15 Italian Phrases for Emergencies Every Traveler Should Know (FREE PDF 📚)

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Let’s hope you never need to use these Italian phrases for emergencies. But if you do, at least you’ll be well-prepared. While learning how to order gelato and asking for an espresso like a local is a must before any trip to Italy, there’s something even more important that often gets overlooked: knowing how to survive emergency situations.

Whether you’ve lost your passport, need medical help, or simply can’t find your way back to your hotel, having the right words can help you get the support you need. So, to help you feel more confident (and prepared) on your trip in Italy, I’ve put together 10 essential emergency phrases in Italian every traveler should know.

As always, we’re going to use my 80/20 method and approach to learning Italian. That means, we’ll focus on the top 20% of vocabulary you’ll need 80% of the time, so you won’t waste any time learning what you don’t need! Pronti? Iniziamo! (Ready? Let’s get started!)

But first, make sure to download your free PDF cheat-sheet, which includes everything we’ll cover in this guide. Just enter your email below and I’ll send it to you straight away.

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Table to Contents

Here’s what we’ll cover in this guide. Click on any title to jump to each section.

• Basic Italian Emergency Vocabulary
• Top 15 Italian Phrases for Emergencies
• Sample dialogue
• Key emergency Phone Numbers in Italy

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Watch this lesson on my YouTube channel

We’ll start by covering some essential vocabulary that can be helpful in case of an emergency. Then, we’ll take a look at common scenarios you might encounter when traveling, focusing on the basic phrases that will help you explain what you need clearly and effectively. Then, we will put it all into practice with a real-world short dialogue so you can practice. 

Basic Italian emergency vocabulary

Before we jump into full phrases, it’s helpful to start with some core emergency words in Italian. These are the go-to terms you’ll want to recognize or use in any urgent situation. Here are some of the most useful general emergency words:

And if you ever face a medical emergency, these words might come in handy too:

Top 15 Italian phrases for emergencies

Now that you know some key vocabulary, let me walk you through 10 essential phrases for a variety of common emergency situations. Take the time to memorize them, and you’ll be able to explain your situation and seek help effectively.

1. Medical emergency

If you’re feeling unwell, whether from something you ate or a sudden injury, this is the phrase you need to know:

Sto male, ho bisogno di un dottore.
(stoh MAH-leh, oh bee-ZOH-nyoh dee oon doh-TOH-reh)
I don’t feel well, I need a doctor.

Tip: If you don’t need a doctor and a trip to the pharmacy could help, you can ask: Dov’è la farmacia più vicina? (Where is the nearest pharmacy?). However, consider that not all medications can be purchased without a doctor’s prescription. If you’re unsure, it’s always best to ask: Serve una prescrizione per questo? (Do I need a prescription for this?).

2. At the pharmacy

Italian pharmacies are marked with a bright green cross. Most towns have one farmacia di turno (a rotating 24-hour pharmacy) for emergencies outside regular hours. If the one you visit is closed, check the door or window for a posted list showing which nearby pharmacy is currently open. The staff are usually happy to help, especially if you go prepared with a simple phrase like this:

Avete qualcosa per [il mal di testa]?
(Ah-VEH-teh kwal-KOH-zah pehr eel mahl dee TEH-stah?)
Do you have something for [a headache]?

Tip: If you’re not sure how to describe your symptoms, don’t worry: point to the affected area and say: Ho male qui (It hurts here)

3. Lost passport or documents

Losing your passport (or anything important, really) is a nightmare, but don’t panic. It happens, and this phrase will help you explain what’s gone missing:

Ho perso [il portafoglio]!
(Oh PEHR-soh eel por-tah-FOHL-lyoh)
I’ve lost [my wallet]!

This phrase is useful whether you’re speaking with local authorities, hotel staff, or someone at your embassy. Just change the object depending on what you’ve lost.

Tip: If you need to file an official report, which is often required to get a new passport, tell the staff: Devo fare una denuncia di smarrimento (I need to report a loss).

4. Getting robbed or pickpocketed

Pickpocketing can happen in crowded tourist spots or on public transport. If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of having something stolen, here’s a phrase that will help you quickly get attention and assistance:

Aiuto! Mi hanno rubato [il telefono]!
(Ah-YOO-toh! mee AHN-noh roo-BAH-toh eel teh-LEH-foh-noh!)
Help! [My phone] was stolen!

Tip: If you’re in panic and can’t remember the specific word for what was stolen, this simple phrase works well, too:

Al ladro!
(ahl LAH-droh!)
Catch the thief!

5. Road emergency

If you find yourself stuck on the side of the road with a broken-down rental car, use this phrase:

La mia macchina si è rotta, ho bisogno di un carro attrezzi.
(Lah MEE-ah MAH-kee-nah see eh ROHT-tah, oh bee-ZOH-nyoh dee oon KAR-roh ah-TREHT-tzee)
My car broke down, I need a tow truck.

Tip: If you’re driving on the Autostrada (Italy’s highway system), the toll-free number for roadside assistance is 800 116 800 from a foreign mobile phone or 803 116 if you’re using an Italian SIM card. They’re available 24/7 to help with breakdowns or any other emergencies on the highway.

6. Reporting an accident

If you’re involved in an accident or witness one, here’s how you can report it quickly:

Aiuto, c’è stato un incidente!
(Ah-YOO-toh, cheh STAH-toh oon een-chee-DEH-teh!)
Help, there has been an accident!

Tip: If you’re struggling to pinpoint where you are, just ask those around you:

Dove siamo?
(DOH-veh SYAH-moh?)
Where are we?

7. Addressing unwanted attention

If you find yourself harassed by street vendors or pressured by an aggressive sales pitch, or dealing with someone who’s being overly flirtatious, it’s important to have a phrase on hand to draw the line. Here’s one that works in most situations:

Non sono interessato/a.
(Non SOH-noh in-teh-reh-SAH-toh / tah)
I’m not interested.

This phrase can be used politely to let someone know you’re not interested in what they’re offering.

Tip: If you need to be more firm, here’s a stronger expression that will make it clear you want to be left alone:

Lasciami in pace!
(Lah-SHAH-mee in PAH-cheh!)
Leave me alone!

8. Lost or separated from your group

Now let’s see a polite phrase for when you’re not sure where you are, whether you’ve lost your way back to your hotel or can’t find the rest of your group:

Mi sono perso/a, può aiutarmi per favore?
(Mee SOH-no PEHR-soh / sah, pwoh ah-yoo-TAHR-mee pehr fah-VOH-ray?)
I’m lost, can you help me please?

Tip: To feel even more prepared for getting around in Italy, check out my guide on how to ask and give directions in Italian. It’s packed with all the must-know phrases to help you confidently navigate, ask where things are, and understand directions!

9. Asking someone to call help for you

In stressful moments, you might not be able to make a call yourself. That’s when you need this phrase to ask someone nearby to make it for you:

Può chiamare [un carro attrezzi], per favore?
(Pwoh kyah-MAH-ray oon KAH-roh at-REH-tsee, pehr fah-VOH-ray?)
Can you call [the police], please?

Just replace la polizia with whatever service you need (like un dottore – a doctor, or la polizia – the police).

Tip: If your phone isn’t working or has been damaged, you can explain with:

Il mio telefono non funziona.
(Eel MEE-oh teh-LEH-foh-noh non foon-TSYOH-nah)
My phone isn’t working.

10. Communication breakdown

If you’re still early in your Italian learning journey and aren’t feeling confident speaking, it’s totally okay to ask for help in English. This polite phrase does the trick:

Non parlo molto bene italiano, può aiutarmi in inglese?
(Non PAHR-loh MOL-toh BEH-neh ee-tah-LYAH-noh, pwoh ah-yoo-TAR-mee een een-GLAY-zeh?)
I don’t speak Italian very well, can you help me in English?

This phrase shows you’re making an effort, while also letting others know that you may need some extra language support.

Tip: If you want to stick to Italian but need things repeated, try this:

Non ho capito, può ripetere?
(Non oh kah-PEE-toh, pwoh ree-PEH-teh-ray?)
I didn’t understand, can you repeat?

And if you are in a small town or rural village where it’s difficult to find English-speaking locals, knowing a few Italian gestures might help!

Sample dialogue

We’ve seen the terminology and key phrases, now let’s see how these might be used in a real-life situation:

B: Buongiorno! (Good morning!)
A: Antonio, questa mattina sto male… – Antonio, I’m not feeling well this morning…
B: Che cos’hai? – What’s wrong?
A: Ho mal di stomaco e febbre. – I have a stomach ache and a fever.
B: Aspetta, chiamo subito un dottore. – Wait, I’ll call a doctor right away.
A: Ma no, dov’è la farmacia? – No, where’s the pharmacy?
B: C’è una farmacia vicino alla piazza. Vado io. – There’s a pharmacy near the square. I’ll go.
A: Grazie! Chiedi qualcosa per mal di stomaco e febbre – Thank you! Ask for something for my stomach ache and fever.

[…]

B: Ecco, mi hanno dato queste pastiglie da prendere una volta al giorno. – Here, they gave me these pills to take once a day.
A: Non ho capito, puoi ripetere? – I didn’t understand, can you repeat?
B: Devi prendere queste pastiglie una volta al giorno. – You need to take these pills once a day.
A: Perfetto, grazie! – Perfect, thank you!

Key emergency Phone Numbers in Italy

While knowing the right Italian phrases for emergencies can help you in many situations, it’s equally important to have all the key emergency numbers on hand. Here are the essential ones to save before your trip:

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