behilflich

Meaning (English)

behilflich means helpful, of assistance, or willing/ready to help. It is often used in polite or somewhat formal contexts.

Common uses:

• jdm. behilflich sein = to help someone / to be of assistance to someone

Examples (for sense only):

• Kann ich Ihnen behilflich sein? = “Can I help you?” / “May I assist you?”
• Er war mir behilflich. = “He helped me.”

Word parts / structure

• be- (a prefix used in many verbs/adjectives; here part of the fixed form)
• related to Hilfe (“help”) / hilf- (“help-” stem)

Historically/structurally it is connected to bei + hilflich (“helpful/assisting”), and today it functions as a single adjective.

German synonyms

Depending on context:

• hilfsbereit (helpful, willing to help)
• helfend (helping)
• unterstützend (supportive)
• dienlich (useful, of service; more formal)
• zuvorkommend (accommodating, obliging; close in service contexts)

German antonyms

If applicable:

• unhilfsbereit (not helpful)
• abweisend (dismissive, unhelpful in attitude)
• gleichgültig (indifferent)
• hinderlich (hindering; opposite of helpful in effect)

Notes on usage

• behilflich is common in service and official-sounding language and can sound slightly formal compared to hilfsbereit.