helfen vs unterstützen
German word comparison
Listen to helfen
Listen to unterstützen
| helfen | unterstützen |
|---|---|
HEL-fen verb | [ˌʊntɐˈʃtʏt͡sən] (oon-ter-SHTOO-tsen) verb |
| to help, to assist | to support or back (financially, logistically, morally, or institutionally) |
How they differ
Unterstützen emphasizes sustained, backing or enabling help (e.g., financial, organisational or long-term assistance) rather than a one-off, hands-on action; it can imply official or structural support that goes beyond immediate practical help implied by 'helfen'.
When to use each
When to use helfen: Prefer 'helfen' when asking for or offering direct, immediate, practical assistance with a concrete task.
When to use unterstützen: Prefer 'unterstützen' when referring to ongoing, financial, organisational or moral backing rather than a quick favour.
Side-by-side examples
- Kannst du mir beim Umzug helfen?
(Can you help me with the move?) - Kannst du mich beim Umzug unterstützen?
(Can you support me with the move?)
Register & nuance: Unterstützen is neutral to slightly more formal and common in professional or written contexts; helfen is more colloquial and everyday.