unconscious / powerless
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unconscious
Describing the state in which someone has lost consciousness; unconscious.
Wegen der großen Hitze und der stickigen Luft wurde er plötzlich ohnmächtig.
Because of the intense heat and the stuffy air, he suddenly became unconscious.
powerless
Describing the feeling of being helplessly at the mercy of a situation or a superior power, with no influence over it.
Angesichts der Naturkatastrophe fühlten sich die Menschen ohnmächtig.
In the face of the natural disaster, the people felt powerless.
The word is made up of 'ohn' (an old form of 'ohne', meaning 'without') and 'Macht' (power). So it literally means 'without power', which explains both meanings: losing power over the body (unconscious) and the feeling of having no power over a situation.
Ohne Wasser in der Wüste fühlte er sich bald ohnmächtig.
Without water in the desert, he soon felt powerless.
The context makes clear which meaning is intended. If it is about a physical state (heat, shock), it refers to unconsciousness. If it is about an uncontrollable situation, it refers to the feeling of helplessness.
Der Läufer brach im Ziel ohnmächtig zusammen.
The runner collapsed unconscious at the finish line.
In connection with unconsciousness, 'ohnmächtig' (unconscious) is almost always used with the verb 'werden' (to become) to describe the moment of collapse. The state is described with 'sein' (to be).
Als sie die schlechte Nachricht hörte, ist sie ohnmächtig geworden.
When she heard the bad news, she became unconscious.
In the figurative meaning 'helpless', 'ohnmächtig' (powerless) often appears with the verb 'sich fühlen' (to feel). The expression 'ohnmächtig zusehen müssen' (to have to watch helplessly) is also very common.
Angesichts der Bürokratie fühlte er sich völlig ohnmächtig.
Faced with the bureaucracy, he felt completely powerless.
helpless
Hilflos describes someone who cannot help themselves in a difficult situation and needs support. In its figurative sense, ohnmächtig emphasizes that someone is powerless in the face of a development or a superior power, with no influence over it. Here, ohnmächtig does not mean unconscious.
Die Bewohnerin musste ohnmächtig zusehen, wie sich das Feuer trotz aller Löschversuche ausbreitete.
The resident had to watch helplessly as the fire spread despite all attempts to put it out.
Mit dem verletzten Bein lag die Bewohnerin hilflos vor dem brennenden Haus und brauchte Unterstützung.
With her injured leg, the resident lay helplessly in front of the burning house and needed assistance.
