Etymologically
Log in

hulp

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 21 October 2026 at 15:39. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • /ɦʏlp/, [ɦʏɫp][1]

Forms

hulp f (plural hulpen, diminutive hulpje n)[1] In the sense “helper” it can also be masculine.[2][1] Older Dutch also had helpe and help.[2][3]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch hulpe, inherited from Old Dutch hulpa, inherited from Proto-Germanic *hulpō (“help”), a noun formed from the root of helpen in its zero grade.[4][5][1] The same form is Middle Low German hulpe and Old High German hulpa (Middle High German hülfe, now an archaic German form).[4][6] Beside it there was a form in the full grade, Proto-Germanic *helpō, which is helpa (about 1100), Middle Dutch helpe, Old Saxon helpa, Old High German helfa (modern German Hilfe), Old Frisian hēlpe, Old English help (modern English help) and Old Norse hjǫlp.[4][5][6]

In the 13th century ⟨helpe⟩ and ⟨hulpe⟩ were about equally common, without a clear regional division, but ⟨helpe⟩ was already losing ground during the Middle Dutch period.[4][7] The MNW also considered that ⟨hulpe⟩ might have arisen from ⟨helpe⟩, as ⟨hun⟩ beside ⟨hen⟩.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Wachtendonck Psalms of the 10th century have Gif unsig hulpa fan arbeide, “give us help in trouble”, and got hulpon minro, “God of my help”.[8][4][9] The oldest Middle Dutch record, of about 1200 in Limburg, has the form helpen; a Limburg glossary of 1240 renders Latin suffragium as holpe.[7]

Semantic evolution

In Middle Dutch the word appeared in many prepositional phrases: in enes hulpe comen, to come to someone's help (1254), in enes hulpe sijn, to help someone, and te hulpen “for the benefit of”.[7][3] In law it could mean supporting evidence from aldermen or witnesses.[3] As a cry for aid, hulpe! is recorded about 1301.[3]

From the 16th century the WNT records the familiar phrases: om hulp roepen (1646), iemand te hulp komen (1642) and met hulp van (1611).[2] The sense “helper, assistant”, a person who helps in a job, came later, and hulp is also a tool or aid, and in riding the signal by which the rider tells the horse what to do.[2][10][11] In Limburg help or hulp is a pair of braces, short for helpzeel.[12]

Negerhollands had help, and Javanese took hèlep in the sense of an assistant clerk.[13]

Timeline

  • 901–1000 – Gif unsig hulpa in the Wachtendonck Psalms.[8][9]
  • c. 1100 – The full-grade form helpa in the Egmond Williram.[4]
  • c. 1200 – First Middle Dutch record, helpen, in Limburg.[7]
  • 1254 – In des hus soekers helpe comen, to come to someone's aid, in Middelburg.[7]
  • 1526 – The modern spelling hulpe in the WNT's first quotation.[2]
  • 1646 – Om help roepen, to call for help.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. help, assistance, support given to someone who needs it: Zonder jouw hulp was het nooit gelukt.[10][11][1]
  2. a helper or assistant, especially paid domestic help: Ze heeft twee ochtenden per week een hulp.[10][11][1]
  3. an aid, something that helps reach a goal.[10][11]
  4. (riding) an aid, a signal by which the rider tells the horse what to do.[10][11]

Word family

  • behulpzaam
  • hulpbehoevend
  • hulpdienst
  • hulpeloos
  • hulpmiddel
  • hulptroepen
  • hulpvaardig
  • hulpverlener
  • noodhulp
  • hulpbron
  • hulpbetoon
  • hulpkreet

Usage notes

Eerste hulp bij ongelukken (EHBO) is first aid, and humanitaire hulp aid given directly to a population.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Vries, Matthias de; Winkel, L. A. te, et al. (1882–1998), Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, 29 vols., 's-Gravenhage / Leiden: Nijhoff / Sijthoff / SDU; supplement 2001; gtb.ivdnt.org
  3. ^ a b c d e Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; gtb.ivdnt.org
  4. ^ a b c d e f Philippa, Marlies; Debrabandere, Frans; Quak, Arend; Schoonheim, Tanneke; Sijs, Nicoline van der (2003–2009), Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands, 4 vols., Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press; online via etymologiebank.nl
  5. ^ a b Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
  6. ^ a b Franck, Johannes; Wijk, Nicolaas van (1912), Franck's Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 2nd ed., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
  7. ^ a b c d e Pijnenburg, W. J. J., et al. (2001), Vroegmiddelnederlands woordenboek: woordenboek van het Nederlands van de dertiende eeuw in hoofdzaak op basis van het Corpus-Gysseling, Leiden: Instituut voor Nederlandse Lexicologie; gtb.ivdnt.org
  8. ^ a b Oudnederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; gtb.ivdnt.org
  9. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
  10. ^ a b c d e f Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
  11. ^ a b c d e Algemeen Nederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; anw.ivdnt.org
  12. ^ Debrabandere, Frans (2011), Limburgs etymologisch woordenboek: de herkomst van de woorden uit beide Limburgen, Zwolle: Wbooks
  13. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)