Emergency

1. Ajutu!

   Help!

   Usage

   A cry for help when you are in danger; short enough to say in a panic

   Grammar Note

   Ajutu is a noun meaning help and is also spelled aiutu. As a shout the bare noun is enough

2. Mi servi nu mèdicu

   I need a doctor

   Usage

   Tells people you are ill or hurt and need to see a doctor

   Grammar Note

   Mèdicu is stressed on the third syllable from the end, hence the grave accent on è. The thing needed is the subject: it is needed to me. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. Unni è u spitali?

   Where is the hospital?

   Usage

   Asks where the hospital is; useful when stopping a passer-by

   Grammar Note

   Spitali is also written ospitali. This short form leaves out nearest. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Haiu pirdutu u passaportu

   I have lost my passport

   Usage

   The first thing to say to the police or the consulate after losing your passport

   Grammar Note

   The auxiliary is always aviri. Belongings usually take the definite article u rather than a possessive. Everyday speech also uses the simple past. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. Haiu duluri a u pettu

   I have a pain in my chest

   Usage

   Tells a doctor or helper about chest pain, a symptom that needs help at once

   Grammar Note

   A lu is the preposition a with the masculine article lu, written out in full. Swap the body part to say pain elsewhere. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Pulizzìa!

   Police!

   Usage

   A shout to call the police when you meet a crime or danger

   Grammar Note

   Also spelled pulizzia; the accent on ì marks the final hiatus

7. Focu!

   Fire!

   Usage

   A shout to warn people of a fire so that they get out

   Grammar Note

   Focu is the noun fire and is also spelled fuocu. As a shout the bare noun is used. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

8. Latru!

   Thief!

   Usage

   A shout after a theft so that bystanders notice and stop the thief

   Grammar Note

   Latru is the noun for someone who steals; the verb to steal is arrubbari. As a shout the bare noun is used. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

9. Chiamati a pulizzìa, pi favuri

   Please call the police

   Usage

   Asks a bystander or shopkeeper to call the police for you

   Grammar Note

   The ending -ati is the plural imperative, also the polite form to one person; to a friend say Chiama. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

10. Chiamati nu mèdicu, pi favuri

    Please call a doctor

    Usage

    Asks someone nearby to call a doctor when a person is unwell

    Grammar Note

    The ending -ati is the plural imperative, also the polite form to one person. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

11. Faciti prescia, pi favuri

    Please hurry

    Usage

    Asks a driver or helper to hurry in an emergency

    Grammar Note

    Fari prescia means to hurry, literally to make haste. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

12. Vinìti sùbbitu, pi favuri

    Please come right away

    Usage

    Asks hotel staff or someone nearby to come and help at once

    Grammar Note

    The ending -iti is a plural imperative like -ati and is also polite to one person. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

13. Mi purtati a u spitali, pi favuri

    Please take me to the hospital

    Usage

    Asks a taxi driver or someone nearby to take you to a hospital

    Grammar Note

    The pronoun mi goes before the imperative. A lu is the preposition a with the masculine article lu, written out in full. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

14. Ncidenti stratali

    Road accident

    Usage

    Reports that a road accident has happened, to the emergency services or the police

    Grammar Note

    The initial n- is the usual spoken form without the i-. The adjective follows the noun. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

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