6 Ways To Ask For Help In German: Ambulance, Police, Doctor And Other Emergencies
Just imagine you’re making a tourist visit in Berlin, or you’re drinking coffee in a Viennese café, and the you suddenly realize you’ve lost your way.
These are just two possible scenarios where you might need to ask for help in German. It can be – literally – a lifesaver!
Spring German teacher Brunhild made a video with some quick tips for these emergencies:
And in this blog post, we’ll equip you with the most important German words and phrases you’ll need to ask for help in German. Step by step, we’ll guide you through different situations.
1. How to ask for help in German
Asking for help in German isn’t just about knowing the right words; it’s about understanding when and how to use them. You might need assistance finding your way around a new city, deciphering a train schedule, or even dealing with a more urgent situation.
The beauty of the German language is that it has specific phrases for different scenarios, but you can use simple words to shout for help, too!
Effortless Answers
If you find yourself in a truly dire situation, use the one-word wonder in German: Hilfe!
This simple and powerful word can alert others that you’re in trouble and need immediate assistance. It will quickly draw attention to your situation.
It’s not the only solution for your problems, but it’s the most common. Still, here are other ways to ask for help in German, depending on the situation:
- “Hilfe!” (Help!)
- “Feuer!” (Fire!)
- “Dieb!” (Thief!)
- “Polizei!” (Police!)
- “Notfall!” (Emergency!)
- “Achtung!” (Attention!/Watch out!)
- “Vorsicht!” (Caution!)
These words are meant to be shouted loudly and clearly to attract immediate attention in urgent situations! This is when you truly need to ask for help in German!
2. Ask for an ambulance in German
God forbid you have to live through something like this, but still, picture this:
You’re driving through the scenic German countryside when suddenly, you witness a car crash.
Your heart is racing, but you know you need to stay calm and call for help. In such a situation, knowing how to ask for an ambulance in German could literally be a lifesaver.
Here are some phrases you can use to call for an ambulance:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| “Ich brauche einen Krankenwagen!” | I need an ambulance! |
| “Bitte schicken Sie sofort einen Krankenwagen!” | Please send an ambulance immediately! |
| “Es gab einen Unfall. Wir brauchen dringend einen Krankenwagen.” | There’s been an accident. We urgently need an ambulance. |
| “Hier ist ein medizinischer Notfall. Bitte senden Sie einen Krankenwagen.” | There’s a medical emergency here. Please send an ambulance. |
| “Können Sie bitte schnell einen Rettungswagen schicken?” | Can you please send a rescue vehicle quickly? |
| “Wir benötigen ärztliche Hilfe. Es ist dringend!” | We need medical help. It’s urgent! |
| “Ein Mensch ist verletzt. Wir brauchen einen Krankenwagen.” | A person is injured. We need an ambulance. |
When you’re making the call, try to stay as calm as possible and speak clearly. The dispatcher may ask you for additional information such as your exact location, the nature of the emergency, and the condition of any injured persons. Be prepared to answer these questions as best you can.
When dealing with emergencies and ambulances in German, there’s specific vocabulary you might need to know when you ask for help in German.
Here are some key terms to help you out:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| der Krankenwagen | ambulance |
| der Notarzt | emergency doctor |
| der Unfall | accident |
| die Verletzung | injury |
| der Notfall | emergency |
| die Erste Hilfe | first aid |
| bewusstlos | unconscious |
| die Blutung | bleeding |
| der Schmerz | pain |
| die Rettungsleitstelle | emergency dispatch center |
| der Rettungsdienst | emergency medical service |
| die Wiederbelebung | resuscitation |
| der Herzinfarkt | heart attack |
| der Schlaganfall | stroke |
| die Atemnot | difficulty breathing |
3. Ask for the police in German
After calling for medical help, you might also need to contact the police.
In Germany, it’s important to report accidents to the authorities, especially if there are injuries or significant damage. Police will handle the situation properly and they will bring all the necessary documentation – an important thing in Germany.
Here are some phrases you can use to ask for police assistance:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| “Ich muss die Polizei rufen.” | I need to call the police. |
| “Können Sie bitte die Polizei schicken?” | Can you please send the police? |
| “Es gab einen Verkehrsunfall. Wir brauchen die Polizei.” | There’s been a traffic accident. We need the police. |
| “Ich möchte einen Unfall melden.” | I want to report an accident. |
| “Bitte schicken Sie einen Streifenwagen.” | Please send a patrol car. |
| “Hier ist eine Notsituation. Wir brauchen dringend polizeiliche Hilfe.” | This is an emergency. We urgently need police assistance. |
| “Können Sie bitte die Polizei informieren? Es gab einen Einbruch.” | Can you please inform the police? There’s been a break-in. |
When speaking with the police or emergency services, it’s important to provide clear, concise information.
Just as with the ambulance, you have to be prepared to give your exact location, describe the situation, answer follow-up questions. And if – in case – you’re reporting a crime, try to remember as many details as possible because that is the best way to ask for help in German.
But, in Germany, calling the police isn’t just for emergencies. They can also assist with lost property, noise complaints, and other non-emergency situations.
For immediate danger or crimes in progress, always use the emergency number 110 – more on this later!
4. Ask for help in German from the doctor
Once you’re at the doctor’s office or in the hospital, you’ll need to explain your symptoms or injuries to the medical staff.
It’s important to be as clear and specific as possible about what you’re experiencing, even if your German isn’t perfect.
Here are some common problems or symptoms you might need to describe:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| “Ich habe Kopfschmerzen.” | I have a headache. |
| “Mir ist übel.” | I feel nauseous. |
| “Ich habe Fieber.” | I have a fever. |
| “Mein Arm tut weh.” | My arm hurts. |
| “Ich kann nicht gut atmen.” | I’m having trouble breathing. |
| “Ich habe Bauchschmerzen.” | I have a stomachache. |
| “Ich fühle mich schwindelig.” | I feel dizzy. |
| “Ich habe mich verletzt.” | I’ve injured myself. |
| “Ich habe eine allergische Reaktion.” | I’m having an allergic reaction. |
| “Ich habe Durchfall.” | I have diarrhea. |
| “Ich habe Husten.” | I have a cough. |
| “Mein Rücken schmerzt.” | My back hurts. |
When describing your symptoms, it’s helpful to be as specific as possible.
You might want to indicate the severity of your pain (“leicht” for mild, “mäßig” for moderate, or “stark” for severe), how long you’ve been experiencing the symptoms, and any other relevant details.
To better understand how these phrases might be used in a real-life scenario, let’s look at a short conversation between Gabriel and a doctor. Gabriel is the one who is on the path to ask for help in German:
Gabriel: “Guten Tag, Herr Doktor. Ich habe starke Kopfschmerzen und mir ist schwindelig.” (Good day, Doctor. I have a severe headache and I’m feeling dizzy.)
Doctor: “Seit wann haben Sie diese Beschwerden?” (How long have you had these symptoms?)
Gabriel: “Seit gestern Abend. Ich habe auch etwas Fieber.” (Since yesterday evening. I also have a slight fever.)
Doctor: “Ich werde Sie jetzt untersuchen. Bitte beschreiben Sie mir genau, wo der Schmerz sitzt.” (I’ll examine you now. Please describe exactly where the pain is located.)
Gabriel: “Der Schmerz ist hauptsächlich hinter den Augen und an den Schläfen.” (The pain is mainly behind my eyes and at my temples.)
Doctor: “Haben Sie irgendwelche Medikamente genommen?” (Have you taken any medication?)
Gabriel: “Nein, ich wollte erst mit einem Arzt sprechen.” (No, I wanted to speak with a doctor first.)
This short German conversation is just an intro to what you could expect at the doctor’s office. After this, you’ll probably get examined and get some medication – or, must rest!
5. When you need help as a tourist
Thank God, most of the time, you don’t need to get an emergency help and ask for help in German in these cases.
Most of the time, you’re just a tourist or a regular local living in any German-speaking country. But what if you visit a place you haven’t been before?
No worries, we have the necessary German expressions for you when you need to ask for help in German for these situations:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| “Entschuldigung, ich habe mich verlaufen.” | Excuse me, I’m lost. |
| “Können Sie mir bitte den Weg zum … zeigen?” | Can you please show me the way to …? |
| “Wo finde ich …?” | Where can I find …? |
| “Ist das in der Nähe?” | Is that nearby? |
| “Wie komme ich am besten zum Bahnhof?” | What’s the best way to get to the train station? |
| “Können Sie mir das bitte auf der Karte zeigen?” | Can you please show me that on the map? |
| “Gibt es hier in der Nähe ein gutes Restaurant?” | Is there a good restaurant nearby? |
| “Wo ist die nächste U-Bahn-Station?” | Where is the nearest subway station? |
| “Ich suche ein bestimmtes Geschäft. Können Sie mir helfen?” | I’m looking for a specific store. Can you help me? |
| “Wie weit ist es zu Fuß?” | How far is it on foot? |
| “Fahren von hier aus Busse zum Stadtzentrum?” | Do buses to the city center leave from here? |
| “Können Sie mir eine Sehenswürdigkeit empfehlen?” | Can you recommend a tourist attraction? |
6. Ask for help in German with emergency landlines
Unlike the unified ‘911’ system in the United States, Germany has separate emergency numbers for different situations.
Being prepared with this information before you travel to a German-speaking country should be absolutely normal.
So, let’s go through the main emergency numbers in Germany:
- 112 – This is the general emergency number for fire brigade and ambulance services. It’s the equivalent of 911 for medical emergencies and fire-related incidents. This number works throughout the European Union.
- 110 – This is the police emergency number. Use this for any situation requiring immediate police assistance, like reporting a crime in progress or a serious accident.
- 116 117 – This is the non-emergency medical on-call service number. If you need medical advice outside of regular doctor’s hours but it’s not a life-threatening emergency, you can call this number. They can help you find a doctor who is on call.
- 0800 111 0 111 or 0800 111 0 222 – These are the numbers for telephone counseling services, similar to suicide prevention hotlines. They offer emotional support and crisis intervention.
All of these numbers are tool-free and can be dialed from any phone: even public pay phones without any charge – in this case, you don’t need to insert coins or have credit on your mobile phone to call these emergency numbers.
Remember, these numbers are toll-free and can be dialed from any phone, including public pay phones, without any charge. You don’t need to insert coins or have credit on your mobile phone to call these emergency numbers.
When calling any of these numbers, try to stay calm and speak clearly when you need to ask for help in German. Be prepared to give the following information:
- Your name
- Your location (be as specific as possible)
- The nature of the emergency
- Any relevant details about injured persons or the situation
It’s also worth noting that in many larger cities in Germany, you can find emergency telephones (“Notrufsäulen”) along highways and in some public areas. These are direct lines to emergency services and can be used if you don’t have a phone with you.
7. Practice emergency situations in German
Be prepared for emergency situations in German with our flashcards!
You can practice more if you want: just request your access to Our Full Practice Worksheet Library!
8. Learn how to ask for help in German with Conversation Based Chunking
Although in most cases, you’re good to go with one-word wonders to ask for help in German, it’s useful to learn the emergency expressions in German naturally.
And there’s no better way to do this than to implement the Conversation Based Chunking method into your language learning routine.
If you’re interested in this approach, we can immediately send you a FREE German Conversation Based Chunking Guide: in it, you’ll find an essential German chunking list, other useful resources to learn German, and you’ll also get access to our Full Practice Worksheet Library.
