Learn Italian - Emergency

Emergency in Italy: Accident, Losing Someone, Theft, Assault and Harassment, Health Care

This section was created to help the reader learn how to ask for or give help in case of illness, accident, losing someone or danger.

Accident: if you are a victim or witnessing a car accident, you should immediately call the following telephone number: 118 for emergency health. In case of fire, call 115, the telephone number of firefighters. If you need police, you can call 113 for Police or 112 for Carabinieri, two different police agencies with similar tasks. However, do not bother to call all these numbers as the 118 listening to the dynamics will alert the police and firefighters. The following are examples of very useful conversation in these situations:

Mi può aiutare?

Could you help me please?

 

C’è un telefono?

Is there a telephone here?

 

Qual’è il numero dell’ambulanza/polizia/pompieri?

What is the ambulance/police/firefighters telephone number?

 

Ho bisogno di un interprete.

I need an interpreter.

 

Ho avuto un incidente.

I have just had an accident.

 

Ho assistito ad un incidente.

I have just seen an accident.

 

Dobbiamo mettere il triangolo.

We must put the red warning triangle.

 

Vado a chiamare la polizia. Pronto, polizia? C’è stato un incidente sulla strada da … a …

I’ll go and get the police. Hallo, the police, please. There has been an accident on the road from … to …

 

Qualcuno ha visto come si è svolto l’incidente?

Did anyone see how the accident happened?

Può darmi l’indirizzo?

Can you give me the address?

Ci sono feriti gravi!

There are severe casualities!

Non muovetelo!

Don’t move him/it!

Non respire.

He/She isn’t breathing.

Sono stato investito.

I’ve been run over.

Il mio/suo gruppo sanguigno è …

My/His/Her blood group is …

Portatemi al pronto soccorso/ospedale.

Take me to the casualty ward/hospital.

Chiamate un’ambulanza/un medico per favore!

Please call an ambulance/a doctor!

Chiamate la polizia/i pompieri per favore!

Please call the police/the firefighters (the firemen).

Per favore mi dia il suo nome e il suo indirizzo.

Would you give me your name and address, please?

Non spostate le macchine fino al nostro arrivo.

Do not move the cars until we get there.

Losing someone: if you are in a mall you can ask the speaker to make an announcement, or in case of complications is better to contact the police by calling 112 for Carabinieri or 113 for Polizia, two different police agencies with similar tasks. The following are examples of very useful conversation in these situations:

Ho perduto mio figlio Roberto, può fare un annuncio con l’altoparlante?

I have lost my son Roberto. Could you make an announcement over the tannoy please?

 

Mio figlio si è perso. E’ un bambino di 10 anni, è vestito con …

My son has got lost. He is a child of 10 years, dressed I ...

 

Mi può chiamare il Sig. … con l’altoparlante per favore?

Could you call Mr. ... over the tannoy please?

Theft: if you’ve been robbed, just contact the police by calling 112 for Carabinieri or 113 for Polizia, two different police agencies with similar tasks. The following are examples of very useful conversation in these situations:

Aiuto! Al ladro!

Help! Stop the thief!

Chiamate la polizia!

Call the police!

Dov’è il consolato americano?

Where is the American consulate, please?

Dov’è la stazione di polizia?

Where is the police station, please?

Ho bisogno di un interprete/avvocato.

I need an interpreter/lawyer.

Voglio denunciare il furto/lo smarrimento …

… dei documenti/del passaporto.

… della carta di credito.

… del biglietto aereo.

… del mio bagaglio.

… del portafoglio/della borsa.

I’d like to report the theft/loss …

… of (my) papers/(my) passport.

… of (my) credit card.

… of (my) plane ticket.

… of my luggage.

… of (my) wallet/(my) bag.

Sono stato scippato.

I have been mugged.

Mi hanno rubato la macchina, era parcheggiata in …

My car has been stolen. It was parked in …

Aveva denaro/preziosi/oggetti di valore?

Did you have any money/jewels/valuables on you?

Ci sono testimoni?

Are there any witnesses?

Mi descriva l’oggetto rubato/smarrito.

Please describe the stolen/lost object.

Dov’è avvenuto il furto? Saprebbe descrivere/riconoscere il ladro? Vuole sporgere denuncia?

Where did the theft take place? Would you be able to describe/recognize the thief? Do you want to make a statement?

Assault and harassment: if you have been assaulted or harassed by someone called the police immediately at telephone number 112 or 113. The following are examples of very useful conversation in these situations:

Mi lasci in pace!

Leave me alone!

Se ne vada o chiamo la polizia!

Go away, or I’ll call the police!

Aiuto, c’è un uomo che mi sta seguendo!

Help! Ther’s a man following me!

Smetta di seguirmi o chiamo la polizia!

Stop following me, or I’ll call the police!

Aiuto, c’è un uomo che mi molesta!

Help! There’s a man bothering me!

Vorrei denunciare un’aggressione.

I’d like to report a case of assault.

Vorrei denunciare un tentativo di violenza sessuale.

I’d like to report a case of attempted rape.

Dove è accaduto?

Where did it happen?

Quanti erano?

How many of them were there?

Saprebbe riconoscerlo/i?

Would you be able to recognize him/them?

C’erano testimoni?

Were there any witnesses?

Health care: if you do not feel well and you need health care, the best thing to do is go to the nearest Pronto Soccorso (emergency room/hospital), or if there is absolute urgency or do not know how to reach it, call the phone number 118 and an operator will answer, and after some questions will send an ambulance as soon as possible. The ambulance will take you to the nearest Pronto Soccorso (emergency room/hospital) where you will be treated by medical personnel. The following are examples of very useful conversation in these situations:

Mi sento male.

I feel ill.

Ho bisogno di un medico.

I need a doctor.

Vorrei chiamare un pediatra.

I’d like to call a pediatrician.

C’è un medico in albergo/nel campeggio?

Is there a doctor in the hotel/camping site?

Si può trovare un medico che parli inglese?

Would it be possible to have an English-speaking doctor?

Il medico può venire a visitare qui?

Can the doctor come visiting here?

Chiamate un’ambulanza!

Please, call an ambulance!

Dov’è l’ambulatorio?

Where is the surgery?

Dov’è il pronto soccorso?

Where is there the emergency room?

Dov’è l’ospedale?

Where is there the hospital?

Ho/ha la febbre da dieci ore.

I have/he/she has had a temperature for ten hours.

Ho/ha mangiato/bevuto qualcosa che mi/gli/le ha fatto male.

I have/He/she has eaten/drunken something which has made me/him/her ill.

Che cosa ha mangiato/bevuto?

What have you eaten/drunken?

Si stenda qui.

Lie down here.

Si spogli.

Get undressed.

Che cosa si sente?

What do you feel?

Avverto un malessere generale.

I have a general sense of malaise.

Mi gira la testa.

My head is spinning.

Mi sento debole.

I feel weak.

Ho/Ha ... i brividi/i crampi/il raffreddore/l’influenza/l’indigestione/la diarrea/la nausea/le emorroidi/un forte prurito/un’ernia/un ascesso/vomitato.

I have/he/she has got ... the shivers/the cramps/a cold/the flu/indigestion/diarrhea/nausea/hemorrhoids/a nasty itch/a hernia/an abscess/vomited.

Dove sente male? Dappertutto/le articolazioni/le braccia/le gambe/la testa/gli occhi/i denti/la pancia/lo stomaco/le orecchie/la gola/la schiena/il petto.

Where does it hurt? All over/my joints/arms/legs/head/eyes/teeth/tummy/stomach/ears/throat/back/chest.

Che genere di dolore è? E’ un dolore acuto / sordo / molto forte / intermittente / persistente.

What kind of pain is it? It is a sharp / a dull / a throbbing / an intermittent / a persistent ... pain.

Da quanto tempo avverte dolore? Le fa male qui? Ha già preso delle medicine?

How long has been hurting? Does it hurt here? Have you already taken any medicine?

Apra la bocca. Respiri profondamente. Tossisca. Si giri. Le misurerò la pressione.

Open your mouth. Take a deep breath. Cough. Turnover. I’ll take your blood pressure.

Non si preoccupi, non è niente di grave.

Don’t worry. It’s nothing serious.

Sono incinta di tre mesi.

I am three months pregnant.

Le faccio una ricetta per andare in farmacia. Le prescriverò un antibiotico. Prenda questo due volte al giorno per sette giorni prima/durante/dopo i pasti.

I’ll write a prescription for the chemist. I’ll prescribe an antibiotic for you. Take this two times a day for seven days before/during/after meals.

Deve sottoporsi ad un prelievo del sangue/dell’urina/delle feci.

You’ll have to do a test on your blood/urine/feces.

Devo farle un’iniezione di antibiotico.

I must give you an antibiotic injection.

Devo ricoverarla per un po’ in ospedale.

You’ll have to stay in hospital for a little.

Potrebbe avvertire la mia famiglia per favore?

Could you inform my family please?

Learn Italian the easiest way and for free. Have fun and enjoy our lessons!