socorro
“socorro” means “Help!” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
Help!, Emergency!
📝 In Action
¡Socorro! Me estoy ahogando, necesito un salvavidas.
A1Help! I'm drowning, I need a life preserver.
Alguien gritó '¡Socorro!' desde el edificio en llamas.
A2Someone shouted 'Help!' from the burning building.
aid, relief
Also: succor
📝 In Action
El gobierno envió socorro a las zonas afectadas por el terremoto.
B1The government sent aid to the areas affected by the earthquake.
Llamaron a la Cruz Roja para pedir socorro médico.
B2They called the Red Cross to ask for medical assistance.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: socorro
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'socorro' as a noun meaning 'aid'?
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👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin verb *succurrere*, which literally meant 'to run under' or 'to run to the aid of' someone, emphasizing the immediate action taken to help a person in distress.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish (around the 13th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'socorro' and 'ayuda'?
'Socorro' is almost always used as an interjection (a shout) for life-threatening emergencies (fire, drowning, attack). 'Ayuda' is the general word for help or assistance, used in less dire situations (e.g., 'Necesito ayuda con la mudanza' – I need help with moving).
Is 'socorro' a verb?
No, 'socorro' itself is a noun or an interjection. However, the related verb is 'socorrer', meaning 'to help' or 'to rescue'. The 'yo' form of the present tense of that verb is also 'yo socorro' (I help).