Spanish - Emergencies

Lesson 137 of 159

Emergency Spanish phrases: quick commands and reports for learners practicing Level A2.

Goal: Quick phrases for urgent situations

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

Short and focused — today we practice Spanish phrases for emergencies. Read, listen, then say each line out loud to build confidence.

Level A2: In this lesson (137) you'll learn and practice short, urgent Spanish phrases to report accidents, call for help, and warn others — for example, Mantén la calma, Necesito una ambulancia, and Sal de ahí ahora. This CEFR-aligned mini-lesson focuses on hearing the phrases in a short conversation, using them in quick practice items, and saying them yourself.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and use basic emergency commands and reports in everyday Spanish.
  • Be able to tell someone you're bleeding or point to where it hurts.
  • Practice Level A2 phrases to request an ambulance and report an accident.
Two people at an accident scene practicing urgent Spanish lines like 'Necesito una ambulancia' and 'Mantén la calma.'

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.

Mantén la calma.

Stay calm.

Meaning: Stay calm.

When to use: Use to help someone keep calm during an emergency; informal (tú).

Tip: Don't mix up formal vs. informal: for usted say 'Mantenga la calma.'

Mantén la calma, voy a ayudarte.
Stay calm, I'll help you.
Por favor, mantén la calma y respira.
Please stay calm and breathe.

Sal de ahí ahora.

Get out now.

Meaning: Get out now.

When to use: Tell someone to leave a dangerous place immediately; informal (tú).

Tip: Beginners sometimes understate the urgency; include 'ahora' to be clear.

Sal de ahí ahora, es peligroso.
Get out now, it's dangerous.
¡Sal de ahí ahora! Hay humo adentro.
Get out now! There's smoke inside.

No lo toques.

Don't touch it.

Meaning: Don't touch it.

When to use: Warn someone not to touch a dangerous object or unknown item; informal (tú).

No lo toques, podría explotar.
Don't touch it, it could explode.
No lo toques hasta que lleguen los expertos.
Don't touch it until the experts arrive.

Hubo un accidente.

There was an accident.

Meaning: There was an accident.

When to use: Report that an accident happened; useful when telling a responder or bystander.

Hubo un accidente en la esquina.
There was an accident at the corner.
Hubo un accidente y hay personas heridas.
There was an accident and people are hurt.

No puedo mover mi ___.

I can't move my ___.

Meaning: I can't move my ___.

When to use: Use to say you cannot move a body part (e.g., brazo, pierna, cuello).

Tip: Remember to add the body part (brazo, pierna); otherwise the sentence is incomplete.

No puedo mover mi brazo.
I can't move my arm.
No puedo mover mi pierna después de la caída.
I can't move my leg after the fall.

Necesito una ambulancia.

I need an ambulance.

Meaning: I need an ambulance.

When to use: Say when urgent medical transport is required.

Necesito una ambulancia, hay una persona inconsciente.
I need an ambulance, there's an unconscious person.
Por favor, necesito una ambulancia ahora.
Please, I need an ambulance now.

Me duele aquí.

It hurts here.

Meaning: It hurts here.

When to use: Point to the painful area and say this to indicate where you feel pain.

Me duele aquí, debajo de la costilla.
It hurts here, under the rib.
Me duele aquí en la cabeza.
It hurts here on my head.

Estoy sangrando.

I'm bleeding.

Meaning: I'm bleeding.

When to use: Report active bleeding so helpers know it's urgent.

Estoy sangrando, necesito algo para parar la sangre.
I'm bleeding, I need something to stop the blood.
Por favor, ayúdame, estoy sangrando mucho.
Please help me, I'm bleeding a lot.

Me falta mi ___.

My ___ is missing.

Meaning: My ___ is missing.

When to use: Report a missing essential item or person (use a noun after 'mi').

Me falta mi teléfono después del accidente.
My phone is missing after the accident.
Me falta mi hijo, no lo encuentro.
My child is missing, I can't find him.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

At the site of a small traffic accident

A short conversation at an accident where one person reports injuries and the other calls for help in Spanish.

What does Anna say happened at the start?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Hubo un accidente.

There was an accident.

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Mantén la calma. ¿Estás herida?

Stay calm. Are you hurt?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Estoy sangrando y me duele aquí.

I'm bleeding and it hurts here.

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

No lo toques. Necesito una ambulancia.

Don't touch it. I need an ambulance.

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

No puedo mover mi pierna.

I can't move my leg.

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

¡Sal de ahí ahora! Voy a llamar ayuda.

Get out now! I'm going to call for help.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which Spanish phrase warns someone 'Don't touch it.'?

You are bleeding. Which phrase do you say in Spanish?

Which phrase means 'I can't move my arm.'?

You see someone inside a burning car. Which urgent command tells them to leave immediately?

You call: 'I need an ambulance.'

You speak to an emergency operator: '___' when someone needs urgent transport.

You indicate the painful spot: 'It hurts here.'

After being hit, you point to your shoulder and say, '___'.

You order: 'Get out now!'

The building is unstable; you shout to a friend inside: '___'!

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:

Mantén la calma.

Stay calm.

Say this phrase out loud:

Sal de ahí ahora.

Get out now.

Say this phrase out loud:

No lo toques.

Don't touch it.

Say this phrase out loud:

Hubo un accidente.

There was an accident.

Say this phrase out loud:

No puedo mover mi ___.

I can't move my ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Necesito una ambulancia.

I need an ambulance.

Say this phrase out loud:

Me duele aquí.

It hurts here.

Say this phrase out loud:

Estoy sangrando.

I'm bleeding.

Say this phrase out loud:

Me falta mi ___.

My ___ is missing.