Portuguese Phrase
Me ajuda com esse problema?
Meaning
A casual request asking someone to lend a hand with a particular difficulty. The tone is friendly and informal, and the question mark softens the command, turning it into a polite ask.
When to use
Use it with friends, classmates, or coworkers you address as *tu* (or in regions where *tu* is common). It’s not appropriate in formal settings or with strangers; in those cases opt for a more polite construction.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Meajudacomesseproblema?
Me (pronome oblíquo átono)
Used as a clitic pronoun meaning 'me', placed before the verb in affirmative commands.
ajuda (imperativo de tu)
Second‑person singular imperative of the verb *ajudar*. In informal speech it also doubles as the present indicative when the request is phrased as a question.
com (preposição)
Introduces the complement that follows; here it links the verb *ajudar* with the thing you need help with.
esse (pronome demonstrativo)
Points to a specific problem that is close to the speaker or already known in the conversation.
problema (substantivo masculino)
The noun that receives the help; singular, masculine, ends with -a.
🗨In Conversation
Me ajuda com esse problema?
Can you help me with this problem?
Claro! O que está acontecendo?
Sure! What’s going on?
✕Common Mistakes
Me ajuda você com esse problema?
The pronoun *você* should not appear after the verb in this construction; it breaks the clitic order.
Ajuda-me com esse problema?
While grammatically correct, *ajuda‑me* sounds formal and is rarely used in everyday Brazilian conversation.
Me ajuda com esse problemas?
The noun must agree in number; *problemas* is plural, so the article should be *esses*.
↔Alternatives
Você pode me ajudar com esse problema?
Could you help me with this problem?
Pode me dar uma mão com esse problema?
Can you give me a hand with this problem?
Preciso de ajuda com esse problema.
I need help with this problem.
Cultural Tip
In most of Brazil people use *você* instead of *tu*, so the imperative *ajuda* can sound very regional (common in the South and parts of the Northeast). If you’re unsure of the listener’s preferred pronoun, switch to the more neutral *pode me ajudar* or *você pode me ajudar*. Also, adding a smile or a soft tone makes the request feel less demanding.