die
Hilfestellung
🤝 What exactly is die Hilfestellung?
Die Hilfestellung (feminine, plural: die Hilfestellungen) describes the act of giving someone support, guidance, or practical assistance, often to help them manage a task themselves or solve a problem. It's less about taking over the task completely and more about guiding and enabling.
Imagine someone showing you how to use software, or giving you tips for a job application – that's a typical Hilfestellung.
- Meaning: Assistance, guidance, support, help (often practical or instructional)
- Article: die (feminine)
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ung → always feminine.
There are many -ung words, we won't list them all. There are only a few exceptions.
📐 Grammar Corner: Declining die Hilfestellung
Die Hilfestellung is a feminine noun. Here is its declension:
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die | Hilfestellung |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der | Hilfestellung |
| Dative (To/For whom?) | der | Hilfestellung |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die | Hilfestellung |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Hilfestellungen |
| Genitive | der | Hilfestellungen |
| Dative | den | Hilfestellungen |
| Accusative | die | Hilfestellungen |
Example Sentences
- Der Lehrer gab dem Schüler Hilfestellung bei der schwierigen Aufgabe.
(The teacher gave the student assistance with the difficult task.) - Wir bieten unseren Kunden umfassende Hilfestellung bei der Einrichtung des Systems.
(We offer our customers comprehensive support in setting up the system.) - Manchmal braucht man einfach nur eine kleine Hilfestellung, um weiterzukommen.
(Sometimes you just need a little guidance to move forward.) - Die Kollegin bot mir dankenswerterweise ihre Hilfestellung an.
(Thankfully, my colleague offered me her assistance.)
💡 When and how to use Hilfestellung?
Die Hilfestellung is often used in contexts involving guidance, practical advice, or support that helps someone do something themselves or understand something.
- Context: Education, work, technical support, consulting, social assistance.
- Difference from 'Hilfe': While Hilfe is a very general term for any kind of support, Hilfestellung often implies a more specific, guiding, or enabling action that empowers self-help. You give Hilfestellung when teaching someone, helping fill out a form, or guiding the first steps with a new device.
- Formal vs. Informal: The word can be used in both formal (e.g., "Wir leisten technische Hilfestellung" - We provide technical assistance) and more informal contexts, but it tends to sound slightly more formal than the simple word "Hilfe".
Example: If someone can't swim, teaching them the strokes is Hilfestellung. Pulling someone out of the water who is drowning is more likely Hilfe (rescue).
🧠 Mnemonics for die Hilfestellung
Article Mnemonic (die): Think of die helping Hand 🤚 – a hand often gives die necessary Hilfestellung. Hand is feminine in German, and so is Hilfestellung.
Meaning Mnemonic: The word is composed of Hilfe (help) + Stellung (position, provision). Imagine someone taking a 'position' (Stellung) next to you to 'help' (Hilfe). They provide Hilfe from their Stellung = Hilfestellung.
🔄 Similar & Opposite: Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Unterstützung: (Support) Very similar, general term.
- Beistand: (Assistance, backing) Often moral or legal support.
- Hilfe: (Help) The most general term, can mean anything from rescue to advice.
- Anleitung: (Guidance, instruction) More specific, refers to instructions.
- Assistenz: (Assistance) Often in a professional or technical context.
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- Behinderung: (Hindrance, obstruction) Actively making things difficult.
- Hindernis: (Obstacle) Something that stands in the way.
- Verweigerung (von Hilfe): (Refusal (of help)) Not giving support.
- Störung: (Disturbance, interference) Interruption or impairment.
⚠️ Caution: Not all synonyms are interchangeable in every context. Hilfestellung often emphasizes the aspect of guiding or enabling.
😂 A Little Joke
Warum nehmen Skelette keine Hilfestellung an?
(Why don't skeletons accept assistance?)
Weil sie lieber alles auf eigene Faust (oder Knochen) machen! 😉🦴
(Because they prefer to do everything on their own initiative (or bone)!)
📜 Poem about Support
Manchmal stockt der Schritt, der Plan,
man weiß nicht recht, wie fängt man's an?
Ein guter Rat, ein Wink, ein Blick,
die Hilfestellung bringt zurück
Den Mut, den Tritt, das feste Ziel,
Gemeinsam schafft man oft so viel.
(Sometimes the step, the plan falters,
one doesn't quite know how to start?
Good advice, a nod, a look,
the assistance brings back
The courage, the stride, the firm goal,
Together one often achieves so much.)
❓ Riddle Time!
Ich bin kein Werkzeug, doch ich helfe bauen.
Ich bin kein Lehrer, doch du kannst mir trauen.
Ich nehm's dir nicht ab, doch zeig' dir den Weg,
damit du allein bald sicher den Steg
überqueren kannst, ins kalte Nass springst,
oder die Aufgabe erfolgreich vollbringst.
Wer bin ich?
(I am not a tool, yet I help build.
I am not a teacher, yet you can trust me.
I don't take it from you, but I show you the way,
so that you soon can safely cross the footbridge,
jump into the cold water,
or successfully complete the task.
Who am I?)
(Answer: die Hilfestellung)
🧩 Word Building & More
Word Composition:
Die Hilfestellung is a compound noun (Kompositum):
- Hilfe: The base word, meaning help, support, aid.
- Stellung: Here in the sense of provision, positioning, giving. Someone takes a position (Stellung) to help, or provides (stellt bereit) help.
Together, the meaning is: the act of giving or providing help, often in a specific, guiding form.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Hilfestellung?
The German word Hilfestellung means assistance or guidance and is always feminine. The correct article is die Hilfestellung.