Additional, usually private instruction that a student receives in order to overcome difficulties in a particular subject or improve their grades.
example
Wegen seiner schlechten Noten in Mathe bekommt er jetzt Nachhilfe.
Because of his bad grades in math, he is now getting tutoring.
Usage tips
Word structure
The word consists of the prefix 'Nach-' and the noun 'Hilfe' (help). The prefix 'Nach-' expresses here that the help is additional or comes afterward, in order to catch up on something.
EXAMPLE
Ohne die Nachhilfe hätte ich die Prüfung nicht geschafft.
Without the tutoring, I would not have passed the exam.
Typical verbs
Depending on the perspective, 'Nachhilfe' (tutoring) is used with different verbs. The person who teaches 'gibt Nachhilfe' (gives tutoring). The person who learns 'bekommt', 'erhält', or 'nimmt Nachhilfe' (gets, receives, or takes tutoring).
EXAMPLE
Meine ältere Schwester gibt Nachhilfe in Physik.
My older sister gives tutoring in physics.
Use with subjects
To name the school subject, you use the preposition 'in' followed by the dative. So you say 'Nachhilfe in Mathematik' (tutoring in mathematics) or 'Nachhilfe in Deutsch' (tutoring in German).