socorrer

Socorrer is a Spanish verb that means to provide aid, assistance, or rescue to someone who is in danger or in need. It is commonly used in formal or institutional contexts such as emergency services, medical settings, or legal texts, but it can appear in everyday language as well. It conveys a proactive action of coming to someone's aid, often in urgent situations.

Etymology and related terms: socorrer derives from Latin succurrere, meaning to run to help. The verb is related to nouns like socorro (aid, help) and to the term socorrista (lifeguard or first responder). While socorrer emphasizes the act of giving assistance, synonyms such as ayudar, auxiliar, or rescatar may be used depending on nuance and register.

Usage and nuances: socorrer tends to be more formal or solemne than ayudar. It is appropriate in descriptions of rescue operations, medical emergencies, or police and military contexts. In everyday speech, muchos would use "ayudar" or "dar una mano" in casual situations.

Conjugation notes: socorrer is a regular -er verb. Present indicative forms include yo socorro, tú socorres, él socorre, nosotros socorremos, vosotros socorreis, ellos socorren. Other tenses follow standard -er verb patterns (preiterite: socorrí, socorrist, socorrió, etc.; imperfect: socorría; future: socorreré; subjunctive: socorra, socorra, socorremos, etc.). The verb commonly takes the direct object with a preceding a or a pronoun: socorrer a alguien.

Examples: El equipo de rescate socorrió a los excursionistas. La enfermera socorre a los pacientes. Llamaron a la ambulancia para socorrer a la víctima.

See also: socorro, socorrista, auxilio.