Calling Emergency Services
Essential phrases for calling 112 (the emergency number in Italy), reporting an incident, and following the dispatcher's instructions.
Key Phrases
Ho bisogno di un'ambulanza!
neutralI need an ambulance!
The most direct and standard way to ask for medical help.
Aiuto! Mandate subito la polizia!
casualHelp! Send the police immediately!
Use in highly urgent situations. 'Mandate' is addressed to the emergency center.
Può mandare i vigili del fuoco, per favore?
politeCan you send the fire department, please?
Uses the formal 'Lei' form and the modal verb 'potere' for a slightly calmer request.
C'è stato un brutto incidente.
neutralThere has been a bad accident.
Uses the passato prossimo, the most common past tense for recent events.
Una signora sta molto male.
casualA lady is very sick.
'Stare male' is the everyday Italian way to say someone is unwell or hurt.
Mi trovo in via Roma.
politeI am located on Rome street.
'Mi trovo' (I find myself) sounds a bit more official than just saying 'I am'.
Sono qui davanti alla stazione.
casualI am right here in front of the station.
Deve restare in linea con me.
politeYou must stay on the line with me.
Dispatchers will typically use formal address and modal verbs (deve) with callers.
Non chiudere la chiamata.
casualDon't hang up the call.
A negative instruction often used if the dispatcher switches to informal speech to calm someone.
I soccorsi arriveranno presto.
neutralHelp will arrive soon.
'I soccorsi' refers generally to emergency responders (paramedics, police, etc.).