German - Emergencies

Lesson 136 of 158

A calm learner practicing emergency phrases in German; lesson topic: emergencies and safety.

Goal: Quick phrases to get help and keep people safe

Free German lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Short and calm: this lesson gives you ready-to-use emergency phrases for urgent situations. Practice listening, repeating, and speaking so you can act quickly.

Level A2 learners: we'll focus on clear, practical sentences to report fires, injuries, breathing problems, and to call for help.

Level A2: In this lesson you'll practice 13 essential emergency phrases for saying “This is an emergency,” asking for help, calling emergency services, reporting a fire or injured person, and asking where the nearest hospital is. The set is CEFR-aligned and built for quick recall—learn, repeat, and speak so you can stay ready. Lesson 136 keeps it calm and practical (no Yak Yacker shouting—just useful phrases).

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Be able to say and recognize urgent phrases like “Das ist ein Notfall.” and “Ich brauche sofort Hilfe.”
  • Request emergency services and ask for the nearest hospital: “Bitte ruf den Notruf an.” and “Wo ist das nächste Krankenhaus?”
  • Report injuries, breathing problems, or a fire and ask people to stay put: “Jemand ist verletzt.”, “Ich bekomme keine Luft.”, “Bitte beweg dich nicht.”
  • Practice speaking each phrase aloud for quick recall in real situations.
Two people speaking in German near an ambulance; the scene shows emergency phrases like 'Das ist ein Notfall.'

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Das ist ein Notfall.

This is an emergency.

Meaning: This is an emergency.

When to use: Use to state quickly that the situation is urgent and requires immediate attention.

Das ist ein Notfall — wir brauchen Hilfe!
This is an emergency — we need help!
Wenn jemand bewusstlos ist, sagen Sie: Das ist ein Notfall.
If someone is unconscious, say: This is an emergency.

Ich brauche sofort Hilfe.

I need help right now.

Meaning: I need help right now.

When to use: Say this when you urgently need assistance from bystanders or responders.

Ich brauche sofort Hilfe, bitte!
I need help right now, please!
Nach dem Unfall rief sie: Ich brauche sofort Hilfe!
After the accident she shouted: I need help right now!

Bitte ruf den Notruf an.

Please call emergency services.

Meaning: Please call emergency services.

When to use: Use to ask someone (informally) to contact emergency services quickly; in Germany 112 for ambulance/fire, 110 for police.

Tip: Beginners sometimes try the formal form by accident; the informal 'ruf' is fine with people you know. For strangers use 'Rufen Sie den Notruf an.'

Bitte ruf den Notruf an — es ist ein Feuer!
Please call emergency services — there's a fire!
Wenn jemand nicht atmet, sag: Bitte ruf den Notruf an!
If someone isn't breathing, say: Please call emergency services!

Jemand ist verletzt.

Someone is hurt.

Meaning: Someone is hurt.

When to use: Report that a person is injured and may need medical attention.

Jemand ist verletzt — wir brauchen einen Krankenwagen.
Someone is hurt — we need an ambulance.
Nach dem Sturz sagte er: Jemand ist verletzt!
After the fall he said: Someone is hurt!

Es brennt.

There is a fire.

Meaning: There is a fire.

When to use: Use this short warning to report a fire immediately.

Es brennt! Alle raus!
There's a fire! Everyone out!
Ich sehe Rauch — es brennt im Haus nebenan.
I see smoke — there's a fire in the house next door.

Wo ist das nächste Krankenhaus?

Where is the nearest hospital?

Meaning: Where is the nearest hospital?

When to use: Ask when you need directions to medical care or an ambulance drop-off.

Wo ist das nächste Krankenhaus? Die Person braucht Hilfe.
Where is the nearest hospital? The person needs help.
Nach dem Unfall fragte sie: Wo ist das nächste Krankenhaus?
After the accident she asked: Where is the nearest hospital?

Ich fühle mich nicht sicher.

I don't feel safe.

Meaning: I don't feel safe.

When to use: Say this when you feel threatened or at risk and need assistance or to leave the area.

Ich fühle mich nicht sicher, bitte bleib bei mir.
I don't feel safe, please stay with me.
In der dunklen Straße sagte er: Ich fühle mich nicht sicher.
On the dark street he said: I don't feel safe.

Bitte bleib bei mir.

Please stay with me.

Meaning: Please stay with me.

When to use: Ask someone you trust to remain close by while you wait for help.

Tip: Remember the formal alternative with strangers: 'Bitte bleiben Sie bei mir.'

Bitte bleib bei mir, bis der Krankenwagen kommt.
Please stay with me until the ambulance arrives.
Nach dem Schock flüsterte sie: Bitte bleib bei mir.
After the shock she whispered: Please stay with me.

Ich bekomme keine Luft.

I can't breathe.

Meaning: I can't breathe.

When to use: Use to report immediate breathing difficulty or severe shortness of breath.

Er sagte: Ich bekomme keine Luft — das ist sehr ernst.
He said: I can't breathe — this is very serious.
Wenn jemand nach Luft ringt, rufen Sie Hilfe: Ich bekomme keine Luft!
If someone is gasping for air, call for help: I can't breathe!

Kannst du meinen ___ anrufen?

Can you call my ___?

Meaning: Can you call my ___?

When to use: Ask someone to contact a specific person (use correct article: meinen/meine/mein).

Tip: Watch the correct form: 'meinen' for masculine (meinen Vater), 'meine' for feminine (meine Mutter), 'mein' for neuter (mein Kind).

Kannst du meinen Vater anrufen? Er lebt in der Nähe.
Can you call my father? He lives nearby.
Kannst du meine Mutter anrufen? Sag ihr, wo ich bin.
Can you call my mother? Tell her where I am.

Bist du verletzt?

Are you hurt?

Meaning: Are you hurt?

When to use: Ask someone quickly if they are injured, to check for immediate needs.

Bist du verletzt? Sag mir, ob du Schmerzen hast.
Are you hurt? Tell me if you are in pain.
Nach dem Sturz fragte Anna: Bist du verletzt?
After the fall Anna asked: Are you hurt?

Geht es allen gut?

Is everyone okay?

Meaning: Is everyone okay?

When to use: Use to check the wellbeing of a group after an accident or scary event.

Geht es allen gut? Wir müssen das überprüfen.
Is everyone okay? We need to check.
Bei dem Knall rief er: Geht es allen gut?
At the bang he shouted: Is everyone okay?

Bitte beweg dich nicht.

Please don't move.

Meaning: Please don't move.

When to use: Tell someone to stay still to avoid worsening injuries, especially after a fall or suspected spinal injury.

Bitte beweg dich nicht, bis die Sanitäter hier sind.
Please don't move until the paramedics are here.
Bei einer Kopfverletzung sagen Retter oft: Bitte beweg dich nicht.
For a head injury rescuers often say: Please don't move.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna and David are outside a building where smoke appears.

Anna and David talk urgently about a fire and an injured person, practicing emergency German phrases.

What danger does Anna report?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Es brennt.

There is a fire.

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Jemand ist verletzt. Ich brauche sofort Hilfe.

Someone is hurt. I need help right now.

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Bitte ruf den Notruf an!

Please call emergency services!

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Kannst du meinen Vater anrufen? Er wohnt hier in der Nähe.

Can you call my father? He lives nearby.

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Bitte bleib bei mir. Bist du verletzt?

Please stay with me. Are you hurt?

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Ich fühle mich nicht sicher — bitte beweg dich nicht.

I don't feel safe — please don't move.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase means "I can't breathe."?

If you need someone to call emergency services informally, which phrase would you use?

Which phrase asks for the nearest hospital?

Which phrase would you use to check if someone has injuries?

There is a fire!

There's smoke in the room and the ceiling is on fire! ___

I can't breathe.

My friend is gasping and says, "___"

Please don't move.

You see someone with a possible spinal injury and say to them: ___

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Das ist ein Notfall.

This is an emergency.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ich brauche sofort Hilfe.

I need help right now.

Say this phrase out loud:

Bitte ruf den Notruf an.

Please call emergency services.

Say this phrase out loud:

Jemand ist verletzt.

Someone is hurt.

Say this phrase out loud:

Es brennt.

There is a fire.

Say this phrase out loud:

Wo ist das nächste Krankenhaus?

Where is the nearest hospital?

Say this phrase out loud:

Ich fühle mich nicht sicher.

I don't feel safe.

Say this phrase out loud:

Bitte bleib bei mir.

Please stay with me.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ich bekomme keine Luft.

I can't breathe.

Say this phrase out loud:

Kannst du meinen ___ anrufen?

Can you call my ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

Bist du verletzt?

Are you hurt?

Say this phrase out loud:

Geht es allen gut?

Is everyone okay?

Say this phrase out loud:

Bitte beweg dich nicht.

Please don't move.