Top Pages
Home
A-Z Glossary
Punctuation
A-Z Confused Words
Common Mistakes
(ordered by seriousness) Top Tip
Get a grammar checker
for your browser ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists Tests and Games Awkward Plurals Sayings and Proverbs Twitter YouTube
(ordered by seriousness) Top Tip
Get a grammar checker
for your browser ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists Tests and Games Awkward Plurals Sayings and Proverbs Twitter YouTube
Aid or Aide?
What Is the Difference between "Aid" and "Aide"?
"Aid" and "aide" are easy to confuse because they sound identical and their meanings both relate to providing help.- "Aid" means help or assistance. For example:
- The team provided aid to the refugees.
- The team will aid the refugees.
- "Aide" is a helper or an assistant. (In other words, an "aide" is a person.) For example:
- There's too much work. I need an aide.

A Video Summary
Here is a short video summarizing the difference between "aid" and "aide."Aid
The word "aid" means "help" or "assistance." It is commonly seen as an adjective, a noun, or a verb. (As a verb, it means "to help" or "to assist.")Examples:
- Be bold and mighty powers will come to your aid.
(Canadian writer Basil King)
- I have known sorrow and learned to aid the wretched.
(Roman poet Virgil)
Aide
The noun "aide" means "a helper" or "an assistant." "An aide" is a person.Examples:
- General McChrystal and his aides told the unvarnished truth.
- The Libyan leader caused a scene at the African Heads of State Summit in Munyonyo when he slapped one of his aides for taking him to a wrong venue.
Common Terms with "Aid" and "Aide"
Common terms with the word "aid":- Aid and abet
- Band Aid
- to come to (someone's) aid
- in aid of
- Aide memoire
- aide-de-camp
Ready for the Test?
Help Us To Improve Grammar Monster
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?
Next lesson >
See Also
adverse or averse? affect or effect? Ms., Miss, or Mrs? avenge or revenge? bare or bear? complement or compliment? dependant or dependent? discreet or discrete? disinterested or uninterested? e.g. or i.e.? envy or jealousy? imply or infer? its or it's? material or materiel? poisonous or venomous? practice or practise? principal or principle? tenant or tenet? who's or whose? What are adjectives? List of easily confused wordsPage URL