Socorro!
Help!
Usage
The cry for help in danger; say it loudly so that people nearby hear you
Grammar Note
"Socorro" is a masculine noun meaning rescue or help, listed as a synonym of "auxilio"; it is the standard cry in an emergency
Chame unha ambulancia, por favor
Please call an ambulance
Usage
Ask a bystander to call an ambulance
Grammar Note
The command form for vostede is "chame". Chamar includes the sense of phoning someone; the dictionary even gives "Chamade unha ambulancia!"
Roubáronme
I was robbed
Usage
Say it when you have been robbed; the subject is left out ("someone robbed me")
Grammar Note
Adding "me" to the past tense roubaron moves the written accent: roubáronme. Galician uses this active form instead of a passive
Necesito un médico
I need a doctor
Usage
Say it when you are ill and need to find a doctor
Grammar Note
"Médico" can be feminised as "médica". "Necesitar" takes its object without a preposition
Onde está o hospital máis próximo?
Where is the nearest hospital?
Usage
Ask where the nearest hospital is
Grammar Note
"Hospital" keeps its silent h. The superlative is formed with the article and "máis" + adjective
Chame ao 112
Call 112
Usage
Ask someone to call 112, the European emergency number that also works in Spain, Galicia included
Grammar Note
"Chamar a ..." means to phone someone or a number; a + o contracts to "ao"
Perdín o pasaporte
I lost my passport
Usage
Tell the police or your embassy that you have lost your passport
Grammar Note
Perdín needs the accent on í. A definite article is often used instead of a possessive: "o pasaporte"
Teño dor no peito
I have chest pain
Usage
Tell a doctor or paramedic that you have chest pain
Grammar Note
"Dor" is feminine; the dictionary marks "dolor" as less recommended. en + o contracts to "no"
Son alérxico á penicilina
I am allergic to penicillin
Usage
Tell medical staff about an allergy; a woman says "alérxica"
Grammar Note
a + a contracts to "á" with an accent. "Alérxico" is spelled with x and becomes "alérxica" for a woman; first person of ser is "son"
Necesito un intérprete
I need an interpreter
Usage
Use it in a medical or police setting to ask for an interpreter
Grammar Note
"Intérprete" has one form for both genders and needs its accent; the dictionary lists the interpreter sense
Pare!
Stop it!
Usage
Say it firmly to make someone stop what they are doing
Grammar Note
The command to a stranger is "pare" (vostede); to a friend it is "Para!"
Non me toque!
Do not touch me!
Usage
A firm refusal when a stranger tries to touch you
Grammar Note
In negative commands the pronoun "me" goes before the verb. The subjunctive of tocar is "toque" (c becomes qu)
Chame a policía!
Call the police!
Usage
Ask bystanders to call the police
Grammar Note
"Policía" is a feminine collective noun; the dictionary uses it in "chamaron a policía". The accent is required
o incendio
Fire
Usage
The word for a fire, especially a large one
Grammar Note
"Incendio" is a masculine noun for a large fire in the dictionary; for fire as such use lume or fogo
o ladrón
Thief
Usage
The word for a thief, useful when describing an incident to the police
Grammar Note
"Ladrón" is masculine; the feminine is "ladroa" or "ladra"; plural "ladróns"
o roubo
Theft / robbery
Usage
The word for a theft or robbery, used when reporting to the police
Grammar Note
"Roubo" is the masculine noun for roubar, with the diphthong ou, unlike Spanish robo
o carteirista
Pickpocket
Usage
The word for a pickpocket; one form for both genders
Grammar Note
"Carteirista" comes from carteira (wallet) and has one form for both genders
o secuestro
Kidnapping
Usage
The word for a kidnapping
Grammar Note
"Secuestro" is a masculine noun; the verb is "secuestrar"
o asasinato
Murder
Usage
The word for a murder, used to report a serious crime to the police
Grammar Note
"Asasinato" is a masculine noun, defined as homicide with aggravating circumstances; it is spelled differently from Spanish asesinato
o motín
Riot
Usage
The word for a riot or mutiny, a group revolt against authority
Grammar Note
"Motín" is masculine, plural "motíns"; the dictionary defines it as a violent act of a group rebelling against authority
a bomba
Bomb
Usage
The word for a bomb; the same word also means a pump
Grammar Note
"Bomba" is feminine; the dictionary lists several senses besides the explosive
Hai un incendio! Saian!
Fire! Run!
Usage
Warn people in a building about a fire and tell them to get out
Grammar Note
The command to several people is "saian" (vostedes). The verb saír has the stem sa- and uses sai- in commands
Ladrón! Detéñano!
Thief! Catch him!
Usage
Call on bystanders to stop a thief who is running away
Grammar Note
"Detéñano" is the plural command "deteñan" plus the pronoun o; adding the pronoun moves the written accent
Chame os bombeiros, por favor
Please call the fire brigade
Usage
Ask someone to call the fire brigade in case of a fire
Grammar Note
"Bombeiro" is a firefighter; the plural stands for the fire brigade. A person as direct object takes no personal "a"
Onde está a comisaría?
Where is the police station?
Usage
Ask where the police station is
Grammar Note
"Comisaría" is feminine and, in the dictionary, a police office; the accent is required
Quero presentar unha denuncia por roubo
I want to report a theft
Usage
Tell the police that you want to file a report about a theft
Grammar Note
"Presentar unha denuncia" appears in the dictionary. First person of querer is "quero" (no Spanish ie)
Hai alguén que fale xaponés?
Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?
Usage
Look for someone who speaks Japanese; any other language name can replace it
Grammar Note
The subjunctive "fale" is used when looking for an unspecified person. Language names are lowercase; "xaponés" is spelled with x
Esta persoa está inconsciente
This person is unconscious
Usage
Tell people or paramedics that someone has collapsed and is unconscious
Grammar Note
A temporary state takes estar. "Persoa" is always feminine, even when the person is a man
Alguén se está afogando! Socorro!
Someone is drowning
Usage
Shout when you see someone drowning
Grammar Note
"Afogarse" is reflexive; estar + gerund (afogando) shows an action in progress. "Alguén" has its accent on the final syllable
Agredíronme
I was attacked
Usage
Say it when you have been physically attacked
Grammar Note
"Agredir" means to assault or attack. Adding "me" to the past agrediron puts the written accent on í
Apuñaláronme
I was stabbed
Usage
Say it when you have been stabbed
Grammar Note
"Apuñalar" means to wound with a knife; the dictionary gives "acoitelar" as a synonym. Adding "me" moves the accent
Entraron no meu cuarto para roubar
Someone broke into my room to steal
Usage
Tell the hotel or the police that someone broke into your room to steal
Grammar Note
The subject-less 3rd person plural means "someone". en + o contracts to "no"; para + infinitive gives the purpose
Esta persoa é a culpable
This person is the culprit
Usage
Use it to point out the culprit to the police
Grammar Note
"Culpable" has one form for both genders and works as a noun; the article is "a" because persoa is feminine
Enganáronme
I was deceived
Usage
Say it when you have been cheated or scammed
Grammar Note
"Enganar" means to deceive; unlike Spanish engañar it has no ñ. Adding "me" moves the accent
Roubáronme a carteira
My wallet was stolen
Usage
Say it when your wallet has been stolen
Grammar Note
"Carteira" is a feminine noun for a small pocket wallet. The owner is shown by "me" rather than a possessive
Esquecín algo
I forgot something
Usage
Say it when you left something behind, for example in a taxi or shop
Grammar Note
Esquecín needs the accent on í. "Esquecer" means to lose from memory and can cover leaving things behind
Atropeloume un coche
I was hit by a car
Usage
Say it when you have been hit by a car
Grammar Note
"Atropelar" means a vehicle hits a person. The subject "un coche" follows the verb; the past atropelou takes "me"
Saia pola saída de emerxencia, por favor
Please escape through the emergency exit
Usage
Ask people to leave through the emergency exit during an evacuation
Grammar Note
por + a contracts to "pola". "Emerxencia" is spelled with x where Spanish emergencia has g
Coidado!
Watch out!
Usage
A shout to warn someone of danger
Grammar Note
"Coidado" is listed in the dictionary as an interjection to warn of danger
Axiña, por favor
Please hurry
Usage
Ask someone to hurry
Grammar Note
"Axiña" is an adverb meaning in a very short time. It urges haste without using an imperative
Veña agora mesmo, por favor
Please come right away
Usage
Ask someone to come right now, e.g. when calling for help
Grammar Note
The vostede command of vir is "veña". "Agora" means right now and "mesmo" strengthens it
Léveme ao hospital, por favor
Please take me to a hospital
Usage
Ask someone to take you to hospital
Grammar Note
In affirmative commands the pronoun attaches to the verb and the accent moves forward (léveme). a + o contracts to "ao"
Houbo un accidente de tráfico
There has been a traffic accident
Usage
Report that a road accident has happened
Grammar Note
"Houbo" is the past of haber used for events. "Accidente" is spelled with cc; the dictionary example is "accidente de automóbil"
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