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Lesson 10 of 10

Help and emergencies in Arabic

The words you hope to never need. Play the ten Arabic words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.

The waterfront of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Help and emergencies
10 words · 20 seconds each · 8 of 10 to pass
What it meansHow to say it
Sammy Six, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

All 10 Arabic phrases in this lesson

النجدة!an-NAJ-da
Help!

The emergency cry. "Saa'idni!" (SAH-id-nee, help me) is also used. Arab bystanders respond quickly to visible distress; calling out brings immediate attention. Emergency services: 999 in Gulf states, 123 in Egypt, 911 in Jordan. Numbers vary by country.

اتصل بطبيبit-ta-SAL bi-ta-BEEB
Call a doctor

Emergency ambulance numbers: 998 or 999 across the smaller Gulf states, 997 in Saudi Arabia (Red Crescent), 123 in Egypt, 911 in Jordan. Private hospitals in Gulf cities are excellent and accustomed to treating international visitors. Travel insurance that covers medical evacuation is strongly recommended in the region.

شرطةSHUR-ta
Police

Emergency police: 999 across the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, 911 in Saudi Arabia, 122 in Egypt. Numbers differ by country, so check on arrival rather than trusting one you learned elsewhere. Tourist police exist in Jordan and Egypt specifically to assist visitors.

صيدليةsay-da-LI-ya
Pharmacy

Pharmacies are well-stocked throughout the region and many medications available by prescription elsewhere are sold over the counter here. Pharmacists speak some English in tourist areas. Look for the green cross symbol.

مستشفىmus-TASH-fa
Hospital

Private hospitals in Gulf cities and Cairo are often excellent with international-standard care. State hospitals are variable. Your hotel can always recommend the nearest reputable hospital. Gulf hospitals sometimes require a cash deposit before treatment; carry card and insurance documents.

أنا تائهa-NA TA-ih
I'm lost

Masculine form; feminine: "ana ta'iha". Showing a phone map is usually more effective than describing the situation. Arab generosity toward confused strangers is consistent; someone will stop, ask, and likely physically walk you to your destination.

أنا لا أشعر بخيرa-NA la ash-AR bi-KHAYR
I don't feel well

At a pharmacy: "indi alam fi..." (I have pain in...) plus pointing to the location. "Indi sukhuna" (I have a fever), "indi is'hal" (I have diarrhea), "indi ghathayan" (I feel nauseous). Direct body language communication works well here.

سُرقSU-ri-qa
It was stolen

"Saraqu shantati" (they stole my bag) names the thing. To ask for the police station rather than to report a problem with the police, say "wayn markaz ash-shurta?" (where is the police station?). Petty theft turns up in the crowded market quarters of Cairo, Marrakech and Tunis; Gulf cities have very low rates. A police report is required for insurance claims.

إنها حالة طارئةIN-na-ha HA-la TA-ri-a
It's an emergency

Literally "it is an emergency situation".

اتركني وحديUT-ruk-nee WAH-dee
Leave me alone

Literally "leave me by myself". "Khalas!" (kha-LAS), enough, is shorter and works everywhere.

Where Arabic is spoken