Emergency Italian What to Say When Things Go Wrong

By Evytor Dailyโ€ขAugust 6, 2025โ€ขTravel

Emergency Italian What to Say When Things Go Wrong

Traveling to Italy is a dream for many, but sometimes, things don't go as planned. Whether it's a lost passport, a missed train, or a sudden illness, knowing some basic emergency Italian phrases can make a huge difference. This guide provides you with essential phrases to navigate unexpected situations with confidence, ensuring you can communicate your needs effectively and get the help you require. Learn how to ask for assistance, explain your problem, and understand the responses you receive. Prepare for your trip by equipping yourself with these vital phrases and enjoying your Italian adventure with greater peace of mind.

๐ŸŽฏ Summary of Essential Emergency Italian

  • ๐Ÿ†˜ Basic phrases for seeking immediate help.
  • ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ Vocabulary for explaining common travel emergencies.
  • ๐Ÿฅ Medical emergency phrases and how to call for help.
  • ๐Ÿ‘ฎ Reporting theft or loss to the authorities.
  • ๐Ÿš‚ Dealing with transportation issues like missed trains.
  • ๐Ÿจ Resolving accommodation problems.

๐Ÿ†˜ Essential Phrases for Immediate Help

When facing an emergency, clear and direct communication is crucial. These phrases will help you immediately signal that you need assistance:

Basic Phrases

  • Aiuto! (Ah-yoo-toh!) โ€“ Help!
  • Emergenza! (Eh-mehr-jen-tsah!) โ€“ Emergency!
  • Per favore, mi aiuti! (Per fah-voh-reh, mee ah-yoo-tee!) โ€“ Please, help me!
  • Ho bisogno di aiuto! (Oh bee-zohn-yoh dee ah-yoo-toh!) โ€“ I need help!

Calling for Specific Help

  • Chiamate un'ambulanza! (Kee-ah-mah-teh oon am-boo-lan-tsah!) โ€“ Call an ambulance!
  • Chiamate la polizia! (Kee-ah-mah-teh lah poh-lee-tsee-ah!) โ€“ Call the police!
  • Chiamate un medico! (Kee-ah-mah-teh oon meh-dee-koh!) โ€“ Call a doctor!

Asking for Assistance

  • Puรฒ aiutarmi, per favore? (Pwoh ah-yoo-tar-mee, per fah-voh-reh?) โ€“ Can you help me, please?
  • Dov'รจ l'ospedale piรน vicino? (Doh-veh loh-spay-dah-leh pyoo vee-chee-noh?) โ€“ Where is the nearest hospital?
  • Dov'รจ la stazione di polizia piรน vicina? (Doh-veh lah stat-tsee-oh-neh dee poh-lee-tsee-ah pyoo vee-chee-nah?) โ€“ Where is the nearest police station?

๐Ÿš‘ Medical Emergency Phrases

In a medical emergency, being able to describe your symptoms and needs is crucial. Here are some phrases to help you communicate effectively.

Explaining Symptoms

  • Non mi sento bene. (Non mee sehn-toh beh-neh.) โ€“ I don't feel well.
  • Ho molto male qui. (Oh mohl-toh mah-leh kwee.) โ€“ I have a lot of pain here.
  • Ho bisogno di un medico. (Oh bee-zohn-yoh dee oon meh-dee-koh.) โ€“ I need a doctor.
  • Mi fa male la testa. (Mee fah mah-leh lah teh-stah.) โ€“ My head hurts.
  • Ho mal di stomaco. (Oh mahl dee stoh-mah-koh.) โ€“ I have a stomach ache.
  • Ho la febbre. (Oh lah feb-breh.) โ€“ I have a fever.

Describing Conditions

  • Sono allergico a... (Soh-noh ahl-lehr-jee-koh ah...) โ€“ I am allergic to...
  • Sono diabetico. (Soh-noh dee-ah-beh-tee-koh.) โ€“ I am diabetic.
  • Ho l'asma. (Oh laz-mah.) โ€“ I have asthma.
  • Prendo queste medicine. (Prehn-doh kweh-steh meh-dee-chee-neh.) โ€“ I take these medications.

Asking for Help

  • Puรฒ chiamare un'ambulanza? (Pwoh kee-ah-mah-reh oon am-boo-lan-tsah?) โ€“ Can you call an ambulance?
  • Ho bisogno di un dottore che parli inglese. (Oh bee-zohn-yoh dee oon doht-toh-reh keh par-lee een-gleh-zeh.) โ€“ I need a doctor who speaks English.
  • Dove posso trovare una farmacia? (Doh-veh pohs-soh troh-vah-reh oo-nah far-mah-chee-ah?) โ€“ Where can I find a pharmacy?
Symptom Italian Phrase
Chest pain Dolore al petto
Difficulty breathing Difficoltร  a respirare
Dizziness Vertigini

๐Ÿ‘ฎ Reporting Theft or Loss

Dealing with theft or loss while traveling can be stressful. Knowing how to report it to the authorities is essential.

Reporting a Theft

  • Mi hanno rubato... (Mee ahn-noh roo-bah-toh...) โ€“ I have been robbed of...
  • Hanno rubato il mio portafoglio. (Ahn-noh roo-bah-toh eel mee-oh pohr-tah-fohl-yoh.) โ€“ My wallet has been stolen.
  • Hanno rubato la mia borsa. (Ahn-noh roo-bah-toh lah mee-ah bohr-sah.) โ€“ My bag has been stolen.
  • Hanno rubato il mio passaporto. (Ahn-noh roo-bah-toh eel mee-oh pas-sah-pohr-toh.) โ€“ My passport has been stolen.

Reporting a Loss

  • Ho perso... (Oh pehr-soh...) โ€“ I have lost...
  • Ho perso il mio passaporto. (Oh pehr-soh eel mee-oh pas-sah-pohr-toh.) โ€“ I have lost my passport.
  • Ho perso il mio biglietto. (Oh pehr-soh eel mee-oh bee-lyeh-toh.) โ€“ I have lost my ticket.

At the Police Station

  • Vorrei fare una denuncia. (Vohr-ray fah-reh oo-nah deh-noon-chah.) โ€“ I would like to make a report.
  • Sono stato derubato. (Soh-noh stah-toh deh-roo-bah-toh.) โ€“ I have been robbed. (Male)
  • Sono stata derubata. (Soh-noh stah-tah deh-roo-bah-tah.) โ€“ I have been robbed. (Female)
  • Ecco il mio documento d'identitร . (Eh-koh eel mee-oh doh-koo-mehn-toh dee-den-tee-tah.) โ€“ Here is my ID.

๐Ÿš‚ Dealing with Transportation Issues

Missed trains, delayed buses, or problems with your rental car can disrupt your travel plans. Hereโ€™s how to handle common transportation emergencies.

Missed Train or Bus

  • Ho perso il treno. (Oh pehr-soh eel treh-noh.) โ€“ I missed the train.
  • Ho perso l'autobus. (Oh pehr-soh low-toh-boos.) โ€“ I missed the bus.
  • Quando รจ il prossimo treno per...? (Kwan-doh eh eel prohs-see-moh treh-noh pehr...?) โ€“ When is the next train to...?
  • Quando รจ il prossimo autobus per...? (Kwan-doh eh eel prohs-see-moh ow-toh-boos pehr...?) โ€“ When is the next bus to...?
  • Posso cambiare il mio biglietto? (Pohs-soh kam-bee-ah-reh eel mee-oh bee-lyeh-toh?) โ€“ Can I change my ticket?

Rental Car Problems

  • Ho un problema con la macchina. (Oh oon proh-bleh-mah kohn lah mak-kee-nah.) โ€“ I have a problem with the car.
  • La macchina non parte. (Lah mak-kee-nah non par-teh.) โ€“ The car won't start.
  • Ho avuto un incidente. (Oh av-voo-toh oon een-chee-dehn-teh.) โ€“ I had an accident.
  • Dove posso trovare un meccanico? (Doh-veh pohs-soh troh-vah-reh oon mek-kah-nee-koh?) โ€“ Where can I find a mechanic?

Asking for Directions

  • Mi sono perso. (Mee soh-noh pehr-soh.) โ€“ I am lost. (Male)
  • Mi sono persa. (Mee soh-noh pehr-sah.) โ€“ I am lost. (Female)
  • Come posso arrivare a...? (Koh-meh pohs-soh ar-ree-vah-reh ah...?) โ€“ How can I get to...?
  • รˆ lontano da qui? (Eh lohn-tah-noh dah kwee?) โ€“ Is it far from here?
  1. Stay Calm: Take a deep breath and try not to panic.
  2. Assess the Situation: Understand the extent of the problem.
  3. Use Basic Phrases: Start with simple phrases to communicate your needs.

๐Ÿจ Accommodation Issues

Sometimes, things go wrong with your accommodation. Here's how to address common problems.

Common Issues

  • Non funziona l'aria condizionata. (Non foon-tsee-oh-nah lah ah-ree-ah kon-dee-tsee-oh-nah-tah.) โ€“ The air conditioning isn't working.
  • Non c'รจ acqua calda. (Non cheh ahk-kwah kahl-dah.) โ€“ There is no hot water.
  • La stanza non รจ pulita. (Lah stan-tsah non eh poo-lee-tah.) โ€“ The room is not clean.
  • C'รจ un problema con la mia prenotazione. (Cheh oon proh-bleh-mah kohn lah mee-ah preh-noh-tat-tsee-oh-neh.) โ€“ There is a problem with my reservation.

Expressing Your Concerns

  • Vorrei parlare con il direttore. (Vohr-ray par-lah-reh kohn eel dee-ret-toh-reh.) โ€“ I would like to speak with the manager.
  • Non sono soddisfatto. (Non soh-noh sohdd-ees-fat-toh.) โ€“ I am not satisfied. (Male)
  • Non sono soddisfatta. (Non soh-noh sohdd-ees-fat-tah.) โ€“ I am not satisfied. (Female)
  • Vorrei cambiare stanza. (Vohr-ray kam-bee-ah-reh stan-tsah.) โ€“ I would like to change rooms.

Seeking Resolution

  • Cosa potete fare per risolvere questo problema? (Koh-sah poh-teh-teh fah-reh pehr ree-sohl-veh-reh kweh-stoh proh-bleh-mah?) โ€“ What can you do to resolve this problem?
  • Vorrei un rimborso. (Vohr-ray oon reem-bohr-soh.) โ€“ I would like a refund.

๐Ÿ’ก Additional Tips for Handling Emergencies

Beyond specific phrases, consider these strategies for smoother interactions.

  • Carry a Phrasebook: Always have a physical or digital phrasebook handy.
  • Use Translation Apps: Apps like Google Translate can be invaluable for complex conversations.
  • Learn Basic Etiquette: Politeness can go a long way in getting help.
  • Keep Important Numbers Accessible: Store emergency contacts, embassy numbers, and insurance details on your phone and in a written format.
  • Stay Calm: Panicking can hinder your ability to think clearly and communicate effectively.

Useful Contact Numbers

  • Police: 113
  • Fire Department: 115
  • Ambulance: 118
  • Emergency Number: 112 (works in all EU countries)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most important phrase to know in an emergency?

"Aiuto!" (Help!) is the most crucial phrase to immediately attract attention and signal that you need assistance.

How do I call for an ambulance in Italy?

Dial 118 to call for an ambulance. Be prepared to provide your location and a brief description of the emergency.

What should I do if my passport is stolen?

Report the theft to the nearest police station and contact your embassy or consulate for assistance with obtaining a replacement passport.

How can I ask for a doctor who speaks English?

Use the phrase "Ho bisogno di un dottore che parli inglese" (I need a doctor who speaks English).

What is the European emergency number?

The European emergency number is 112. It works in all EU countries and can be used to contact the police, fire department, or ambulance.

The Takeaway

Equipping yourself with essential emergency Italian phrases is a smart move for any traveler. It empowers you to handle unexpected situations confidently and ensures you can communicate your needs effectively. Remember to practice these phrases before your trip, and don't hesitate to use them if needed. By preparing for potential emergencies, you can enjoy your Italian adventure with greater peace of mind and focus on creating unforgettable memories. Don't forget to explore our other helpful guides, such as Italian for Beginners Avoid These Common Mistakes and Lost in Translation No More Mastering Basic Italian for Your Trip, to further enhance your language skills! You can also read our article on Speak Italian Like a Local Top Phrases They Don't Teach in Textbooks

A worried tourist in Italy looking at a map, with emergency services symbols like a hospital and police car in the background.