Emergency

1. Hjälp!

   Help!

   Usage

   Call for help in any emergency situation

   Grammar Note

   "Hjälp" works as noun or verb; "Hjälp mig!" (help me!) is equally valid

2. Ring ambulansen!

   Call an ambulance!

   Usage

   Use in medical emergencies; Sweden's emergency number is 112

   Grammar Note

   "Ring" is the imperative of "ringa" (to call). "-en" suffix = definite article

3. Ring polisen!

   Call the police!

   Usage

   Use when facing crime or a dangerous situation

   Grammar Note

   "Polisen" = "polis" (police) + definite article "-en"

4. Jag behöver en läkare

   I need a doctor

   Usage

   Use when you feel ill or are injured and need medical attention

   Grammar Note

   "Behöver" is the present tense of "behöva" (to need)

5. Var är närmaste sjukhus?

   Where is the nearest hospital?

   Usage

   Ask for the nearest hospital in an urgent situation

   Grammar Note

   "Närmaste" is the superlative of "nära" (near/close)

6. Jag har blivit rånad

   I have been robbed

   Usage

   Report a robbery to the police

   Grammar Note

   "Har blivit" + past participle forms the passive present perfect tense

7. Jag har tappat bort mitt pass

   I have lost my passport

   Usage

   Report a lost passport to authorities or the embassy

   Grammar Note

   "Tappat bort" is the past participle of "tappa bort" (to lose). "Tappa" alone means "to drop", so "bort" is added for "lose". Used in present perfect

8. Det är en nödsituation

   It is an emergency

   Usage

   Communicate the urgency of a situation to bystanders or authorities

   Grammar Note

   "Nöd" means distress/emergency; "nödsituation" is a compound noun

9. Jag mår inte bra

   I don't feel well

   Usage

   Express that you are feeling unwell

   Grammar Note

   "Inte" is the negation word placed after the verb; negates "mår bra" (feel well)

10. Var är närmaste apotek?

    Where is the nearest pharmacy?

    Usage

    Find a pharmacy when you need medicine

    Grammar Note

    "Apotek" is cognate with English "apothecary". Major chain: Apotek Hjärtat

11. Sluta!

    Stop it!

    Usage

    Show this without speaking to shut down persistent touts, scams, or someone following you; it is blunt on purpose

    Grammar Note

    The imperative of "sluta"; "Sluta, tack" softens it, but with an aggressive person you should not soften it

12. Rör mig inte!

    Don't touch me!

    Usage

    Firmly tells someone touching you to stop, without having to say it out loud; showing it also alerts bystanders

    Grammar Note

    Imperative "rör" + object "mig" + negation "inte"; in Swedish imperatives the negation follows the object

13. Jag har blivit bestulen

    I have been robbed (something was stolen)

    Usage

    Reports a theft (pickpocketing or a bag taken) to police or bystanders; an insurance claim needs a "polisanmälan"

    Grammar Note

    "Bestulen" is the passive participle for having things stolen; a violent robbery is "rånad", as in the "Jag har blivit rånad"

14. Ring 112!

    Call 112!

    Usage

    112 is the single emergency number in Sweden for police, ambulance, and fire; show this to get a bystander to call

    Grammar Note

    Read as "ett-ett-två". Non-urgent police matters use 114 14, and medical advice 1177

15. brand

    Fire

    Usage

    One word to report that a fire has broken out; the number is 112, which also covers the fire service

    Grammar Note

    An "en" word: definite "branden", plural "bränder". The flame itself is "eld"; "brand" is a fire consuming a building, vehicle or area

16. tjuv

    Thief

    Usage

    The word for the person who stole; show it to report a theft or alert bystanders

    Grammar Note

    An "en" word: definite "tjuven", plural "tjuvar". The act itself is "stöld", which is also the offence name in chapter 8 section 1 of the criminal code

17. väskryckning

    Snatching

    Usage

    Names the crime of having a bag snatched and carried off at a run; the offender is a "väskryckare"

    Grammar Note

    An "en" word, definite "väskryckningen", compounding "väska" (bag), "rycka" (to snatch) and "-ning". It is not a separate offence name in the criminal code — such acts are charged as "stöld" or "rån"

18. ficktjuv

    Pickpocket

    Usage

    The word for a thief who lifts things out of pockets and bags; also used when warning about crowded stations and tourist spots

    Grammar Note

    An "en" word: definite "ficktjuven", plural "ficktjuvar", compounding "ficka" (pocket) and "tjuv" (thief). The act is "fickstöld"

19. kidnappning

    Kidnapping

    Usage

    Names a person being carried off and held captive; this is the everyday word for it

    Grammar Note

    An "en" word: definite "kidnappningen", plural "kidnappningar". The formal offence name in chapter 4 section 1 of the criminal code is "människorov"; "kidnappning" is what it is called outside legal contexts

20. mord

    Murder

    Usage

    Names a killing; used when reporting one or giving a statement

    Grammar Note

    An "ett" word: definite "mordet", plural unchanged. It is the offence in chapter 3 section 1 of the criminal code ("Den som berövar annan livet, döms för mord"); killing without that intent is the separate offence "dråp" in section 2

21. upplopp

    Riot

    Usage

    Names a crowd disturbance that breaks public order; news reports also use "kravall"

    Grammar Note

    An "ett" word: definite "upploppet", plural unchanged. It is the offence in chapter 16 section 1 of the criminal code ("Om brott mot allmän ordning"). In racing it can also mean the home straight, so show it in an emergency context

22. bomb

    Bomb

    Usage

    Show this to report a suspicious object or a suspected explosive; it conveys the need to evacuate or call in

    Grammar Note

    An "en" word: definite "bomben", plural "bomber". The verb is "bomba" and a bomb threat is a "bombhot"

23. Det brinner! Spring ut!

    Fire! Run!

    Usage

    Shout this when you notice a fire indoors to warn the people around you and get them out

    Grammar Note

    "brinna" (to burn) is a strong verb, present "brinner"; the impersonal "Det brinner" is the set way to raise a fire alarm. The imperative of "springa" is "spring", followed by the directional adverb "ut"

24. Tjuv! Ta fast honom!

    Thief! Catch him!

    Usage

    Shout this, pointing at someone running off with stolen goods, to get bystanders to help

    Grammar Note

    "ta fast" is the phrasal verb for catching someone who is getting away; the imperative is just "ta". If the person is female, replace "honom" with "henne"

25. Ring brandkåren!

    Call the fire brigade!

    Usage

    Ask someone to call the fire service. Swedish calls the brigade ("brandkåren"), not the vehicle ("brandbil")

    Grammar Note

    Same pattern as "Ring ambulansen!" and "Ring polisen!": the service called is always in the definite form ("brandkår" → "brandkåren"). Using "brandbilen" would point at one particular truck, so it is not used here

26. Var är närmaste polisstation?

    Where is the nearest police station?

    Usage

    Use this to ask the way to the police station, for example to file a report

    Grammar Note

    "Var är närmaste …?" keeps the noun indefinite after the superlative, exactly as in "Var är närmaste sjukhus?". "polisstation" is an "en" word, definite "polisstationen"

27. Jag behöver en polisanmälan

    I need a police report

    Usage

    Show this when you need the police report of a theft, for example for an insurance claim. The sentence itself does not name the theft, so say or mime that part

    Grammar Note

    "polisanmälan" is "anmälan" (a formal report to an authority) with "polis-" prefixed; the definite form is also "polisanmälan". The "Jag behöver …" (I need) pattern is used to ask for it

28. Finns det någon som talar japanska?

    Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?

    Usage

    Show this at a hospital or police station to look for someone who speaks Japanese

    Grammar Note

    "Finns det …?" asks whether something exists; the relative pronoun "som" builds "someone who …". Language names such as "japanska" are written in lower case; definite "japanskan"

29. Den här personen är medvetslös

    This person is unconscious

    Usage

    Point at the person who has collapsed and show this to tell bystanders or paramedics that they are unconscious

    Grammar Note

    "person" is an "en" (common gender) word, so the demonstrative is "den här". "medvetslös" is an adjective: neuter "medvetslöst", plural and definite "medvetslösa"

30. Någon håller på att drunkna!

    Someone is drowning

    Usage

    Use this at the water's edge to raise the alarm that someone is drowning

    Grammar Note

    Swedish has no progressive tense; "hålla på att" + infinitive expresses an action in progress. "drunkna" includes the fatal outcome, so the progressive frame is what gives "is drowning"

31. Jag har blivit misshandlad

    I was beaten

    Usage

    Show this to the police or at a hospital to report that you have been assaulted

    Grammar Note

    "bli" + past participle forms the passive, the same pattern as "Jag har blivit rånad"; the participle agrees with the subject (common gender singular "misshandlad"). The noun "misshandel" is also the name of the assault offence in criminal law

32. Jag har blivit knivhuggen

    I was stabbed

    Usage

    Show this to say you have been stabbed with a blade, so that the wound is treated at once

    Grammar Note

    The participle is built on "knivhugg" (a knife thrust into a body): common gender "knivhuggen", neuter "knivhugget". For a slashing wound Swedish uses "knivskuren" instead

33. Det har varit inbrott i mitt rum

    My room was broken into

    Usage

    Show this to hotel staff or the police to report that your room was broken into while you were out

    Grammar Note

    "inbrott" is an "ett" word: definite "inbrottet", unchanged in the plural. An event is reported with the impersonal "Det har varit" + noun

34. Den där personen är gärningsmannen

    That person is the culprit

    Usage

    Point at someone at a distance and show this to tell the police that they are the offender

    Grammar Note

    "den här" points at something close by, "den där" at something further off. "gärningsman" is a person who has committed a crime: definite "gärningsmannen", plural "gärningsmän"

35. Jag har blivit lurad

    I was deceived

    Usage

    Show this to report that you have been cheated — an unfair charge, a fake product and so on

    Grammar Note

    "lura" means to make someone believe something untrue; the past participle is "lurad" (common), "lurat" (neuter), "lurade" (plural)

36. Jag har blivit bestulen på min plånbok

    My wallet was stolen

    Usage

    Show this when reporting to the police that your wallet has been stolen

    Grammar Note

    With "bestjäla" (to steal from someone) the passive takes the victim as subject and marks the stolen object with "på". "plånbok" is an "en" word: definite "plånboken", plural "plånböcker"

37. Jag har glömt kvar mina saker

    I left my things behind

    Usage

    Show this to say you have left your things behind on a vehicle or in a shop

    Grammar Note

    "glömma" (to forget) plus the adverb "kvar" (left in place) means to leave something behind. "sak" is an "en" word with plural "saker", so the possessive takes the plural form "mina"

38. Jag har blivit påkörd av en bil

    I was hit by a car

    Usage

    Show this to tell paramedics or the police that a car has hit you

    Grammar Note

    The past participle of the phrasal verb "köra på" (to drive into something) is written as one word, "påkörd"; the agent of the passive is marked with "av"

39. Spring ut genom nödutgången!

    Please escape through the emergency exit

    Usage

    Use this while pointing at the emergency exit to get people to evacuate in a fire

    Grammar Note

    "nödutgång" is an "en" word; because it refers to the particular exit in sight, it takes the definite form "nödutgången". "genom" is the preposition for passing from one side of something to the other

40. Det är farligt!

    It's dangerous!

    Usage

    Use this to warn someone off an immediate danger

    Grammar Note

    The adjective "farlig" agrees with the neuter subject "det" and becomes "farligt"; with a common gender noun it is "farlig", and "farliga" in the plural and definite

41. Kom hit genast!

    Please come right away

    Usage

    Use this to call someone to come to where you are at once

    Grammar Note

    Swedish distinguishes static "här" (here) from directional "hit" (to here), so calling someone over takes "hit". The imperative of "komma" is "kom"

42. Ta mig till sjukhuset, tack

    Please take me to a hospital

    Usage

    Show this to a taxi driver or a bystander to ask to be taken to a hospital

    Grammar Note

    A final "tack" is the standard way of softening a request, as in "Vänta lite, tack". "sjukhus" is an "ett" word, definite "sjukhuset"

43. Skynda på!

    Please hurry

    Usage

    Tell the emergency services, the police or a driver that there is no time to lose

    Grammar Note

    The particle verb skynda på means öka takten (increase the pace); skynda is the imperative. Example: Vi är sena, skynda på! (We are late, hurry up!)

44. Det har hänt en trafikolycka

    There has been a traffic accident

    Usage

    Report that a road accident has happened, to the emergency line or to bystanders. The emergency number in Sweden is 112

    Grammar Note

    "Det har hänt en …" means "a … has happened". Trafikolycka is a compound; trafik- is also found in trafikljusen (traffic lights) and kollektivtrafiken (public transport). Olycka is a negative event unintended by those involved; trafikolycka is a traffic accident or incident involving vehicles or pedestrians.

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