Help and emergencies in Polish
The words you hope to never need. Play the ten Polish 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 Polish phrases in this lesson
- Pomocy!poh-MOH-tsih
- Help!
- Proszę wezwać lekarzaPROH-sheh VEZ-vahch leh-KAH-zhah
- Call a doctor
- Policjapoh-LEETS-yah
- Police
- Aptekaahp-TEH-kah
- Pharmacy
- SzpitalSHPEE-tahl
- Hospital
- Zgubiłem się / Zgubiłam sięzgoo-BEE-wem sheh / zgoo-BEE-wahm sheh
- I'm lost
- Niedobrze minyeh-DOH-bzheh mee
- I don't feel well
- Zostało skradzionezoh-STAH-woh skrahd-ZHOH-nyeh
- It was stolen
- To nagły wypadektoh NAH-gwih vih-PAH-dek
- It's an emergency
- Proszę mnie zostawić w spokojuPROH-sheh mnyeh zos-TAH-veech f spoh-KOH-yoo
- Leave me alone
The cry for help in Polish. Shout it clearly in any emergency. "Pomoc!" (POH-mots) is the noun form. Either will be understood immediately.
Emergency number in Poland is 112 for all services. For ambulance specifically you can call 999. State your location clearly as operators may speak limited English.
The police emergency number in Poland is 997, or use the general 112. Police officers in tourist areas may speak some English. Stay calm and speak slowly.
Pharmacies are marked with a green cross and are widespread in Polish cities. Pharmacists (farmaceuta) are well trained and can advise on minor ailments without a prescription.
"Sz" makes a "sh" sound in Polish. EU citizens can use a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for emergency treatment. Keep your insurance details accessible.
Use "zgubiłem" if you are male and "zgubiłam" if female. Polish verbs change ending based on the speaker's gender. Google Maps works well throughout Poland.
Literally "it is not well with me." You can also say "Czuję się źle" (CHOO-yeh sheh zhweh, I feel bad). Pair with pointing to the affected area if language is a barrier.
Use this phrase at a police station when filing a report. You will need a "protokół" (report) for insurance claims. Pickpocketing can occur in busy tourist areas like Krakow's main square.
The emergency number is 112.
Literally "please leave me in peace".