Ausgeholfen

Ausgeholfen is the past participle of the German verb aushelfen, meaning to help out or to provide temporary assistance. It conveys a sense of relief or substitution, often in situations where regular resources or personnel are lacking.

Etymology and usage context: The prefix aus- combined with helfen emphasizes supplying help from outside or in a temporary, supplementary manner. The term is commonly used in everyday language as well as in workplaces, schools, and social contexts to describe offering short-term support rather than permanent solutions. It can also refer to financial aid when someone provides money to cover an immediate need, such as lending money or covering a deficit.

Grammar and constructions: Ausgeholfen is a past participle used with the auxiliary haben in perfect tenses: Ich habe dir ausgeholfen. The person receiving help is typically in the dative case (dir, ihm, uns, euch). The action is framed as a one-time or temporary aid rather than ongoing assistance. In sentences with money or material support, the object may reflect the item given, for example: Ich habe dir mit dem Geld ausgeholfen.

Nuance and related terms: Aushelfen highlights adequacy of relief in a pinch and can imply a pragmatic, informal solution rather than a formal arrangement. Related verbs include helfen (to help) and beistehen (to stand by). In broader usage, aushelfen can describe substitutes stepping in for absent colleagues or filling gaps in schedules, as well as informal financial or logistical support.

See also: helfen, beistehen, aushelfen (noun form Aushelfer). The term remains common in colloquial German and is understood across German-speaking regions.