CEFR A1-A2
French Emergency Phrases: Medical, Police, and Lost Documents
These are the phrases every French-speaking traveller should learn and never need. They cover medical emergencies, calling the police, reporting lost or stolen items. Always carry the local emergency number and the contact details for your country's embassy in your destination.
Help!
!
IPA /o səkuʁ/
oh suh-KOOR
Universal shout-for-help. 'Aidez-moi !' (help me) is the more specific alternative.
Call an ambulance!
ambulance !
IPA /aple yn ɑ̃bylɑ̃s/
ah-puh-LAY oon ahm-boo-LAHNS
Emergency number across the EU including France, Belgium, Luxembourg: 112. Quebec: 911.
I need a doctor.
J' ' .
IPA /ʒe bəzwɛ̃ dœ̃ medsɛ̃/
zhay buh-ZWEN duhn meh-deh-SAN
I need a hospital.
J' ' l'.
IPA /ʒe bəzwɛ̃ dale a lopital/
zhay buh-ZWEN dah-LAY ah loh-pee-TAL
I am allergic to [substance].
allergique [substance].
IPA /ʒə sɥi alɛʁʒik a/
zhuh swee zah-lehr-ZHEEK ah ...
Crucial in any medical context. Common allergies: penicilline (penicillin), arachides / cacahuetes (peanuts), fruits de mer (shellfish), pollen (pollen).
I have a serious medical condition.
J' condition medicale.
IPA /ʒe yn ɡʁav kɔ̃disjɔ̃ medikal/
zhay oon GRAHV kohn-dee-see-OHN meh-dee-KAHL
Open with this if you need to flag a chronic condition (diabetes, heart condition, epilepsy) before treatment.
Call the police!
!
IPA /aple la pɔlis/
ah-puh-LAY la po-LEES
I have been robbed.
' .
IPA /ɔ̃ ma vɔle/
ohn mah vo-LAY
Standard report phrase. 'On' is the colloquial 'they/someone'.
Someone stole my wallet.
' portefeuille.
IPA /ɔ̃ ma vɔle mɔ̃ pɔʁtəfœj/
ohn mah vo-LAY mohn por-tuh-FOY
'Portefeuille' is the wallet. 'Sac a main' is a handbag.
I have lost my passport.
J' passeport.
IPA /ʒe pɛʁdy mɔ̃ paspɔʁ/
zhay pehr-DOO mohn pahs-POR
Go to your country's embassy or consulate. They will issue an emergency travel document for the journey home.
Where is the British / American / Australian embassy?
l'ambassade britannique / americaine / australienne ?
IPA /u ɛ lɑ̃basad bʁitanik / ameʁikɛn / ostʁaljɛn/
OO ay lahm-bah-SAHD bree-tah-NEEK / ah-meh-ree-KEN / ohs-trah-LYEN
I do not feel well.
.
IPA /ʒə nə mə sɑ̃ pa bjɛ̃/
zhuh nuh muh sahn pah bee-AN
General-purpose opener for any unwellness conversation.
It hurts here.
.
IPA /sa mə fɛ mal isi/
sah muh fay mahl ee-SEE
Point to the location. The doctor will ask follow-up questions in French; this gets the conversation started.
I am injured.
/ .
IPA /ʒə sɥi blese/
zhuh swee bleh-SAY
Use the masculine 'blesse' or feminine 'blessee' agreement; the pronunciation is identical.
Could you help me, please?
', ' ?
IPA /vu puve mede sil vu plɛ/
voo poo-VAY may-DAY seel voo PLAY
Polite opener for any emergency where you need a stranger's help.
Regional notes
France
Emergency number: 112 (single European emergency number) or 15 (SAMU, the dedicated medical emergency service) for medical specifically. Police emergency: 17. Hospital emergency departments are called 'les urgences'. The French national health system (assurance maladie) treats emergencies regardless of nationality; EU and UK citizens with the EHIC or GHIC card are reimbursed at the public-system rates.
Belgium
Emergency number: 112. Belgian hospitals are well-equipped in Brussels and the major cities.
Switzerland
Emergency number: 112 or 144 (medical) or 117 (police). Swiss healthcare is expensive; travel insurance is essential.
Quebec
Emergency number: 911. Quebec's healthcare system is provincial; emergency treatment is provided to visitors and billed through the visitor's home insurance. Hospital emergency departments are called 'l'urgence' (often singular in Quebec).
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
What is the emergency number in France?
112 (the single European emergency number, covering police, ambulance and fire). For medical specifically, SAMU is 15. For police specifically, 17. For fire, 18. Using 112 covers all of these.
Will I be charged for emergency medical treatment as a foreign visitor in France?
It depends on your nationality. EU citizens with the EHIC and UK citizens with the GHIC are entitled to emergency treatment at the public-system rates and are typically reimbursed. Non-EU/non-UK visitors are billed at full rates and need travel insurance to recover the cost.
How do I ask for a translator at a hospital?
J'ai besoin d'un traducteur (I need a translator). Major hospitals in Paris and other big cities often have access to telephone-interpretation services for major languages including English. Smaller hospitals may not; expect to communicate in French or rely on a translation app.
What is the difference between 'les urgences' and 'l'urgence'?
'Les urgences' (plural) is the standard French term for the hospital emergency department in France and most Francophone countries. 'L'urgence' (singular) is the Quebec form for the same department; the singular is also used in some Belgian and Swiss contexts.