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Lesson 10 of 10

Help and emergencies in French

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

The Eiffel Tower rising above the trees, seen from Avenue de New York across the Seine
Help and emergencies
10 words · 20 seconds each · 8 of 10 to pass
What it meansHow to say it
Julie Anne Workman, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

All 10 French phrases in this lesson

Au secours !oh suh-KOOR
Help!

"Au secours" is the real emergency cry in French. "Aidez-moi !" (help me) also works. Shout clearly and repeatedly in a public place.

Appelez un médecinap-LAY uhn mayd-SAN
Call a doctor

In a serious medical emergency call 15 (SAMU, ambulance and medical services) or 112 (European emergency number). A médecin is a doctor.

La policelah po-LEES
Police

Call 17 for the police in France. The nearest police station is the commissariat. In tourist areas there are often officers who speak some English.

La pharmacielah far-ma-SEE
Pharmacy

Pharmacies in France are marked by a green cross. They are staffed by qualified pharmacists who can advise on minor medical issues and sell basic treatments without a prescription.

L'hôpitallo-pee-TAL
Hospital

The h is mute, which is why the article elides to l'hôpital rather than le hôpital. Emergency departments are signed "Urgences." EU citizens should carry a European Health Insurance Card for reduced cost treatment.

Je me suis perduzhuh muh swee pair-DUE
I'm lost

The feminine form is "je me suis perdue." If you are asking for directions, follow with "Où est... ?" to name your destination.

Je ne me sens pas bienzhuh nuh muh sahn pah bee-AHN
I don't feel well

A clear way to signal you need help. A pharmacist will ask follow-up questions to help. "J'ai mal à la tête" (I have a headache) and "j'ai mal au ventre" (I have a stomach ache) are useful additions.

On me l'a voléohn muh lah vo-LAY
It was stolen

Literally "someone stole it from me." Pickpocketing is common on the Paris Métro. Keep documents and valuables in an inside pocket or money belt.

C'est une urgencesay tewn ewr-ZHAHNS
It's an emergency

The European emergency number 112 works everywhere in France.

Laissez-moi tranquillelay-say MWAH trahn-KEEL
Leave me alone

Literally "leave me calm".

Where French is spoken