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auxiliar

ow-ksee-lyahrawksiˈljaɾ

“auxiliar” means “to help” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to help, to assist

Also: to aid
VerbB1regular arformal
One person extending a hand to pull another person up a small grassy hill.
gerundauxiliando
past Participleauxiliado
infinitiveauxiliar

📝 In Action

Los paramédicos llegaron para auxiliar a las víctimas.

B1

The paramedics arrived to help the victims.

Debemos auxiliar a quienes más lo necesitan.

A2

We must assist those who need it most.

El gobierno prometió auxiliar a las pequeñas empresas.

B2

The government promised to aid small businesses.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ayudar (to help)
  • socorrer (to rescue/aid)

Antonyms

  • desamparar (to abandon/forsake)
  • obstaculizar (to hinder)

Common Collocations

  • auxiliar a un herido – to assist an injured person
  • auxiliar económicamente – to help financially

assistant

Also: auxiliary
Nounm or fA2
Spain
A person in a professional apron handing a tool to a primary worker in a workshop.

📝 In Action

Ella es auxiliar de vuelo en una aerolínea internacional.

A2

She is a flight attendant (flight assistant) for an international airline.

El hospital necesita más auxiliares de enfermería.

B1

The hospital needs more nursing assistants.

El barco tiene un motor auxiliar por seguridad.

B1

The boat has an auxiliary motor for safety.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • auxiliar administrativo – administrative assistant
  • verbo auxiliar – helping verb (e.g., 'haber')
  • auxiliar de vuelo – flight attendant

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yoauxiliara
túauxiliaras
él/ella/ustedauxiliara
nosotrosauxiliáramos
vosotrosauxiliarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesauxiliaran

Present Subjunctive

yoauxilie
túauxilies
él/ella/ustedauxilie
nosotrosauxiliemos
vosotrosauxiliéis
ellos/ellas/ustedesauxilien

Indicative

Preterite

yoauxilié
túauxiliaste
él/ella/ustedauxilió
nosotrosauxiliamos
vosotrosauxiliasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesauxiliaron

Imperfect

yoauxiliaba
túauxiliabas
él/ella/ustedauxiliaba
nosotrosauxiliábamos
vosotrosauxiliabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesauxiliaban

Present

yoauxilio
túauxilias
él/ella/ustedauxilia
nosotrosauxiliamos
vosotrosauxiliáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesauxilian
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "auxiliar" in Spanish:

assistant→auxiliary→to aid→to assist→to help→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: auxiliar

Question 1 of 3

How do you say 'I help' in a formal way using this word?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
auxilio(help/aid) — Noun
auxiliador(helper) — Adjective
auxiliante(assisting) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'auxiliaris', which comes from 'auxilium', meaning 'help' or 'support'. It originally referred to troops that provided extra support to the main army.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: auxiliaryFrench: auxiliaireItalian: ausiliare

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'ayudar' and 'auxiliar'?

'Ayudar' is the everyday word for helping (helping with chores, homework). 'Auxiliar' is more formal and often used in medical, legal, or emergency situations.

Is 'auxiliar' only for people?

No, it can also be an adjective for objects that provide backup or secondary support, like 'un motor auxiliar' (a backup motor).

Does 'auxiliar' change for female assistants?

The word 'auxiliar' remains the same regardless of gender. You simply change the article: 'el auxiliar' (male) or 'la auxiliar' (female).