Spanish Phrase
Avísame cómo puedo ayudar.
Meaning
A courteous way to ask someone to tell you the way you can be of assistance. It conveys willingness to help while giving the other person the freedom to specify the need.
When to use
Use it when you want to offer help in a professional setting (customer service, workplace) or in informal conversations with friends and family. It works well after the other person has mentioned a problem or a task that needs attention.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Avísamecómopuedoayudar
Imperative + enclitic pronoun
Avísame is the affirmative imperative of avisar with the enclitic pronoun -me attached, meaning “let me know”.
Indirect question with cómo
Cómo introduces an indirect question (how) and does not carry a question mark in this declarative sentence.
Present of poder
Puedo is the first‑person singular present of poder, indicating ability (“I can”).
Infinitive of ayudar
Ayudar is the infinitive form of the verb “to help”, used after poder to express capability.
Word order
The typical order is [imperative] + [indirect question] + [modal verb] + [infinitive].
🗨In Conversation
Tengo que preparar la presentación para mañana y no sé por dónde empezar.
I have to prepare the presentation for tomorrow and I don’t know where to start.
Avísame cómo puedo ayudar.
Let me know how I can help.
✕Common Mistakes
Avísame qué puedo ayudar.
Use "cómo" (how) for a method, not "qué" (what).
Avísame cómo puedes ayudar.
The speaker should use first‑person "puedo" because they are offering their own help.
Avísame cómo puedo ayudarme.
The infinitive follows poder directly; adding the pronoun changes the meaning to “help me”.
↔Alternatives
Dime cómo puedo ayudar.
Tell me how I can help.
Hazme saber en qué puedo ayudar.
Make me aware of how I can help.
Avísame en qué puedo ayudar.
Let me know in what I can help.
Hágame saber cómo puedo ayudar.
Please let me know how I can help. (formal)
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries, offering help with "avísame" is friendly and slightly informal. In very formal contexts (e.g., business emails) you might prefer the more formal "hágame saber" or "por favor, indíqueme cómo puedo ayudar". Also, remember that "avísame" can be used for both information requests and invitations to act, so tone of voice matters.