ajudam

Ajudam is a Portuguese verb form meaning “they help” or “you (plural) help.” It is the third-person plural present indicative of the verb ajudar, which means to assist or to help. As a regular -ar verb, ajudar follows the standard conjugation pattern: eu ajudo, tu ajudas, ele/ela ajuda, nós ajudamos, eles/elas ajudam. The form ajudam is typically used with subjects such as eles, elas, or vocês in present tense contexts.

Etymology and related forms: ajudar comes from the Latin adiuvare, meaning to aid or assist. Related derivatives include ajuda (noun meaning help or aid), ajudante (helper), and ajudando (gerund). The past forms include ajudaram (preterite) and ajudavam (imperfect), and the subjunctive uses ajudam in present contexts like “que eles ajudem.”

Usage: Ajudam appears in everyday speech to describe ongoing acts of assistance. It frequently combines with prepositions and infinitives to express aiding in performing actions, as in "Eles ajudam a resolver o problema" (they help to solve the problem) or "Eles ajudam os vizinhos todos os dias." It can also denote mutual support, as in "Eles ajudam uns aos outros." The form aligns with both Brazilian and European Portuguese usage, though regional preferences affect other verb forms rather than this present plural tense.

See also: ajudar; ajuda; ajudante; ajuda (noun); adiuvare (etymology).