auttaja

Auttaja is a Finnish noun meaning a person who helps or a helper. It is formed from the verb auttaa "to help" with the agentive suffix -ja, a productive pattern also seen in words such as avustaja. The word emphasizes the act of helping rather than a formal job title.

In everyday Finnish, auttaja can refer to anyone who provides assistance, such as family members, friends, neighbours, or volunteers. In formal contexts, more specialized terms like avustaja (assistant), tukihenkilö (support person), or mentor are often used, but auttaja remains common in informal speech and in descriptions of people who lend a hand.

Contexts and examples: a parent helping a child with homework might be called an auttaja; a neighbour who helps with groceries can be described as an auttaja; volunteers in nonprofit work or crisis-support services may also be referred to as auttajia, depending on the organization.

Etymology and nuance: the word belongs to Finnish word formation with -ja suffix indicating an agent. Compared with avustaja, auttaja usually conveys a broader, less formal sense of "helper" rather than a defined job role.

See also: apu, auttaminen, avustaja, tukihenkilö.