pomoc

Pomoc is a noun used in Polish to denote help, assistance, or aid. It can refer to the act of supporting someone or the support provided in a given situation. The related verb forms are pomóc (perfective, to help) and pomagać (imperfective, to help, to assist). In Polish, pomoс and related phrases appear in contexts such as assisting a person in need, providing services, or offering resources, for example: pomoc społeczna (social assistance), pomoc medyczna (medical aid), and pomoc finansowa (financial support). The noun is feminine, and its usage typically requires a definite reference to the aid being given or requested.

Etymology and cognates: The Polish noun pomóc/pomoc is derived from the verb form pomóc, itself built from the root móc (to be able) with a prefix po-, and is related to other Slavic terms for aid. Cognates include Czech and Slovak pomoc, and Serbo-Croatian pomoć; all share the core meaning of help or assistance and reflect a common Slavic heritage.

Usage across languages: In Czech and Slovak, pomoc also means help or assistance. In Serbo-Croatian, the form is pomoć with a diacritic. While the exact spelling varies by language, the basic sense remains consistent: help, aid, or support provided in response to a need. These terms are commonly used in everyday language as well as in formal contexts such as government assistance programs and humanitarian work.

See also: help, assistance, aid, humanitarian aid.