German · Greetings & Essentials
"Help!" in German: Hilfe!
Hilfe!
Help! as a shout in German is Hilfe! Use it when you need urgent assistance. Softer talk uses Kannst du mir helfen?, which is a different verb form.
Street emergency
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How to pronounce Hilfe!
Say it
HIL-fuh
/ˈhɪlfə/
HIL-fuh. Stress HIL. Soft final -e.
"Help!" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Hilfe! | Help! Urgent interjection. | Urgent interjection. |
| Hilfe rufen | to call for help Describing the action. | Describing the action. |
| um Hilfe bitten | to ask for help Less emergency tone. | Less emergency tone. |
| Erste Hilfe | first aid Medical context. | Medical context. |
How to use Hilfe! in real life
- 1Street emergency
Hilfe! Jemand ist gestürzt!
Help! Someone has fallen!
Loud interjection.
- 2Crowded station
Hilfe, ich finde meinen Sohn nicht!
Help, I can't find my son!
Panic call.
- 3Pool side
Ruft bitte Hilfe, schnell!
Please call for help, quickly!
Hilfe as object of rufen.
Mistakes English speakers make with Hilfe!
Incorrect: Hilf! (alone as the headword shout)
Correct: Hilfe!
The headword interjection is Hilfe!; hilf is the verb imperative and does not count here.
Incorrect: Help! bitte!
Correct: Hilfe!
Use the German interjection Hilfe!
Good to know
Hilfe! is the clear shout people expect in an emergency. For everyday favors, Germans switch to Kannst du mir kurz helfen? without yelling Hilfe. On products and signs you also see Erste Hilfe for first-aid kits.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Someone slips on ice
ChatPal
Hilfe! Da liegt jemand auf dem Gehweg!
Help! Someone is lying on the sidewalk!
You
Ich rufe Hilfe — bleib bei ihm!
I'll call for help — stay with him!
ChatPal
Gut. Noch einmal laut: Hilfe!
Good. Once more, loud: Help!
You
Hilfe! Wir brauchen einen Arzt!
Help! We need a doctor!
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Help!" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Help!" in German
How do you shout Help!?
Hilfe!
Is hilf mir the same?
That is the verb imperative; the headword shout is Hilfe!
Call for help?
Hilfe rufen.
First aid?
Erste Hilfe.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
