Pagalba

Pagalba is a Lithuanian noun meaning aid, assistance, or support. It refers to the act of helping as well as the resources or services provided to relieve someone’s need. The term is feminine and widely used in both everyday speech and formal contexts.

Common usages include teisinė pagalba (legal aid), socialinė pagalba (social assistance), medicininė pagalba (medical aid), finansinė pagalba (financial assistance), and humanitarinė pagalba (humanitarian aid). The word appears in policies, programs, and discussions about welfare, emergency relief, and community support.

In Lithuania, pagalba may be provided by family members, communities, non-governmental organizations, or the state. Government programs sometimes frame aid as social protection or welfare, while NGOs offer humanitarian or emergency assistance. The concept also encompasses reciprocal or informal help among neighbors and colleagues, reflecting its role in social cohesion and support networks.