ajudar

Ajudar is a Portuguese verb meaning "to help" or "to assist." It is a regular -ar conjugated verb that follows standard Portuguese verb patterns. The word originates from Latin "adjuvare," which also meant "to help" or "to support."

In terms of conjugation, ajudar follows the typical -ar verb endings in present tense: eu ajudo, tu ajudas, ele/ela ajuda, nós ajudamos, vós ajudais, eles/elas ajudam. The verb is transitive and can be used both transitively and intransitively depending on context.

The verb ajudar is commonly used in daily Portuguese conversation and appears in numerous phrases and expressions. For example, "ajudar alguém" means "to help someone," while "ajudar a" can mean "to help with" or "to help to." The reflexive form "ajudar-se" means "to help oneself."

Ajudar can be combined with various prepositions to create nuanced meanings. "Ajudar com" indicates helping with a specific task, while "ajudar em" suggests helping in a particular situation or location. The verb also appears in common expressions like "ajudar a passar o tempo" (to help pass the time) and "não ajudar" (not to help or to not be helpful).

The concept of helping represented by ajudar holds significant cultural importance in Portuguese-speaking societies, where community support and mutual aid are valued social principles. The verb appears frequently in literature, media, and everyday discourse across all Portuguese-speaking countries including Portugal, Brazil, Angola, and Mozambique.

Related words include "ajuda" (help, assistance), "ajudante" (helper, assistant), and "ajuda de custo" (allowance, subsidy). The verb has equivalents in other Romance languages such as "ayudar" in Spanish and "aider" in French.