Help and emergencies in Greek
The words you hope to never need. Play the ten Greek words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Greek phrases in this lesson
- Βοήθεια!voh-EE-thee-ah
- Help!
- Καλέστε γιατρόkah-LEH-steh yah-TROH
- Call a doctor
- Αστυνομίαah-stee-noh-MEE-ah
- Police
- Φαρμακείοfar-mah-KEE-oh
- Pharmacy
- Νοσοκομείοnoh-soh-koh-MEE-oh
- Hospital
- Έχω χαθείEH-khoh khah-THEE
- I'm lost
- Δεν αισθάνομαι καλάthen es-THAN-oh-meh kah-LAH
- I don't feel well
- Μου το έκλεψανmoo toh EH-klep-san
- It was stolen
- Είναι επείγονEE-neh eh-PEE-gon
- It's an emergency
- Αφήστε με ήσυχοah-FEE-steh meh EE-see-khoh
- Leave me alone
Shout clearly and repeat if necessary. Greeks respond quickly to genuine distress in public.
The emergency number in Greece is 112. EKAB (166) is the dedicated ambulance service.
The police emergency number is 100. Tourist police (Τουριστική Αστυνομία) assist visitors and often speak English.
Look for the green cross sign. Pharmacists in Greece are well-trained and can advise on many minor ailments without a prescription.
Public hospitals (ΕΣΥ) provide emergency care to all. Private clinics (κλινική) are faster for non-urgent matters.
Greeks are generally very willing to help with directions. Showing a map on your phone speeds things up.
A clear way to signal you need medical attention or simply need to sit and rest. Staff in cafés and shops are usually helpful.
File a report at the nearest police station. The tourist police can help with this process in English.
Literally "it is urgent". The emergency number is 112.
Literally "leave me quiet". A woman says ήσυχη (EE-see-khee).