Les urgences · A1–A2
French phrases for emergencies
Learn these before you need them. How to call for help, describe what happened and give your address so help can reach you.
Calling for help
- Au secours !Help!
- Appelez le 15 !Call 15 (ambulance)!
- Au feu !Fire!
- Il y a eu un accident.There's been an accident.
- Quelqu'un a fait un malaise.Someone has collapsed.
- Il ne respire plus.He's not breathing.
- Elle saigne beaucoup.She's bleeding a lot.
Giving your location
- Je suis au 12 rue de la République, à Lyon.I'm at 12 rue de la République, in Lyon.
- Troisième étage, porte gauche.Third floor, door on the left.
- Le code de la porte, c'est 4521B.The door code is 4521B.
Police and theft
- On m'a volé mon portefeuille.My wallet has been stolen.
- Je voudrais porter plainte.I'd like to report a crime.
- Où est le commissariat le plus proche ?Where is the nearest police station?
What the operator says
- Qu'est-ce qui se passe ?What's happening?
- Quelle est l'adresse exacte ?What is the exact address?
- La personne est consciente ?Is the person conscious?
- Restez en ligne.Stay on the line.
Conversation: Calling the SAMU
- OpérateurSAMU, bonjour. Qu'est-ce qui se passe ?SAMU, hello. What's happening?
- VousBonjour, mon voisin a fait un malaise. Il est tombé.Hello, my neighbour has collapsed. He fell.
- OpérateurIl est conscient ? Il respire ?Is he conscious? Is he breathing?
- VousIl respire, mais il ne répond pas bien.He's breathing, but he isn't responding well.
- OpérateurQuelle est l'adresse exacte ?What is the exact address?
- Vous12 rue de la République, à Lyon. Troisième étage, porte gauche.12 rue de la République, Lyon. Third floor, door on the left.
- OpérateurIl y a un code ?Is there a door code?
- VousOui, 4521B.Yes, 4521B.
- OpérateurUne équipe arrive. Restez à côté de lui et ne raccrochez pas.A team is on its way. Stay with him and don't hang up.
- VousD'accord.OK.
Good to know
- 15 = SAMU (medical), 17 = police, 18 = fire brigade, 112 = any emergency, from any phone.
- 114 is the emergency number by text message, for people who can't speak or hear.
- Give the address first, then the floor and door code: they are what help needs to reach you.
Need more words for this? See the full vocabulary list for this topic, with examples.
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