Italian Emergency Phrases: Calling 112, Theft and Pharmacies

In Italy, call 112 from any phone for the police, an ambulance or the fire service. It is the single European emergency number, and calls are free. The older numbers still work: 113 (police), 118 (ambulance) and 115 (fire). This guide gives you the phrases to use when you are connected, plus what to say for theft, lost passports, a doctor or a pharmacy.

• Help!

  Aiuto!

  ah-YOO-toh

  Shout it if you need people nearby to react.
• It is an emergency!

  È un’emergenza!

  eh oo-neh-mehr-JEHN-tsah

  Short and clear. Say it first to anyone who can help.
• Call the police

  Chiami la polizia

  kee-AH-mee lah poh-lee-TSEE-ah

  Ask a bystander or shop staff to call if you cannot.
• Call an ambulance

  Chiami un'ambulanza

  kee-AH-mee oon-am-boo-LAHN-tsah

  You can also call 118.
• I need a doctor

  Ho bisogno di un medico

  oh bee-ZOH-nyoh dee oon MEH-dee-koh

Calling 112

The operator may ask which service you need, and in which city you are. Answer with one word, then give your location: a street, a hotel, a station or a landmark.

• I need help

  Ho bisogno di aiuto

  oh bee-ZOHN-nyoh dee ah-YOO-toh
• Fire!

  Al fuoco!

  ahl FWOH-koh

  To warn people. For the fire brigade, call 115 or 112.
• What's the emergency number here?

  Qual è il numero di emergenza qui?

  KWAHL eh eel NOO-meh-roh dih eh-mehr-JEHNT-sah KWEE

  Useful if you are not sure which number applies.
• Can I use your phone, please?

  Posso usare il suo telefono, per favore?

  POHS-soh oo-ZAH-reh eel SOO-oh teh-LEH-foh-noh pehr fah-VOH-reh

  Formal. Use it with strangers and staff.
• I am at (place)

  Sono a (luogo)

  SOH-noh ah

  Say the street, the hotel or the station.

Theft and the police

Pickpockets work in busy places, such as crowded trains, metro stations and tourist sights in big cities. Keep your bag closed and in front of you. If something is stolen, report it as soon as you can, since you will need the report for your insurer.

You can go to the Polizia di Stato or the Carabinieri. Ask for a copy of the report (denuncia).

• Where is the nearest police station?

  Dove si trova la stazione di polizia più vicina?

  DOH-veh sih TRAW-vah lah staht-see-OH-neh dih poh-leet-SEE-ah pyoo vee-CHEE-nah

  The nearest police or Carabinieri station.
• I want to file a police report

  Voglio sporgere denuncia alla polizia.

  VOH-lyoh SPAWR-jeh-reh deh-NOON-chah ahl-lah poh-leet-SEE-ah

  Denuncia is a formal report. Ask for a copy.
• My wallet was stolen

  Il mio portafoglio è stato rubato

  eel mee-oh pohr-tah-FAW-lyoh eh STAH-toh roo-BAH-toh
• My phone was stolen

  Mi hanno rubato il telefono

  mih ahn-noh roo-BAH-toh eel teh-LEH-foh-noh
• My bag was stolen

  La mia borsa è stata rubata

  lah mee-ah BOHR-sah eh STAH-tah roo-BAH-tah
• My belongings were stolen

  Mi hanno rubato i miei effetti personali

  mih ahn-noh roo-BAH-toh ee myeh-ee ehf-FEH-tih pehr-soh-NAH-lih
• Stop thief!

  Al ladro!

  ahl LAH-droh

  Shout it if someone grabs your bag.
• I have been robbed

  Sono stato derubato / Sono stata derubata

  SOH-noh STAH-toh deh-roo-BAH-toh / STAH-tah

  Use the first if you are a man, the second if a woman.

Lost something?

Lost items are usually handed to the police, or to the lost property office (ufficio oggetti smarriti) of a station, an airport, a bus company or a city. Ask at the place where you lost it first.

• I am lost

  Mi sono perso/a

  mee SOH-noh PEHR-soh

  Say it when you cannot find your way. Add "Scusi" first.
• My passport is lost/stolen

  Ho perso il passaporto / Mi hanno rubato il passaporto.

  oh PEHR-soh eel pahs-sah-POHR-toh / mee AHN-noh roo-BAH-toh eel pahs-sah-POHR-toh

  The first half means "I have lost my passport", the second "My passport has been stolen". Say only the one that applies.
• I lost my travel documents

  Ho perso i miei documenti di viaggio

  oh PEHR-soh ee myeh-ee doh-koo-MEHN-tih dih VYAH-joh
• Where is lost and found for the airport?

  Dove si trova l'ufficio oggetti smarriti dell'aeroporto?

  DOH-veh sih TRAW-vah loof-FEE-choh oh-JEH-tih zmahr-REE-tih dehl-lah-eh-roh-PAWR-toh

  For an airport. For a train, ask the station staff.

A police report is the first step for a lost or stolen passport. Ask for a copy, then contact your embassy or consulate. They will usually ask to see it.

Medical help

For a serious emergency, call 112 or 118. For something less urgent, a pharmacy (farmacia, marked with a green cross) can advise on minor problems, and the emergency room (pronto soccorso) of a hospital deals with urgent cases. Keep your receipts for your insurer.

• Is there a hospital nearby?

  C'è un ospedale vicino?

  cheh oon os-peh-DAH-leh vee-CHEE-noh

  Ospedale means hospital.
• Is there an English-speaking doctor?

  C'è un medico che parla inglese?

  cheh oon MEH-dee-koh keh PAHR-lah eengg-LEH-zeh

  Not every doctor will, but it is always worth asking.
• Where is the nearest pharmacy?

  Dov’è la farmacia più vicina?

  doh-VEH lah fahr-mah-CHEE-ah pyoo vee-CHEE-nah
• I do not feel well

  Non mi sento bene

  nohn mee SEHN-toh BEH-neh
• I need to go to the emergency room

  Devo andare al pronto soccorso

  DEH-voh ahn-DAH-reh ahl PROHN-toh sohk-KOR-soh

Earthquakes and other danger

Italy has regular small earthquakes in some regions. If a strong one happens, the usual guidance is to drop to the floor, shelter under something sturdy or against an inside wall, and stay away from windows. Hotels have instructions in the room.

• There's an earthquake

  C'è un terremoto

  cheh oon tehr-reh-MAW-toh

  "Terremoto" means earthquake.
• Where is the emergency exit?

  Dov'è l'uscita d'emergenza?

  doh-VEH loo-SHEE-tah deh-mehr-JEHNT-sah
• Where is the nearest safe zone?

  Dove si trova la zona sicura più vicina?

  DOH-veh sih TRAW-vah lah DZAW-nah see-KOO-rah pyoo vee-CHEE-nah
• Is it safe to go outside?

  È sicuro uscire?

  eh see-KOO-roh oo-SHEE-reh

A short scene: reporting a theft

1. YouBuongiorno. Mi hanno rubato il portafoglio.bwohn-JOR-noh mee AHN-noh roo-BAH-toh eel por-tah-FOH-lyohGood morning. My wallet was stolen.
2. OfficerDove e quando?DOH-veh eh KWAHN-dohWhere and when?
3. YouAlla stazione, mezz’ora fa.AHL-lah stah-TSYOH-neh MEHD-dzoh-rah fahAt the station, half an hour ago.
4. OfficerHa un documento?ah oon doh-koo-MEHN-tohDo you have an ID?
5. YouEcco il mio passaporto. Voglio sporgere denuncia.EHK-koh eel MEE-oh pahs-sah-POR-toh VOH-lyoh SPOR-jeh-reh deh-NOON-chahHere is my passport. I want to file a report.
6. OfficerVa bene. Si accomodi.vah BEH-neh see ahk-KOH-moh-deeAll right. Please sit down.

Common mistakes

1. Waiting too long to call. 112 is free and the operators are used to emergencies.
2. Leaving without a report after a theft or a loss. You will need it for insurance or your embassy.
3. Carrying your wallet in a back pocket or leaving a bag open in a crowd.
4. Using “tu” with officers. Use the formal “Lei” form. All the phrases above are formal.
5. Relying on one spoken phrase. Show your phone, a map or a written note as well.

Useful numbers

• 112 single emergency number, for any service
• 113 police (Polizia di Stato)
• 118 ambulance
• 115 fire brigade

For the rest of the phrases you will need on a trip, see our Italian phrases for travel.