 'einen Hilferuf ausstoßen' (let out a cry for help), 'einen Hilferuf hören' (hear a cry for help from someone else), or 'einen Hilferuf absetzen' (send out a call for help, e.g. by radio).
EXAMPLE
Der verletzte Wanderer stieß einen lauten Hilferuf aus.
The injured hiker let out a loud cry for help.
Figurative meaning
In a figurative sense, a 'Hilferuf' (cry for help) is not necessarily loud. It is often described with adjectives like 'stumm' (silent), 'leise' (quiet), or 'verzweifelt' (desperate) to show that someone is asking for support nonverbally or indirectly.
EXAMPLE
Ihre ständigen Absagen waren ein stummer Hilferuf, den niemand verstand.
Her constant cancellations were a silent cry for help that no one understood.
Compare with
Hilferuf vs Notruf
emergency call
Notruf and Hilferuf can both result from immediate danger. A Notruf is directed specifically to an official emergency dispatch center and is made by phone using an emergency number. A Hilferuf, on the other hand, is a loud call or scream directed at people nearby.
Hilferuf
Als sie den Rauch bemerkte, stieß Mia am offenen Fenster einen lauten Hilferuf aus.
When she noticed the smoke, Mia let out a loud cry for help at the open window.
Notruf
Als sie den Rauch bemerkte, setzte Mia über ihr Handy einen Notruf ab.
When she noticed the smoke, Mia made an emergency call on her phone.
In real life
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