helfen

\ˈhɛl.fən\

/\ˈhɛl.fən\/ verb

The verdict

“helfen” is uncommon French (outside the top frequency list), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency French
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Aider.

Corpus desk

Index FR-helfen · helfen · French

helfen · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "H" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for helfen
PropertyValue
Headwordhelfen
LanguageFrench
Part of speechVerb
IPA\ˈhɛl.fən\
Letters6
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Longue queue: rang de « helfen » en français

helfenreste hors des 100.000 mots français les plus fréquents, dans la longue queue du vocabulaire technique, archaïque ou rare, là où le doute d'orthographe frappe.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

helfen is uncommon French outside the top frequency list, classed as averb, transcribed \ˈhɛl.fən\. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for helfen, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

This entry carries no recorded etymology, so any spelling logic here comes from how the word's sounds map to letters, not a documented origin story. The correct French form is helfen, spelled H-E-L-F-E-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    Aider.
  2. 2
    (En parlant d'un médicament, d'une politique etc.) Etre efficace contre (un mal, une maladie, une situation catastrophique). (+ gegen)

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how helfen appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Kannst du mir helfen, von diesem Glas den Deckel abzudrehen?
  2. Ich habe ihnen bei der Reparatur des Wagens geholfen.

Synonyms

Antonyms

im Stich lassenschaden

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "helfen"?
"helfen" is spelled H-E-L-F-E-N. The IPA pronunciation is \ˈhɛl.fən\.
What does "helfen" mean?
As a verb, "helfen" means: Aider.
How do you pronounce "helfen"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "helfen" is \ˈhɛl.fən\. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "helfen" come from?
"helfen" is a French word. PlainSpell's reference spans five languages -- English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German -- with definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for each.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list