Emergency

1. Ajutor!

   a-zhu-TOR

   Help!

   Usage

   Used in emergencies to call for help

   Grammar Note

   "ajutor" is the noun "help". Verb: "a ajuta" (to help). Romanian emergency number: 112 for all services

2. Chemați ambulanța!

   ke-MATS am-bu-LAN-tsa

   Call an ambulance!

   Usage

   Used to request an ambulance in a medical emergency

   Grammar Note

   "ambulanța" = "ambulanță" + definite "-a". Calling 112 directly is often the fastest option

3. Chemați poliția!

   ke-MATS po-LI-tsi-a

   Call the police!

   Usage

   Used to call the police in a dangerous or criminal situation

   Grammar Note

   "poliția" = "poliție" + definite "-a". EU emergency number 112 connects to all services

4. Sunt bolnav / bolnavă

   sunt bol-NAV / bol-NA-vuh

   I am sick

   Usage

   Used to communicate illness to others or medical staff

   Grammar Note

   Adjective agrees with speaker's gender: bolnav (male), bolnavă (female)

5. Am fost jefuit / jefuită

   am fost zhe-fu-IT / zhe-fu-I-tuh

   I was robbed

   Usage

   Used to report a robbery or theft to the police or bystanders

   Grammar Note

   Romanian passive past: "am fost + past participle". Participle agrees with subject's gender

6. Unde este cel mai apropiat spital?

   UN-de ES-te chel mai a-pro-PI-at spi-TAL

   Where is the nearest hospital?

   Usage

   Used to find the nearest hospital in a medical emergency

   Grammar Note

   "cel mai + adjective" forms the masculine superlative. Female: "cea mai apropiată"

7. Mi s-a furat pașaportul

   mi sa fu-RAT pa-sha-POR-tul

   My passport was stolen

   Usage

   Used when reporting a stolen passport to police or embassy

   Grammar Note

   "Mi s-a furat" is a dative passive construction "it was stolen from me". Wallet: "portofelul"

8. Am nevoie de un medic

   am ne-VOI-e de un ME-dik

   I need a doctor

   Usage

   Used when medical assistance is needed

   Grammar Note

   "a avea nevoie de" means "to need". Pharmacy: "farmacie". Urgent care: "urgențe"

9. Sunt alergic / alergică la penicilină

   sunt a-LER-zhik / a-LER-zhi-kuh la pe-ni-chi-LI-nuh

   I am allergic to penicillin

   Usage

   Used to inform medical staff about a drug allergy

   Grammar Note

   "alergic" (male), "alergică" (female). "la" introduces the allergen. Aspirin: aspirină

10. Contactați ambasada mea

    kon-tak-TATS am-ba-SA-da ME-a

    Please contact my embassy

    Usage

    Used to request someone contact your country's embassy in an emergency

    Grammar Note

    "ambasada" = "ambasadă" + definite "-a". "mea" is the feminine possessive pronoun

11. Încetați!

    uhn-che-TATS

    Stop it!

    Usage

    Show it silently to shut down persistent touts, scammers, or someone following you; this is a firm command, not a softened request

    Grammar Note

    The formal-plural imperative — usable with anyone, and forceful by its content rather than its tone

12. Nu mă atingeți!

    noo muh ah-TEEN-jets

    Don't touch me!

    Usage

    For someone making physical contact — shown without speaking, and visible to bystanders who might step in

13. M-am rătăcit

    mahm ruh-tuh-CHEET

    I am lost

    Usage

    Show it to a shop assistant or police officer when you have lost your way

    Grammar Note

    Compound past of the reflexive verb "a se rătăci"; the same form for men and women

14. Incendiu

    in-CHEN-diu

    Fire

    Usage

    The word for a fire that has broken out in a building or forest; point at it to report one

    Grammar Note

    Neuter noun, plural "incendii". Fire as an element is "foc"; "incendiu" is a fire as a disaster

15. Hoț

    HOTS

    Thief

    Usage

    Point at this to say that someone has stolen from you

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; plural "hoți", feminine "hoață"

16. Hoț de buzunare

    HOTS de bu-zu-NA-re

    Pickpocket

    Usage

    The thief who lifts things out of pockets in crowded places

    Grammar Note

    A collocation: "hoț" (thief) + "de buzunare" (of pockets); "buzunar" means pocket

17. Răpire

    ruh-PI-re

    Kidnapping

    Usage

    The act of carrying a person off by force

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun formed from the verb "a răpi" (to abduct); plural "răpiri"

18. Omor

    o-MOR

    Murder

    Usage

    Taking another person's life; this is also the offence name in the Romanian penal code

    Grammar Note

    Neuter noun, plural "omoruri". The form with the definite article is "omorul".

19. Revoltă

    re-VOL-tuh

    Riot

    Usage

    A collective outbreak of disorder in the streets; riot police gear is called "antirevoltă"

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun, plural "revolte". The 1992 Los Angeles riots are called "Revolta din Los Angeles"

20. Bombă

    BOM-buh

    Bomb

    Usage

    The word for an explosive device; show it when reporting a suspicious object

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; plural "bombe"

21. Incendiu! Fugiți!

    in-CHEN-diu! fu-ZHITS

    Fire! Run!

    Usage

    Used to alert others to a fire and tell them to get out

    Grammar Note

    “Incendiu” is a fire as a disaster; fire as an element is “foc”. "Fugiți" is the polite imperative of "a fugi" (to run, to flee); the -ți ending is the same as in "Opriți aici"

22. Hoț! Prindeți-l!

    HOTS! PRIN-dets-il

    Thief! Catch him!

    Usage

    Used to call on bystanders when you catch someone stealing

    Grammar Note

    “Hoț” means “thief”. "Prindeți" is the polite imperative of "a prinde" (to catch); the -eți ending matches "Puteți vorbi mai rar, vă rog?". The clitic "-l" (him) attaches after the imperative

23. Chemați pompierii!

    ke-MATS pom-pi-E-rii

    Please call the fire brigade

    Usage

    Used to ask someone to summon the fire service; the emergency number is 112

    Grammar Note

    Same "Chemați + object" pattern as "Chemați ambulanța!". Romanian calls the firefighters (pompierii) rather than the engine. "pompieri" is the same word as in "Mașină de pompieri"; the plural definite article -i gives "pompierii"

24. Unde este secția de poliție?

    UN-de ES-te SEK-tsi-a de po-LI-tsi-e

    Where is the police station?

    Usage

    Used to ask the way to a police station, e.g. to report a crime

    Grammar Note

    Same "Unde este + noun phrase" pattern as «Unde este cel mai apropiat spital?». “secție” means a subdivision of a city administration or police force and the building that houses it, so "secția de poliție" is the station itself (whereas "poliția" in «Chemați poliția!» is the force)

25. Există cineva care vorbește japoneză?

    eg-ZIS-tuh chi-ne-VA KA-re vor-BESH-te zha-po-NE-zuh

    Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?

    Usage

    Used to look for someone who can interpret when you cannot make yourself understood

    Grammar Note

    Built from the "Există + noun phrase?" pattern of «Există o rampă sau intrare fără trepte?», with "cineva" (someone) from «Cumpăr asta ca suvenir pentru cineva.» and the relative pronoun "care" from «Ești persoana cu care vreau să petrec timpul». "vorbește" is the 3rd person singular of "a vorbi" («Puteți vorbi mai rar, vă rog?») and "japoneză" is the feminine of "japonez" («Sunt japonez»), which is also the name of the language

26. Și-a pierdut cunoștința

    shya pier-DUT ku-nosh-TIN-tsa

    This person is unconscious

    Usage

    Used to tell paramedics or bystanders that someone has passed out

    Grammar Note

    A set phrase: the expression "A-și pierde cunoștința = a nu mai ști de sine" (to lose consciousness) uses “cunoștință”. "pierdut" is the same past participle as in "am pierdut suficient". The form is identical whether the subject is male or female

27. Cineva se îneacă!

    chi-ne-VA se uh-NEA-kuh

    Someone is drowning

    Usage

    Used to raise the alarm when you see someone in the water

    Grammar Note

    "cineva" (someone) is the same word as in «Cumpăr asta ca suvenir pentru cineva.». "a se îneca" means to die (or cause to die) by suffocation in water; "se îneacă" is its 3rd person singular present

28. Am fost bătut / bătută

    am fost buh-TUT / buh-TU-tuh

    I was beaten

    Usage

    Used to report an assault to the police or to medical staff

    Grammar Note

    Same passive pattern as "Am fost jefuit / jefuită". The participle agrees with the speaker: "bătut" (male), "bătută" (female). “a bate” means to strike repeatedly and violently (with the hand, a stick, a whip, etc.)

29. Am fost înjunghiat / înjunghiată

    am fost uhn-zhun-ghi-AT / uhn-zhun-ghi-A-tuh

    I was stabbed

    Usage

    Used to tell paramedics or police that you have been stabbed

    Grammar Note

    Same passive pattern as «Am fost jefuit / jefuită». “a înjunghia” means to drive a knife, dagger or other bladed object into someone. The participle agrees with the speaker's gender

30. Am fost victima unei spargeri

    am fost VIK-ti-ma U-nei SPAR-zhe-ri

    I was the victim of a burglary

    Usage

    Used to report to police or hotel staff that your room or home was broken into while you were out

    Grammar Note

    Same "Am fost …" pattern as «Am fost jefuit / jefuită». “spargere” means "Furt prin efracție" (theft by breaking and entering). "unei spargeri" is the genitive/dative of a feminine noun; the sentence is identical for male and female speakers

31. Acea persoană este făptașul

    a-CHEA per-SOA-nuh ES-te fuhp-TA-shul

    That person is the culprit

    Usage

    Used to point out the offender to the police

    Grammar Note

    "persoană" is the same word as in «Ești persoana cu care vreau să petrec timpul» and "este" the same copula as in «Unde este cel mai apropiat spital?». “făptaș” means a person who has committed a reprehensible act, usually an offence or a crime

32. Am fost înșelat / înșelată

    am fost uhn-she-LAT / uhn-she-LA-tuh

    I was deceived

    Usage

    Used to report a scam or a rip-off to the police

    Grammar Note

    Same passive pattern as «Am fost jefuit / jefuită». “a înșela” means to mislead someone or abuse their good faith. The participle agrees with the speaker's gender

33. Mi s-a furat portofelul

    mi sa fu-RAT por-to-FE-lul

    My wallet was stolen

    Usage

    Used to report a stolen wallet to the police

    Grammar Note

    Exactly the pattern of "Mi s-a furat pașaportul" with the object swapped. “portofel” means a small folding object of leather or plastic with compartments for banknotes and documents

34. Am uitat ceva

    am u-i-TAT CHE-va

    I forgot something

    Usage

    Used to tell shop or station staff that you have left something behind

    Grammar Note

    The "Am uitat …" pattern of «Am uitat cum se scrie» with "ceva" (something), taken from «Aveți ceva de declarat?», as its object. Romanian "a uita" covers both forgetting and leaving something behind

35. Am fost lovit / lovită de o mașină

    am fost lo-VIT / lo-VI-tuh de o ma-SHI-nuh

    I was hit by a car

    Usage

    Used to report that a car has hit you

    Grammar Note

    Same passive pattern as «Am fost jefuit / jefuită». "lovit" is the past participle of "a lovi" (to strike), the same root as "loviturile" in «Am genunchiul accidentat, prefer să evit loviturile de picior.»; “mașină” means “car”. The participle agrees with the speaker's gender

36. Fugiți prin ieșirea de urgență!

    fu-ZHITS prin ye-SHI-rya de ur-ZHEN-tsuh

    Please escape through the emergency exit

    Usage

    Used to direct others to the escape route in a fire or other emergency

    Grammar Note

    "ieșirea de urgență" is the phrase from «Unde este ieșirea de urgență?» and "prin" (through) the preposition from «Expediat prin curier expres». "Fugiți" is the polite imperative of "a fugi", with the same -ți ending as "Opriți aici"

37. Atenție!

    a-TEN-tsi-e

    Watch out!

    Usage

    Used to warn someone of immediate danger; also the word on warning signs

    Grammar Note

    “Atenție” can be an interjection: "Ascultă! bagă de seamă! ia seama!" (listen! watch out!). Same root as "atenți" in "Vă rog să fiți foarte atenți."

38. Veniți acum, vă rog

    ve-NITS a-KUM, vuh rog

    Please come right away

    Usage

    Used to ask someone to come immediately in an emergency

    Grammar Note

    The "…, vă rog" request pattern is that of "Așteptați, vă rog". "acum" is the word from "Chiar acum". "Veniți" is the polite imperative of "a veni" (to come)

39. Duceți-mă la spital, vă rog

    DU-chets-muh la spi-TAL, vuh rog

    Please take me to a hospital

    Usage

    Used to ask a taxi driver or a passer-by to take you to a hospital

    Grammar Note

    The "…, vă rog" request pattern is that of «Așteptați, vă rog». "spital" is the word from «Unde este cel mai apropiat spital?». “a duce” means to transport or lead someone or something to a place; the clitic "-mă" (me) attaches after the imperative

40. Am nevoie de un certificat de furt

    am ne-VOI-e de un cher-ti-fi-KAT de FURT

    I need a theft report

    Usage

    Used at a police station to ask for written proof of a theft, e.g. for an insurance claim

    Grammar Note

    The "Am nevoie de + object" pattern of "Am nevoie de un medic" with "certificat" from "Certificat medical". “certificat” means an official act confirming the accuracy of a fact or the authenticity of a document; “furt” means the offence of wrongfully taking someone's movable property without their consent.

41. A avut loc un accident rutier

    a a-VUT loc un ak-chi-DENT ru-ti-ER

    There has been a traffic accident

    Usage

    Report that a traffic accident has happened; point out the place on a map

    Grammar Note

    "un accident" is the form used in «Vă rog, ajutați-mă! Am suferit un accident!» and "rutier" the adjective of "poliția rutieră" (traffic police). “accident” means a fortuitous, unforeseeable event that interrupts the normal course of things, causing damage, injury, mutilation or even death; “rutier” means pertaining to roads and highways or to road transport. The verb is the compound past of "a avea loc" (to take place), taking "un accident" as its subject

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