Auxiliar

Auxiliar is a term used in Spanish and Portuguese with related meanings. As a verb, it means to help or assist someone and is used transitively: “auxiliar a un compañero” in Spanish or “auxiliar alguém” in Portuguese. As a noun, it can designate a person who provides support, such as “un auxiliar” or “una auxiliar,” and as an adjective it means “auxiliary” or “supporting,” as in “material auxiliar” or “servicios auxiliares.”

Etymology: it comes from Latin auxilium, meaning help or aid, and is related to the English word auxiliary and cognates in other Romance languages.

Contexts of use: in education and administration, auxiliary roles are common, for example “auxiliar administrativo” or “auxiliar de clínica” in Spanish, and “auxiliar de enfermagem” or “auxiliar de educação” in Portuguese. The term also appears in historical or military contexts as a designation for supportive forces or materials, such as “fuerza auxiliar” or “material auxiliar.”

In linguistics, the term is used to refer to auxiliary verbs, which accompany the main verb to express tense, aspect, mood, or voice. In Spanish, examples include haber and estar when they function as auxiliaries, as in “ha comido” or “estoy estudiando.” In Portuguese, similar constructions use verbs like ter, estar, or haver as auxiliaries to form compound tenses and progressive aspects.

Overall, auxiliar denotes a supporting or assisting role, whether describing a person, a tool, or a grammatical function.