Spanish - Asking For Help

Lesson 10 of 159

Learner practicing Spanish help phrases on a phone — asking for help and emergencies.

Goal: Short requests and emergency phrases

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

Nice work getting this far — ready for situations where you need help? This lesson is quick and practical. Listen, repeat, then try the quizzes and speak out loud.

Level A1: In this short CEFR-aligned lesson you'll practice seven useful Spanish phrases for asking for help: asking to call someone, using a phone, saying there's an emergency, asking what to do, and requesting someone to come or check something. You'll hear the phrases in context, practice with quizzes and matching, and say each phrase aloud.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and use simple help requests in Spanish (Level A1).
  • Ask to use a phone and request someone come with you.
  • Say 'It's an emergency' and ask 'What should I do?'.
Two people in a busy hallway practicing Spanish help requests like '¿Puedo usar tu teléfono?' and 'Es una emergencia.'

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.

¿Puedes llamar a ___?

Can you call ___?

Meaning: Can you call ___?

When to use: Use this to ask someone (informal tú) to contact a person or service for you. Add the person or service after 'a' (for example: '¿Puedes llamar a mi mamá?').

Tip: Beginner learners sometimes forget the preposition 'a' before a person (say 'a mi mamá').

¿Puedes llamar a mi mamá, por favor?
Can you call my mom, please?
¿Puedes llamar a la recepción? No encuentro mi reserva.
Can you call reception? I can't find my reservation.

¿Puedo usar tu teléfono?

Can I use your phone?

Meaning: Can I use your phone?

When to use: Ask this when your phone is dead or you need to call someone quickly. Use 'tu teléfono' for informal situations; 'celular' is common for mobile phones.

Tip: Don't mix formal and informal forms (avoid '¿Puedo usar su teléfono?' with someone you address as 'tú').

¿Puedo usar tu teléfono? Se me murió la batería.
Can I use your phone? My battery died.
¿Puedo usar tu teléfono para llamar a un taxi?
Can I use your phone to call a taxi?

¿Qué hago?

What should I do?

Meaning: What should I do?

When to use: A short, natural question when you need guidance. Use it in emergencies or everyday problems.

Se me rompió la rueda. ¿Qué hago?
My tire is broken. What should I do?
No encuentro mi pasaporte. ¿Qué hago ahora?
I can't find my passport. What should I do now?

Es una emergencia.

It's an emergency.

Meaning: It's an emergency.

When to use: Say this clearly to signal urgent need for help — to a bystander, receptionist, or emergency operator.

¡Es una emergencia! Necesitamos ayuda ahora.
It's an emergency! We need help now.
Si alguien está inconsciente, di: 'Es una emergencia'.
If someone is unconscious, say: 'It's an emergency.'

¿Puedes ver esto?

Can you look at this?

Meaning: Can you look at this?

When to use: Use this to ask another person to inspect, check, or pay attention to something (a cut, a screen, a document).

¿Puedes ver esto en mi brazo? Creo que es una cortada.
Can you look at this on my arm? I think it's a cut.
¿Puedes ver esto en la pantalla? El mapa no carga.
Can you look at this on the screen? The map won't load.

¿Puedes venir conmigo?

Can you come with me?

Meaning: Can you come with me?

When to use: Ask this to request someone accompany you (to the reception desk, to an office, to the entrance) when you need help or support.

Tip: Beginners sometimes use the formal 'puede' with friends; keep 'puedes' for people you address informally.

¿Puedes venir conmigo al hospital? No sé dónde ir.
Can you come with me to the hospital? I don't know where to go.
¿Puedes venir conmigo a hablar con el recepcionista?
Can you come with me to talk to the receptionist?

¿Puedes buscar a alguien, por favor?

Can you get someone, please?

Meaning: Can you get someone, please?

When to use: Use this to ask the listener to find another person who can help — a manager, a nurse, or security. Add 'por favor' to be polite.

¿Puedes buscar a alguien, por favor? Necesito un médico.
Can you get someone, please? I need a doctor.
Mi vuelo fue cancelado. ¿Puedes buscar a alguien que hable inglés, por favor?
My flight was cancelled. Can you get someone who speaks English, please?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna's bag is stolen; she asks David for help at a café.

Anna and David talk quietly about an urgent situation; the scene shows real use of asking for help in Spanish.

What does Anna say about the situation?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Es una emergencia. Me robaron la bolsa.

It's an emergency. My bag was stolen.

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

¿Qué hago? ¿Necesitas que llame a alguien?

What should I do? Do you need me to call someone?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

¿Puedo usar tu teléfono? Por favor, llama a la policía.

Can I use your phone? Please call the police.

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Sí. ¿Puedes ver esto? Tengo la descripción del ladrón.

Yes. Can you look at this? I have a description of the thief.

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

¿Puedes buscar a alguien, por favor? Necesitamos testigos.

Can you get someone, please? We need witnesses.

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Claro. ¿Puedes venir conmigo a la puerta?

Sure. Can you come with me to the door?

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which Spanish phrase means "It's an emergency."?

How do you ask "Can I use your phone?" in Spanish?

Which phrase asks someone to find another person to help?

If you want someone to check a cut on your hand, which phrase fits best?

My phone doesn't work. Can I use your phone?

Mi teléfono no funciona. ___

There is smoke and fire in the kitchen. It's an emergency.

Hay humo y fuego en la cocina. ___

I can't find my passport in the hotel. What should I do?

No encuentro mi pasaporte en el hotel. ___

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:

¿Puedes llamar a ___?

Can you call ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Puedo usar tu teléfono?

Can I use your phone?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Qué hago?

What should I do?

Say this phrase out loud:

Es una emergencia.

It's an emergency.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Puedes ver esto?

Can you look at this?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Puedes venir conmigo?

Can you come with me?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Puedes buscar a alguien, por favor?

Can you get someone, please?