Help and emergencies in Ukrainian
The words you hope to never need. Play the ten Ukrainian 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 Ukrainian phrases in this lesson
- Допоможіть!do-po-mo-ZHIT
- Help!
- Викличте лікаряVY-klych-te LI-ka-rya
- Call a doctor
- Поліціяpo-LI-tsiya
- Police
- Аптекаap-TE-ka
- Pharmacy
- Лікарняli-KAR-nya
- Hospital
- Я загубивсяya za-hu-BYV-sya
- I'm lost
- Мені поганоme-NI po-HA-no
- I don't feel well
- Його вкралиyo-HO VKRA-ly
- It was stolen
- Це надзвичайна ситуаціяtseh nad-zvy-CHAI-na sy-too-AH-tsi-ya
- It's an emergency
- Залиште мене в спокоїzah-LYSH-teh meh-NEH v SPOH-koh-yi
- Leave me alone
The shout for immediate help. For a calmer request you can say "допоможіть мені, будь ласка" (help me please) or approach someone with вибачте and your problem in gestures. Ukrainians generally stop to help strangers.
The emergency number in Ukraine is 103 for ambulance, 112 for all emergencies. Лікар is a doctor, швидка допомога (shvyd-KA do-po-MO-ha) is the ambulance service.
Ukraine reformed its police force in 2015; the new patrol police are generally approachable. Emergency police number is 102, or use 112. Hotel staff and tourist information points are also fast helpers for minor issues.
Marked with a green cross and very common in Ukrainian cities. Pharmacists are accustomed to pointing-based consultations. Many speak some English in Kyiv and Lviv, and will do their best everywhere else.
Лікарня is the general hospital. Швидка (shvyd-KA) is the ambulance and emergency service. "Приймальне відділення" (pry-YMAL-ne vid-DI-len-nya) is the emergency admissions department, look for this sign on arrival.
Masculine form. Women say "я загубилася" (ya za-hu-BY-la-sya). Follow it with the name of your hotel or a map on your phone. Ukrainians will often walk you part of the way rather than just point.
Literally "it is bad for me." Use it at a pharmacy or to explain yourself to anyone nearby. Point at what hurts and add "болить" (bo-LYIT), it hurts. "Болить тут" plus pointing is a complete and universally understood medical message.
Combine with the previous pattern: "мій паспорт, його вкрали" (my passport, it was stolen). Enough for any police report to begin. Petty theft is relatively rare in Ukraine but does occur in crowded areas and on overnight trains.