Spanish - Asking for Help

Lesson 9 of 159

Student practicing asking for help in Spanish — lesson on asking for assistance and survival phrases.

Goal: Simple phrases to get assistance when you need it

Free Spanish lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome back — nice to see you! This short lesson helps you ask for help in everyday situations. Practice the phrases, hear a quick conversation, then try the activities.

Level A1: In Lesson 9 you'll learn key phrases to ask for help politely and clearly in Spanish (asking for help, saying you can’t find something, asking someone to show or repeat). This CEFR-aligned lesson focuses on the exact phrases you can use right away when you need assistance.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Be able to say basic requests for help and state you need assistance (Level A1).
  • Ask someone to repeat, show, or teach how to do something.
  • Use polite openers and identify a helpful person (e.g., ‘¿Trabajas aquí?’).
Two travelers asking for help at an information desk — Spanish lesson on requesting assistance.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Ayuda, por favor.

Help, please.

Meaning: Help, please.

When to use: Use this short, polite request for immediate help. Good for asking any nearby person for assistance.

¡Ayuda, por favor! Mi bolso se cayó.
Help, please! My bag fell.
Ayuda, por favor, no sé dónde estoy.
Help, please, I don't know where I am.

¿Me puedes ayudar?

Can you help me?

Meaning: Can you help me?

When to use: Ask this directly to a person when you need their assistance (uses tú).

Tip: Beginners sometimes say the more formal '¿Puede ayudarme?' when speaking casually — that's okay, but remember the provided phrase uses tú.

Perdón, ¿me puedes ayudar con esta dirección?
Excuse me, can you help me with this address?
¿Me puedes ayudar con la maleta, por favor?
Can you help me with the suitcase, please?

Necesito ayuda.

I need help.

Meaning: I need help.

When to use: State this when you want to tell someone you require assistance, more direct than asking a question.

Necesito ayuda con mi reserva.
I need help with my booking.
Necesito ayuda, por favor. No entiendo el billete.
I need help, please. I don't understand the ticket.

¿Me puedes ayudar con ___?

Can you help me with ___?

Meaning: Can you help me with ___?

When to use: Use this to ask for help with a specific thing; add the task or object after 'con'.

¿Me puedes ayudar con el mapa?
Can you help me with the map?
¿Me puedes ayudar con la aplicación del metro?
Can you help me with the metro app?

¿Me muestras?

Can you show me?

Meaning: Can you show me?

When to use: Ask this when you want someone to point out or demonstrate a place, item, or step.

¿Me muestras dónde está la estación?
Can you show me where the station is?
¿Me muestras cómo usar la máquina?
Can you show me how to use the machine?

¿Me enseñas cómo?

Can you show me how?

Meaning: Can you show me how?

When to use: Use this to ask someone to demonstrate a process step by step.

¿Me enseñas cómo conectar el Wi‑Fi?
Can you show me how to connect to Wi‑Fi?
¿Me enseñas cómo pagar con tarjeta?
Can you show me how to pay with a card?

¿Lo puedes repetir?

Can you say that again?

Meaning: Can you say that again?

When to use: Ask this politely when you didn't hear or understand what someone said.

Tip: Learners sometimes say 'Repite' directly; it's stronger. Use the question form for politeness.

Perdón, ¿lo puedes repetir? No escuché bien.
Sorry, can you say that again? I didn't hear well.
¿Lo puedes repetir despacio, por favor?
Can you say that again slowly, please?

No encuentro ___.

I can't find ___.

Meaning: I can’t find ___.

When to use: Say this when you are looking for something and want someone to help you find it.

Tip: Don't forget the object after 'No encuentro' — beginners sometimes pause and leave it out.

No encuentro mis llaves. ¿Me puedes ayudar?
I can’t find my keys. Can you help me?
No encuentro la estación de autobuses.
I can’t find the bus station.

¿Trabajas aquí?

Do you work here?

Meaning: Do you work here?

When to use: Ask this to identify someone who might be able to help in a store or office.

Disculpe, ¿trabajas aquí? Necesito preguntar algo.
Excuse me, do you work here? I need to ask something.
Perdona, ¿trabajas aquí o solo estás de visita?
Excuse me, do you work here or are you just visiting?

¿Quién me puede ayudar?

Who can help me?

Meaning: Who can help me?

When to use: Use this when you want to know which person or desk can provide assistance.

No sé dónde ir. ¿Quién me puede ayudar?
I don't know where to go. Who can help me?
En la oficina, pregunté: '¿Quién me puede ayudar con la documentación?'
At the office, I asked: 'Who can help me with the paperwork?'

¿Te puedo hacer una pregunta?

Can I ask you a question?

Meaning: Can I ask you a question?

When to use: A polite opener before asking for help or information from someone.

Disculpe, ¿te puedo hacer una pregunta sobre el menú?
Excuse me, can I ask you a question about the menu?
¿Te puedo hacer una pregunta rápido?
Can I ask you a quick question?

Esto no funciona.

This doesn't work.

Meaning: This doesn't work.

When to use: Say this when a device, machine, or system fails and you need help to fix it.

La máquina no imprime. Esto no funciona.
The machine doesn't print. This doesn't work.
Probé la llave y esto no funciona, ¿me ayudas?
I tried the key and this doesn't work, can you help me?

No puedo con esto.

I can't do this.

Meaning: I can't do this.

When to use: Use this when the task feels too difficult or you are unable to manage it alone.

Lo siento, no puedo con esto. ¿Me ayudas?
Sorry, I can't do this. Can you help me?
No puedo con esto solo, necesito ayuda.
I can't do this alone, I need help.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

At a train station information desk

Anna asks David for help finding a place and asking someone to show her — short conversational practice in Spanish.

What does Anna ask David to do?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Disculpe, ¿me puedes ayudar? No encuentro la taquilla.

Excuse me, can you help me? I can't find the ticket office.

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

¿Trabajas aquí? Puedo preguntar al empleado.

Do you work here? I can ask the staff.

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

No, soy turista. ¿Me muestras dónde está, por favor?

No, I'm a tourist. Can you show me where it is, please?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Claro. ¿Lo puedes repetir? ¿Dónde dijiste que necesitas ir?

Sure. Can you say that again? Where did you say you need to go?

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which Spanish phrase means 'Help, please.'?

Which phrase politely asks someone to repeat themselves?

How do you ask 'Do you work here?' in Spanish?

Which phrase asks for help with a specific thing?

In the store, Anna says: 'Excuse me, can you help me with my purchase?'

En la tienda, Anna dice: "Disculpe, ___ con mi compra?"

My phone won't turn on. I say: 'I need help.'

Mi teléfono no enciende. Yo digo: "___".

I don't know how to use the printer. I ask a colleague: 'Can you show me how?'

No sé usar la impresora. Le pregunto a un colega: "___"

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ayuda, por favor.

Help, please.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Me puedes ayudar?

Can you help me?

Say this phrase out loud:

Necesito ayuda.

I need help.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Me puedes ayudar con ___?

Can you help me with ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Me muestras?

Can you show me?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Me enseñas cómo?

Can you show me how?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Lo puedes repetir?

Can you say that again?

Say this phrase out loud:

No encuentro ___.

I can't find ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Trabajas aquí?

Do you work here?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Quién me puede ayudar?

Who can help me?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Te puedo hacer una pregunta?

Can I ask you a question?

Say this phrase out loud:

Esto no funciona.

This doesn't work.

Say this phrase out loud:

No puedo con esto.

I can't do this.