Emergency

1. Βοήθεια!

   vo-I-thi-a

   Help!

   Usage

   Cry for help in an emergency; shout loudly

   Grammar Note

   "βοήθεια" is the noun form of "βοηθώ" (to help). Used as a standalone exclamation

2. Καλέστε ασθενοφόρο!

   ka-LE-ste a-sthe-no-FO-ro

   Call an ambulance!

   Usage

   Request an ambulance in a medical emergency

   Grammar Note

   Greek ambulance number is 166. "ασθενοφόρο" combines "ασθενής" (patient) + "φέρω" (carry). If you cannot ask in Greek, the unified 112 is the safer call: its operators answer 24/7 in Greek, English and French

3. Καλέστε την αστυνομία!

   ka-LE-ste tin a-sti-no-MI-a

   Call the police!

   Usage

   Call the police in case of crime or accident

   Grammar Note

   Greek police emergency number is 100. "αστυνομία" is feminine; "την" is feminine accusative article. The unified 112 also reaches the police and is answered in English and French

4. Χάθηκα

   CHA-thi-ka

   I am lost

   Usage

   Tell people around you that you are lost and need help

   Grammar Note

   Passive aorist first person of "χάνομαι" (to get lost), expressing a completed action

5. Με έκλεψαν

   me E-kle-psan

   I was robbed

   Usage

   Report a theft or robbery to the police or bystanders

   Grammar Note

   Past tense third person plural of "κλέβω" (to steal). Structure: "they stole from me"

6. Χρειάζομαι γιατρό

   chri-A-zo-me gia-TRO

   I need a doctor

   Usage

   Seek medical help when ill or injured

   Grammar Note

   "γιατρό" is the accusative of "γιατρός" (doctor). Also learn "νοσοκομείο" (hospital)

7. Πού είναι το πλησιέστερο νοσοκομείο;

   pu I-ne to pli-si-E-ste-ro no-so-ko-MI-o

   Where is the nearest hospital?

   Usage

   Find the nearest hospital in an urgent situation

   Grammar Note

   "πλησιέστερο" is the comparative (neuter) of "πλησίον" (near), used with the article "το" in a superlative sense. "νοσοκομείο" is neuter

8. Έχω αλλεργία στην πενικιλίνη

   E-cho a-ler-GI-a stin pe-ni-ki-LI-ni

   I am allergic to penicillin

   Usage

   Inform doctors or pharmacists about medication allergies

   Grammar Note

   "Έχω αλλεργία σε" + medication name = "I am allergic to [medication]"

9. Έχασα το διαβατήριό μου

   E-cha-sa to di-a-va-TI-ri-O mu

   I lost my passport

   Usage

   Report a lost passport at the embassy or police station

   Grammar Note

   Past first person of "χάνω" (to lose). "μου" = possessive "my". Embassy = "πρεσβεία"

10. Φωτιά!

    fo-ti-A

    Fire!

    Usage

    Emergency shout to warn others of a fire

    Grammar Note

    "φωτιά" is feminine noun. Greek fire department number is 199. "Πυρκαγιά" = big fire. The unified 112 also reaches the fire service; it alerts police, fire, ambulance and coastguard at once, is free of charge and works even without a SIM card

11. Σταματήστε!

    sta-ma-TI-ste

    Stop it!

    Usage

    Show without speaking to shut down aggressive touts, scams or unwanted contact — blunt on purpose

12. Μη με αγγίζετε!

    mi me an-GI-ze-te

    Don't touch me!

    Usage

    Show to someone touching you without having to raise your voice; polite in form, unmistakable in meaning

13. Κλέφτης

    KLE-ftis

    Thief

    Usage

    Names the person who stole (ο κλέφτης, masculine). The same spelling also names the Klephts, the armed irregulars of Ottoman times, but that reading does not arise in an emergency

14. Ληστεία

    li-STI-a

    Robbery

    Usage

    Names being robbed with violence or threats (η ληστεία, feminine); it is the offence named in article 380 of the Greek penal code. The offender is a "ληστής"

15. Αρπαγή τσαντών

    ar-pa-GI tsan-DON

    Snatching

    Usage

    Names the practice of snatching bags from passers-by (η αρπαγή, feminine, with the genitive plural of "τσάντα"). Greek has a dedicated word for the offender, "τσαντάκιας", a mostly young person who snatches bags from women in the street, usually while riding a motorbike

16. Πορτοφολάς

    por-to-fo-LAS

    Pickpocket

    Usage

    Names a thief who lifts wallets (ο πορτοφολάς, masculine; feminine "πορτοφολού"); also used to warn about crowded metros and tourist spots

17. Απαγωγή

    a-pa-go-GI

    Kidnapping

    Usage

    Names a person being carried off and held captive (η απαγωγή, feminine). The Greek penal code calls the offence "αρπαγή" in article 322, but everyday Greek uses this word. The same spelling also has a gymnastics sense (abduction of a limb) and a logic sense (reductio ad absurdum)

18. Φόνος

    FO-nos

    Murder

    Usage

    Names a killing (ο φόνος, masculine). "Ανθρωποκτονία" spans both article 299 (intentional) and article 302 (negligent) of the penal code, so this narrower word is the one for murder

19. Ταραχές

    ta-ra-CHES

    Riot

    Usage

    Names a violent crowd disturbance (οι ταραχές, feminine, used in the plural for this sense); an uprising against the government is a different word, "εξέγερση". Article 189 of the penal code punishes the same conduct as "Διατάραξη της κοινής ειρήνης"

20. Βόμβα

    VOM-va

    Bomb

    Usage

    Show this to report a suspicious object or a suspected explosive (η βόμβα, feminine); it conveys the need to evacuate or call in

21. Φωτιά! Τρέξτε έξω!

    fo-ti-A TRE-xte E-xo

    Fire! Run!

    Usage

    Shout this when you notice a fire indoors to warn the people around you and get them out

    Grammar Note

    "Τρέξτε" is the plural imperative of "τρέχω" (to move fast on foot), and "έξω" is a directional adverb. The plural imperative is the polite form even when addressing one person

22. Κλέφτης! Πιάστε τον!

    KLE-ftis PIA-ste ton

    Thief! Catch him!

    Usage

    Shout this, pointing at someone running off with stolen goods, to get bystanders to help

    Grammar Note

    The plural aorist imperative of "πιάνω" (to grab) is "πιάστε"; the weak object pronoun follows the imperative. If the person is female, replace "τον" with "την"

23. Καλέστε την πυροσβεστική!

    ka-LE-ste tin pi-ro-sve-sti-KI

    Please call a fire engine

    Usage

    Ask someone to call the fire service. Greek calls the service ("πυροσβεστική"), not the vehicle ("πυροσβεστικό όχημα")

    Grammar Note

    "πυροσβεστική" is the feminine of the adjective "πυροσβεστικός" used as a noun

24. Πού είναι το αστυνομικό τμήμα;

    pu I-ne to a-sti-no-mi-KO TMI-ma

    Where is the police station?

    Usage

    Use this to ask the way to the police station, for example to file a report

    Grammar Note

    "τμήμα" is neuter, so the article is "το" and the adjective takes the neuter form "αστυνομικό". The Greek question mark is ";"

25. Χρειάζομαι αστυνομική αναφορά για την κλοπή

    chri-A-zo-me a-sti-no-mi-KI a-na-fo-RA gia tin klo-PI

    I need a theft report

    Usage

    Show this when you need the police report of a theft, for example for an insurance claim

    Grammar Note

    "κλοπή" is a feminine noun for taking and appropriating what is not yours, whether by stealth or by force

26. Μιλάει κανείς ιαπωνικά;

    mi-LA-i ka-NIS i-a-po-ni-KA

    Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?

    Usage

    Show this at a hospital or police station to look for someone who speaks Japanese

    Grammar Note

    The subject is the indefinite pronoun "κανείς" (anyone). Language names are neuter plural and take no article as the object of "μιλώ"

27. Αυτό το άτομο έχει χάσει τις αισθήσεις του

    af-TO to A-to-mo E-chi CHA-si tis e-STHI-sis tu

    This person is unconscious

    Usage

    Point at the person who has collapsed and show this to tell bystanders or paramedics that they are unconscious

    Grammar Note

    "Χάνω τις αισθήσεις μου" is the set phrase for losing consciousness. "άτομο" is neuter, so both the demonstrative and the article are neuter, and the weak possessive is "του"

28. Κάποιος πνίγεται!

    KA-pi-os PNI-ge-te

    Someone is drowning

    Usage

    Use this at the water's edge to raise the alarm that someone is drowning

    Grammar Note

    "πνίγομαι" is the mediopassive of "πνίγω"; the third person singular present is "πνίγεται". The Greek present also covers an action in progress, so this one form gives "is drowning"

29. Με έδειραν

    me E-di-ran

    I was beaten

    Usage

    Show this to the police or at a hospital to report that you have been assaulted

    Grammar Note

    An agentless third person plural aorist does the work of a passive. The aorist of "δέρνω" is "έδειρα"

30. Μαχαιρώθηκα

    ma-che-RO-thi-ka

    I was stabbed

    Usage

    Show this to say you have been stabbed with a blade, so that the wound is treated at once

    Grammar Note

    The first person singular passive aorist of "μαχαιρώνω" (to strike and wound or kill someone with a knife), formed with the -θηκα ending. The blade is part of the sense, so no word for knife is needed

31. Έγινε διάρρηξη στο δωμάτιό μου

    E-gi-ne di-A-ri-xi sto do-MA-ti-O mu

    My room was broken into

    Usage

    Show this to hotel staff or the police to report that your room was broken into while you were out

    Grammar Note

    The "Έγινε + event noun" pattern. "δωμάτιό" carries a second accent because the weak pronoun "μου" follows

32. Εκείνος εκεί είναι ο δράστης

    e-KI-nos e-KI I-ne o DRA-stis

    That person is the culprit

    Usage

    Point at someone at a distance and show this to tell the police that they are the offender

    Grammar Note

    "εκείνος" is the distal counterpart of "αυτός" and the masculine of "Εκείνο". "δράστης" is a masculine noun for the person who committed a punishable act, whether deliberately or negligently

33. Με εξαπάτησαν

    me e-xa-PA-ti-san

    I was deceived

    Usage

    Show this to report that you have been cheated — an unfair charge, a fake product and so on

    Grammar Note

    "εξαπατώ" is to exploit someone's naivety or credulity and deliberately make them believe what you intend. The frame is the third person plural aorist

34. Μου έκλεψαν το πορτοφόλι

    mu E-kle-psan to por-to-FO-li

    My wallet was stolen

    Usage

    Show this when reporting to the police that your wallet has been stolen

    Grammar Note

    "Μου" is the genitive-dative weak form marking the victim, and the stolen object follows as the object. "πορτοφόλι" is neuter

35. Ξέχασα τα πράγματά μου

    XE-cha-sa ta PRAG-ma-TA mu

    I left my things behind

    Usage

    Show this to say you have left your things behind on a vehicle or in a shop

    Grammar Note

    The aorist of "ξεχνώ" is "ξέχασα". "πράγματά" carries a second accent because the weak pronoun "μου" follows

36. Έγινε τροχαίο ατύχημα

    E-gi-ne tro-CHE-o a-TI-chi-ma

    There has been a traffic accident

    Usage

    Use this to report that a traffic accident has happened

    Grammar Note

    "τροχαίο" is an adjective meaning "relating to wheeled vehicles"

37. Με χτύπησε αυτοκίνητο

    me CHTI-pi-se af-to-KI-ni-to

    I was hit by a car

    Usage

    Show this to tell paramedics or the police that a car has hit you

    Grammar Note

    The "Με + third person singular aorist + subject" pattern. "χτυπώ" is to bring a hand, a foot or an object down on something with force

38. Βγείτε από την έξοδο κινδύνου!

    VGI-te a-PO tin E-xo-do kin-DI-nu

    Please escape through the emergency exit

    Usage

    Use this while pointing at the emergency exit to get people to evacuate in a fire

    Grammar Note

    The plural aorist imperative of "βγαίνω" (to move out of an enclosed space) is "βγείτε". "έξοδος" is feminine, so the accusative is "την έξοδο", modified by the genitive "κινδύνου"

39. Είναι επικίνδυνο!

    I-ne e-pi-KIN-di-no

    Watch out!

    Usage

    Use this to warn someone off an immediate danger

    Grammar Note

    The "Είναι + neuter predicate" pattern. The adjective "επικίνδυνος" takes the neuter "επικίνδυνο" in a subjectless sentence

40. Γρήγορα, παρακαλώ!

    GRI-go-ra pa-ra-ka-LO

    Please hurry

    Usage

    A short way to ask someone to act quickly

    Grammar Note

    The "… , παρακαλώ" request pattern with the adverb "γρήγορα"

41. Ελάτε αμέσως, παρακαλώ!

    e-LA-te a-ME-sos pa-ra-ka-LO

    Please come right away

    Usage

    Use this to call someone to come to where you are at once

    Grammar Note

    The imperative of "έρχομαι" is "έλα"; the plural and polite form is "ελάτε"

42. Είναι επείγον!

    I-ne e-PI-gon

    It's an emergency

    Usage

    Show this to say the situation cannot wait and to get people to act at once

    Grammar Note

    The neuter of "επείγων" is "επείγον"

43. Πηγαίνετέ με στο νοσοκομείο, παρακαλώ

    pi-GE-ne-TE me sto no-so-ko-MI-o pa-ra-ka-LO

    Please take me to a hospital

    Usage

    Show this to a taxi driver or a bystander to ask to be taken to a hospital

    Grammar Note

    When the weak pronoun "με" follows the plural imperative "πηγαίνετε", a second accent is added, giving "πηγαίνετέ". "νοσοκομείο" is neuter and "στο" is "σε" + "το"

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