Emergencies are the one time you cannot afford to be misunderstood. Learn these short, direct phrases so they come to mind automatically. The single most important word is ساعدني! (saa3idnee!, “help me!”).
Calling for help
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| مساعدة! | musaa3ada! | help! |
| ساعدني! | saa3idnee! | help me! |
| النجدة! | an-najda! | help! (emergency) |
| أنا بحاجة إلى مساعدة | ana biḥaaja ilaa musaa3ada | I need help |
| هل يمكنك مساعدتي؟ | hal yumkinuk musaa3adatee? | can you help me? |
| لا أتكلم العربية جيدا | laa atakallam al-3arabiyya jayyidan | I don’t speak Arabic well |
People and places
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| شرطة | shurṭa | police |
| إسعاف | is3aaf | ambulance |
| مستشفى | mustashfa | hospital |
| طبيب | ṭabeeb | doctor |
| حريق | ḥareeq | fire |
| خطر | khaṭar | danger |
Reporting a problem
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| حادث | ḥaadith | accident |
| سرقة | sariqa | theft |
| اتصل بالشرطة | ittaṣil bish-shurṭa | call the police |
| أريد إسعافا | ureed is3aafan | I want an ambulance |
| أين أقرب مستشفى؟ | ayna aqrab mustashfa? | where is the nearest hospital? |
| فقدت جواز سفري | faqadtu jawaaz safari | I lost my passport |
| فقدت حقيبتي | faqadtu ḥaqeebatee | I lost my bag |
Dialogue: Emergency call
Reporting an accident
- Aan-najda! hunaaka ḥaadithHelp! There is an accident
- Bmaadhaa ḥadatha?What happened?
- Arajul waqa3a wa aṣaabahu alam shadeedA man fell and has severe pain
- Bhal huwa waa3in?Is he conscious?
- Ana3am, laakinahu yanzifYes, but he is bleeding
- Bsa-nursil is3aafan ḥaalanWe will send an ambulance immediately
- Aayna antum?Where are you?
- Bnaḥnu amaama al-mustashfa al-qadeemWe are in front of the old hospital
- Aḥasanan, ibqaw hunaaOkay, stay there
Practice
How do you shout 'help me!' in Arabic?
hint: From the verb 'ساعد' (to help)
What does 'شرطة' mean?
hint: You call them in an emergency
How do you say 'I lost my passport' in Arabic?
hint: Use 'فقدت' for 'I lost'
Match each pair — start with Arabic (left)
0 / 8Arabic
English
← Select an Arabic word, then tap its meaning →
For medical situations, also review At the Doctor and At the Pharmacy.
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