Spanish course

Lesson 143 of 238

New here? This is lesson 143 of a free 238-lesson Spanish course.

Don't move in Spanish

The accident from the last lesson has just happened, and Esther needs help. You have to give calm instructions while you explain the emergency.

You'll learn how to tell someone not to move, tell them not to touch something, describe pain and bleeding, and ask for an ambulance.

These lines are direct, useful chunks for a stressful moment. Listen for the difference between what Esther reports and what Justin tells her to do.

By the end of this lesson

Give simple emergency instructions and describe pain, bleeding, an accident, and the need for an ambulance.

  • Mantén la calmaStay calm
  • Por favor, no te muevasPlease don't move
  • No lo toquesDon't touch it
  • Necesito una ambulanciaI need an ambulance
  • Me duele aquíIt hurts here
  • Estoy sangrandoI'm bleeding
  • Hubo un accidenteThere was an accident

Scene — a sudden accident

The same sidewalk, seconds after the accident. Esther is sitting on the ground, holding her arm, and Justin is beside her.

A phone is on the pavement. Esther is frightened, but Justin needs to stay calm and call for medical help.

A frightened woman sits on the sidewalk holding her arm while Justin stays beside her, and a phone lies on the pavement after an accident.

Learn — calm instructions and urgent help

These seven chunks help you manage an emergency in simple, clear Spanish.

Learn each line as one useful piece, then notice who is giving an instruction and who is reporting a problem.

  1. Justin speaks reassuringly to the frightened woman while keeping a calm posture beside her.

    Mantén la calma

    Stay calm

    When to use it: Say this to help someone remain calm during a frightening situation.

    Mantén is a tú instruction from mantener, meaning to keep or maintain.

    Say it: mahn-TEHN lah KAHL-mah

  2. Justin raises both hands in a gentle stopping gesture toward Esther, asking her to remain still.

    Por favor, no te muevas

    Please don't move

    When to use it: Say this when someone should stay still for safety or medical reasons.

    No te muevas is a tú instruction; muevas comes from moverse.

    Say it: por fah-VOR, noh teh MWEH-bahs

  3. Justin points toward the phone on the pavement while warning Esther not to touch it.

    No lo toques

    Don't touch it

    When to use it: Say this when someone should leave an object or injury alone.

    Lo means it, and no lo toques is a tú instruction.

    Say it: noh loh TOH-kehs

  4. Esther urgently gestures toward the phone and her injured arm while Justin prepares to call for medical help.

    Necesito una ambulancia

    I need an ambulance

    When to use it: Say this when you need emergency medical transportation.

    Necesito means I need; ambulancia is feminine, so use una.

    Say it: neh-seh-SEE-toh oo-nah ahm-boo-LAHN-syah

  5. Esther points directly to a painful spot on her arm while Justin watches attentively.

    Me duele aquí

    It hurts here

    When to use it: Say this while pointing to the place that hurts.

    Me duele literally means it hurts me; aquí means here.

    Say it: meh DWEH-leh ah-KEE

  6. Esther holds up her injured arm to reveal blood while Justin looks alarmed and stays beside her.

    Estoy sangrando

    I'm bleeding

    When to use it: Say this to report that blood is coming from your body.

    Estoy means I am, and sangrando describes bleeding right now.

    Say it: ehs-TOY sahn-GRAHN-doh

  7. Justin says he needs an ambulance, Esther stays with them, and the scene ends.

    Hubo un accidente

    There was an accident

    When to use it: Say this to explain that an accident happened.

    Hubo means there was or there were for a completed event.

    Say it: OO-boh oon ahk-see-DEHN-teh

Story — the next few seconds

Watch the same emergency continue for a few more seconds. Esther reports what hurts, while Justin gives clear instructions and asks a bystander for help.

The highlighted lines are this lesson's chunks. Turn on Show English if you need support.

  1. Esther is on the sidewalk, holding her arm after the accident.
  2. EstherEstoy sangrando.I'm bleeding.
  3. JustinMantén la calma.Stay calm.
  4. JustinPor favor, no te muevas.Please don't move.
  5. EstherMe duele aquí.It hurts here.
  6. JustinNo lo toques.Don't touch it.
  7. Justin¿Qué pasó?What happened?
  8. EstherHubo un accidente.There was an accident.
  9. JustinNecesito una ambulancia.I need an ambulance.
  10. Justin points to the phone and asks a nearby passerby to make the emergency call.
  11. JustinPor favor, llama a emergencias. Necesito ayuda ahora mismo. Alguien está herido.Please call emergency services. I need help right now. Someone is hurt.

Practice — stay calm and act fast

You'll listen, match meanings, choose replies, fill gaps, and build complete emergency lines.

Read the situation carefully: a calm instruction, a symptom, and a request for help need different words.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

    What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    Mantén la calmaDrop the English here
    Por favor, no te muevasDrop the English here
    No lo toquesDrop the English here
    Me duele aquíDrop the English here
    Alguien está heridoDrop the English here

    English

  3. What does it mean?

    What does it mean?

    Estoy sangrando

  4. What do you say?

    What do you say?

    Esther is sitting on the ground and looks frightened. Tell her to remain calm.

  5. Fill the gap

    Fill the gap

    I need an ambulance

    Necesito una ____

  6. What do you say?

    What do you say?

    Esther reaches toward her injured arm. Tell her not to touch it.

  7. True or false?

    True or false?

    This line says that an accident happened.

  8. Which one doesn’t belong?

    Which one doesn’t belong?

  9. Build the line

    Build the line

    I'm bleeding

    Tap the words in order.

  10. Pick the reply

    Esther says:

    Pick the reply

    Estoy sangrando.

    I'm bleeding.

    And you reply with:

  11. What do you say?

    What do you say?

    The emergency has just happened. You have a phone and need someone to call emergency services.

Say it — help Esther

Now you're Justin, helping Esther during the emergency. Follow the exchange and give one clear line at a time.

Tap ▶ to hear each model line, then tap the microphone on your turns. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. EstherEstoy sangrando.I'm bleeding.
  2. Justin (you)Tell Esther to stay calm.

    Tell Esther to stay calm.

    Mantén la calma

    Stay calm

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

Every line from this lesson
SpanishEnglishPlay
Mantén la calmaStay calm
Por favor, no te muevasPlease don't move
No lo toquesDon't touch it
Necesito una ambulanciaI need an ambulance
Me duele aquíIt hurts here
Estoy sangrandoI'm bleeding
Hubo un accidenteThere was an accident
Next: lesson 144Can I leave a message

Save your progress — it’s free

Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.

Want the next lesson in your inbox?

Get the next lesson by email, one a day.

Where should we start?
Join the newsletter

Daily lesson emails are coming soon. Newsletter subscribers get them first.

Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want these emergency chunks handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

Review the instructions and urgent requests until they come out calmly and clearly.

Open Yak Cards