Aid or Aide?

English has many words that look or sound alike but have different meanings. Two of the most confusing are aid and aide. Let’s break them down step by step.

✅ Aid

Part of Speech: Noun and Verb

• As a noun: Aid means help or assistance.

  • Example: The country received aid after the earthquake.

  • Meaning: Help or support in the form of money, food, or supplies.

• As a verb: Aid means to help someone.

  • Example: She will aid her friend with homework.

  • Meaning: To give help.

✅ Aide

Part of Speech: Noun only

• Aide means a person who helps. It usually refers to someone’s assistant.

  • Example: The senator spoke with her aide before the meeting.

  • Meaning: A person who supports or assists another person, often in government, healthcare, or military.

👉 Notice: Aide is always a person.

🧩 Helpful Tip to Remember

• Aid = Help (thing or action)

• Aide = Helper (a person)

🔗 Related Words

• First aid = Emergency medical help.

  • Example: He took a first aid class.

• Hearing aid = A device that helps people hear.

  • Example: My grandfather uses a hearing aid.

• Aiding and abetting = A legal phrase meaning helping someone do something wrong.

  • Example: He was charged with aiding and abetting a crime.

📌 Quick Check Quiz

1. Choose the correct word:

   • The nurse gave (aid / aide) to the injured child.

   • The president’s (aid / aide) answered the phone.

   • Students brought food as (aid / aide) for the flood victims.

(Answers: aid, aide, aid)