Hjalp

Hjalp, written with the diacritic hjälп in Swedish, is a noun meaning assistance or aid. It also appears as part of compound terms and can function in phrases where help or support is involved. The related verb form is hjälpa, meaning to help. In everyday language, människor may request or offer hjälp, for example by saying “kan du ge mig hjälp?” or “tack för din hjälp.”

Etymology and related forms

The word is of Germanic origin, with cognates across the Nordic languages. Old Norse hjälp, Danish hjælp, and Norwegian hjelp are closely related to Swedish hjälp. The core meaning—assistance or support—remains consistent across these languages, while the exact spelling reflects each language’s orthography. English help is historically related as a distant cognate in the broader Germanic family.

Usage and contexts

In Swedish, hjälp denotes practical or material aid as well as generic assistance. Common phrases include ge hjälp (to give help), be om hjälp (to ask for help), and nödhjälp (emergency aid). Compound forms are widespread, such as hjälpmaterial (assistance materials), hjälpmedel (assistive devices), and självhjälp (self-help). The term is versatile across social, humanitarian, and everyday settings.

In computing and user interfaces, the word hjälp is used for help sections or menus, often labeled Hjälp to indicate access to guidance or documentation. Internationally, translations of hjelps concepts appear in phrases like humanitarian aid, charitable assistance, and social services, where the idea of support or aid is central.

See also

Help (concept)

Self-help (självhjälp)

Humanitarian aid (nödhjälp)

Assistive technology (hjälpmedel)