Unit 19 · Problems and emergenciesA2Lesson 3 of 5: Emergencies
Emergencies in European Portuguese
This is lesson 3 of 5 in Unit 19, Problems and emergencies (Problemas e emergências), an A2 unit in which you report lost and stolen things, get help in an emergency, complain, and return or exchange things in a shop. It teaches 8 words and phrases, including socorro (help), a ambulância (ambulance) and o acidente (accident), and uses them in 10 example sentences. By the end you can say things like Há um incêndio na casa ao lado! (“There's a fire in the house next door!”). The unit’s grammar notes cover “Acabar de: I have just…” and “Posso trocá-lo?: it and them”.
Words in this lesson
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
socorro | helpShout Socorro! when you are in danger. To ask for a hand, use ajudar: Pode ajudar-me? |
a ambulância | ambulance |
o acidente | accidentHouve um acidente. = There was an accident. |
o incêndio | fireA fire that is out of control. O fogo is fire in general. |
os bombeiros | fire brigadeOne firefighter is o bombeiro or a bombeira. In Portugal the bombeiros also drive many ambulances. |
feridoalso ferida | injuredUm ferido = an injured person. |
depressa | quicklyDepressa! = Quick! Hurry! |
cuidado | carefulCuidado! = Watch out! Cuidado com… = Watch out for…, be careful with… |
Example sentences
- Socorro! Há um homem ferido!Help! There's an injured man!Socorro! is what you shout when you need help urgently.
- Chame uma ambulância, depressa!Call an ambulance, quick!To a stranger in an emergency: Chame. To a friend: Chama.
- Liga para o 112!Call 112!112 (cento e doze) is the emergency number in Portugal. With extra respect: Ligue para o 112!
- Houve um acidente na autoestrada.There was an accident on the motorway.Houve = there was (something happened). It is the past of há.
- Está alguém ferido?Is anyone hurt?
- Cuidado com o carro!Watch out for the car!Cuidado com = watch out for, be careful with.
- Há um incêndio na casa ao lado!There's a fire in the house next door!A casa ao lado or a casa do lado = the house next door.
- Os bombeiros estão a caminho.The fire brigade is on its way.A caminho = on the way. Os bombeiros is plural in Portuguese.
- Ajude-me, se faz favor!Please help me!The polite command ajude, with me after it. To a friend: Ajuda-me!
- Eu acabei de ver um acidente.I've just seen an accident.
Grammar notes
The grammar notes for this lesson are on the page for Unit 19: Problems and emergencies: