A small figure struggling to push a large, heavy wooden cart up a hill, while a taller figure stands behind them, placing a hand on the cart to push and assist them.

ayude

ah-YOO-deh

VerbB1regular ar

help?Formal command ('Usted'),may help?Wish or suggestion ('Yo', 'Él/Ella/Usted')

Also:assist?Formal request,contribute?In a team setting

Quick Reference

infinitiveayudar

gerundayudando

past Participleayudado

📝 In Action

Por favor, ayude a su madre con las bolsas.

Please, help your mother with the bags. (Formal command)

Espero que la medicina me ayude a sentirme mejor.

I hope the medicine helps me feel better. (Subjunctive: expressing hope)

No creo que Juan ayude si no se lo pedimos.

I don't think Juan will help if we don't ask him. (Subjunctive: expressing doubt)

Si quiere, yo ayude con el proyecto.

If you want, I can help with the project. (Subjunctive: expressing possibility/willingness)

Word Connections

Synonyms

asistir (to assist)
socorrer (to aid (often in emergency))

Antonyms

obstaculizar (to hinder)

Common Collocations

Ayude a la comunidad – Help the community
Que me ayude Dios – May God help me

Idioms & Expressions

Ayudar a salir del apuro – To help someone out of a tight spot

💡 Grammar Points

The Formal Command

When you need to politely tell one person (Usted) to help, you use 'Ayude.' This form is taken directly from the special verb form used for wishes and necessities (the present subjunctive).

Subjunctive Trigger

'Ayude' is used when expressing a wish, desire, or doubt about the action of helping, especially after phrases like 'Espero que...' (I hope that...) or 'Necesito que...' (I need that...).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Commands

Mistake: "Using 'Usted ayuda' for a command."

Correction: For a formal command, always use 'Ayude'. 'Usted ayuda' is only for stating a fact: 'You help every day.'

⭐ Usage Tips

Adding the Object

For commands, you attach pronouns to the end: 'Ayúdeme' means 'Help me,' and 'Ayúdele' means 'Help him/her/it.' Note the added accent mark!

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedayuda

yoayudo

túayudas

ellos/ellas/ustedesayudan

nosotrosayudamos

vosotrosayudáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedayudaba

yoayudaba

túayudabas

ellos/ellas/ustedesayudaban

nosotrosayudábamos

vosotrosayudabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedayudó

yoayudé

túayudaste

ellos/ellas/ustedesayudaron

nosotrosayudamos

vosotrosayudasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedayude

yoayude

túayudes

ellos/ellas/ustedesayuden

nosotrosayudemos

vosotrosayudéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedayudara/ayudase

yoayudara/ayudase

túayudaras/ayudases

ellos/ellas/ustedesayudaran/ayudasen

nosotrosayudáramos/ayudásemos

vosotrosayudarais/ayudaseis

View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: ayude

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'ayude' as a formal command?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

ayudar(to help (infinitive)) - verb

ayuda(help (noun)) - noun

ayudante(helper / assistant) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'ayude' used for both 'yo' and 'usted'?

Spanish verb forms often overlap. In the special 'subjunctive' form (used for wishes and emotions), the form for 'yo' (I), 'él/ella' (he/she), and 'usted' (you formal) are all identical: 'ayude.'

Is 'ayuda' the same as 'ayude'?

No. 'Ayuda' can mean 'help' (the noun) or it can be the common form of the verb: 'He/She/It helps' or the informal command 'Help!' ('Tú ayuda'). 'Ayude' is the polite command or the subjunctive form.