helpless
gb/hˈɛlpləs/ us/hˈɛlpləs/
A2
English
~ 3300
tehetetlen, magatehetetlen
B1
1
tehetetlen
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is helpless
The injured hiker felt helpless as night fell.
Ahogy leszállt az éj, a sérült túrázó tehetetlennek érezte magát.
She stood helpless in the rain, waiting for help.
Tehetetlenül állt az esőben, és segítségre várt.
The baby was completely helpless without its parents.
Learner examples
I felt helpless when my phone broke.
Tehetetlennek éreztem magam, amikor elromlott a telefonom.
The small bird was helpless on the ground.
A kismadár tehetetlenül feküdt a földön.
He is helpless without his glasses.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'helpless' with 'useless'. 'Helpless' means unable to act in a situation, while 'useless' means not effective or without value.
Meaning
Unable to act or protect oneself
Collocations
feel helpless
|completely helpless
|helpless victim
|helpless child
Synonyms
powerless (Emphasizes a lack of control or influence rather than physical inability.)
Antonyms
capable (Suggests having the ability or power to act effectively.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not able to do anything to help yourself or stop something bad.
Lacking the ability or strength to take action or protect oneself from harm or difficulty.
B1
2
tehetetlen
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is helpless against [something]
We were helpless against the rising floodwaters.
Tehetetlenek voltunk az egyre emelkedő árvízzel szemben.
He felt helpless to change the unfair decision.
Tehetetlennek érezte magát: nem tudott változtatni az igazságtalan döntésen.
The villagers were helpless in the face of the drought.
Learner examples
I am helpless against this big problem.
Tehetetlen vagyok ezzel a nagy problémával szemben.
She was helpless to stop the fight.
Tehetetlen volt, nem tudta megállítani a verekedést.
We were helpless in the heavy snow.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'helpless' with 'hopeless'. 'Helpless' is about inability to act; 'hopeless' is about no chance of success.
Meaning
Unable to stop something from happening
Collocations
helpless against the storm
|helpless in the face of
|helpless to stop
Synonyms
defenseless (Highlights a lack of protection against an attack or harm.)
Antonyms
resistant (Able to withstand or prevent something from affecting you.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not able to stop something from happening.
Unable to prevent or stop an event, action, or situation from occurring.
A2
3
Usage pattern:
[someone] is helpless and needs [someone/something]
The accident left him helpless and bedridden for months.
A baleset után hónapokig magatehetetlenül feküdt az ágyban.
Helpless patients require constant attention from nurses.
A magatehetetlen betegeknek állandó ápolói felügyeletre van szükségük.
The kitten was helpless without its mother.
Learner examples
The sick man is helpless in bed.
A beteg férfi magatehetetlenül fekszik az ágyban.
The baby is helpless and needs food.
A kisbaba magatehetetlen, és meg kell etetni.
She is helpless after the fall.
Meaning
Requiring complete care from others
Collocations
helpless patient
|helpless elderly
|helpless animal
Synonyms
dependent (Focuses on relying on others, not necessarily due to inability to act physically.)
Antonyms
self-sufficient (Able to take care of oneself without help from others.)
Themes
healthcare
|daily life
|health
|daily_life
Definition
Needing other people to take care of you completely.
Needing others to provide all necessary care and assistance due to age, illness, or disability.
Grammar
Dictionary form
helpless
IPA
GB/hˈɛlpləs/
US/hˈɛlpləs/
Syllables & stress
help - less (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (help)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: helpless
Word family
Expressions
feel helpless
1/fˈil hˈɛlpləs/
fixed phrase
To feel unable to act or help
To have the feeling that you cannot do anything to make a situation better.
Examples
- I felt helpless watching the disaster on TV.
- Parents often feel helpless when their children are sick.
helpless with laughter
1/hˈɛlpləs wˈɪθ lˈæftɚ/
fixed phrase
Laughing so much you can't control yourself
Laughing so much that you cannot stop or do anything else.
Examples
- He was helpless with laughter after hearing the joke.
- They were all helpless with laughter during the comedy show.
stand by helplessly
1/stˈænd bˈaɪ hˈɛlpləsli/
fixed phrase
Watch without being able to help
To watch something happen without being able to do anything about it.
Examples
- We stood by helplessly as the house burned down.
- She stood by helplessly while her friend was taken away.