A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Help" in French
The French phrase for 'Help!' when you're in a real emergency and need immediate assistance.
Au secours !
oh-SKOO-rneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Use this when you are in genuine danger or witnessing a serious accident. It's a cry for immediate help, not for minor inconveniences.
Alternatives
- Aidez-moi !More direct and personal, asking someone specific to help you.
- J'ai besoin d'aide.A more general statement that you require assistance.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'secours'
The 's' at the end of 'secours' is silent, and the 'r' is a soft guttural sound.
Using 'Aide' alone
'Aide' means 'help' as a noun, but you need a verb or prepositional phrase to ask for it.
A small cultural note
While 'Au secours !' is the standard emergency cry, in very dire situations, people might just shout or scream without a specific phrase.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
When should I use 'Au secours !' vs 'Aidez-moi !'?
'Au secours !' is for immediate, urgent danger, like a fire or someone falling. 'Aidez-moi !' is more for when you need assistance with something specific, like carrying a bag.
Is 'Au secours !' rude?
No, it's a cry for help in an emergency, so it's understood as a necessary exclamation. Politeness is secondary to safety.
What if I need help with something small?
For smaller issues, you'd use phrases like 'Excusez-moi, pourriez-vous m'aider ?' (Excuse me, could you help me?) or 'J'ai besoin d'aide avec ça.' (I need help with this.)
