Aid vs. Aide—What Is the Difference? Aid (as a noun) means “help” or “assistance.” As a verb it means “to help” or “to assist.” An aide is an assistant. Even though the words aid and aide have similar meanings, are written similarly, and are pronounced the same, they cannot be used interchangeably.

Aid is used as a verb and a noun. As a verb, aid is a synonym of help and means “to assist” or “to provide support.” As a noun, aid typically means “assistance” or “a person or thing that provides help.” Aide is only used as a noun, typically to refer to people who are paid to assist others.

An aide is an assistant or helper. The word is always a noun and refers to a person who is tasked as a source of assistance. Aid is a noun referring to (1) assistance or (2) something that assists (e.g., a hearing aid or a visual aid), and it’s also a verb meaning to assist.

Aid is the act of helping and is used as a verb. Aide is the person who helps and is used as a noun. Context Matters: Consider the context in which the word is used. If you describe providing help, “aid” is likely the correct choice. If referring to someone who provides help, “aide” is suitable.

"Aid" and "aide" are easy to confuse because they sound identical and their meanings both relate to providing help. "Aid" means help or assistance, and it can be used as a noun or a verb. "Aide" is a helper or an assistant. (In other words, an "aide" is a person.) For example: