English Phrases for Emergencies
You've lost something or someone. Someone you know is injured. You aren't feeling well.
These moments can be stressful, but trying to get help when you aren't confident in your English skill can be even more difficult.
Luckily, there are a few standard phrases you can use in many emergency situations. Be sure to learn these well so you'll be prepared if you need them!
Getting attention
If you're in an emergency, the first thing to do is alert a staff member or someone else who can help you. Start with the following basic expressions and combine them with the more specific phrases introduced later.
- Excuse me.
- I'm sorry, but ~
- Can you help me?
- I have an emergency.
- I'm having trouble __ing.
The last phrase can be used to mention a specific problem.
Excuse me, my friend is having trouble walking.
I'm having trouble finding my hotel. Can you help me?
He's having trouble breathing. Can you call an ambulance, please?
When you’re lost
If you don't know where to go, you can simply say "I'm lost," but it doesn't offer the other person much information. Instead, use one of the following phrases.
I can’t (seem to) find __.
Excuse me, I can't seem to find my hotel. Can you point me in the right direction?
You can also say "Can you help me find my way?"
I can't find the train station. Can you help me find my way?
I got separated from my __.
Use this phrase when you can't find someone.
Excuse me. I got separated from my friend in the crowd. Can you help me find them?
We got separated from the rest of our tour group. What should we do?
My ___ is missing.
This is a simpler way to say someone is lost.
I'm sorry, but my child is missing. I need help finding him.
My friend is missing. I last saw her about 20 minutes ago near the fountain.
You can also use this phrase for items.
Excuse me, my backpack is missing. Do you have a lost-and-found?
In these situations, you should be prepared to describe the person or object that is missing. Here are some examples.
He's 9 years old and is wearing a red hoodie and a blue cap.
She has dark, curly hair and glasses. She's wearing a green jacket and a brown scarf.
It's black with a red design on the side. It has some books and a phone inside the back pocket.
When you’re sick
I don’t feel (so) well.
This is a general phrase that can refer to any kind of illness.
Excuse me, I don't feel so well. Can you call a doctor, please?
Can you help us? My friend isn't feeling well.
I have a pain in my __.
Use this phrase to talk about a particular part of the body. This is useful when speaking with doctors.
My daughter has a pain in her chest.
I have a pain in my tooth.
Help with devices
Electronic devices like smartphones are very important for many people today. These devices contain lots of important information, and can be used to find and confirm details. If you're having trouble with your device, try these phrases.
Excuse me, my phone is dead. Do you have a charger?
My device is out of battery. Do you mind if I charge it here?
Could I borrow your charger, please?
Is there somewhere nearby where I can charge my phone?
Common responses to requests for help
Finally, here are some phrases you are likely to hear when asking for help. You can also use them yourself if someone asks you for assistance.
Asking for information
- What's wrong?
- What's the matter?
- What seems to be the problem?
Offering help
- Do you need any help?
- What can I do to help?
- How can I help?
Asking for details
- Can you describe him/her/it?
- Can you give me a description of __?
- What does he/she/it look like?
- Where did you last see him/her/it?
Wrap-up
Stressful situations like getting lost or feeling sick away from home can happen at any time. You are more likely to get through these situations smoothly if you can clearly and calmly communicate to others that you need help. Learning these phrases will also prepare you to offer help when others ask for your assistance.
