Ajuda!
a-ZHU-da
Help!
Usage
The most basic cry for help in an emergency situation
Grammar Note
"Ajuda" is a noun from "ajudar" (to help), corresponding to Spanish "ayuda"
Truqueu al 112!
tru-KEU al un un dos
Call 112!
Usage
112 is the EU emergency number; works for police, ambulance, and fire in Spain
Grammar Note
"Trucar" means to call in Catalan. "Truqueu" is the 2nd person plural imperative; -car verbs spell c as qu before e/i. 112 works in Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearics as well as in Andorra. Andorra also keeps its own lines: police 110, fire and ambulance 118, medical 116
Necessito un metge
ne-se-SI-to un MED-zhe
I need a doctor
Usage
Used to request medical assistance when ill or injured
Grammar Note
"Metge" is the Catalan word for doctor, corresponding to Spanish "médico"
M'han robat la cartera
man rro-BAT la kar-TE-ra
My wallet has been stolen
Usage
Barcelona's tourist areas have pickpocket risks; use this when reporting theft to police
Grammar Note
"Han robat" is 3rd person plural perfect of "robar". "M'" is the indirect object clitic "from me"
On és l'hospital més proper?
on es lus-pi-TAL mes pru-PE
Where is the nearest hospital?
Usage
Used when urgent medical care is needed; Barcelona has several major hospitals
Grammar Note
"Més" means "more" for comparatives. "Més proper" = nearest (superlative context)
Tinc una al·lèrgia greu
tink U-na al-LER-zhia greu
I have a serious allergy
Usage
Used to communicate a life-threatening allergy with anaphylaxis risk
Grammar Note
"Greu" means serious/severe in Catalan, corresponding to Spanish "grave"
Estic perdut i necessito ajuda
es-TIK per-DUT i ne-se-SI-to a-ZHU-da
I am lost and need help
Usage
Used when lost to ask a police officer or local for assistance
Grammar Note
"I" is the Catalan conjunction "and", corresponding to Spanish "y" but pronounced as the vowel "i"
Necessito una ambulància
ne-se-SI-to U-na am-bu-LAN-si-a
I need an ambulance
Usage
Used for serious injuries or illness; remind bystanders to call 112
Grammar Note
"Ambulància" corresponds to Spanish "ambulancia". The accent marks stress position
He perdut el passaport
e per-DUT el pa-sa-PORT
I have lost my passport
Usage
Used when reporting a lost passport to the embassy or police
Grammar Note
"He perdut" is the present perfect of "perdre" (to lose), equivalent to Spanish "he perdido"
On és la comissaria de policia?
on es la ku-mi-sa-RI-a de pu-li-SI-a
Where is the police station?
Usage
Used to find the police station to report a crime or emergency
Grammar Note
"Comissaria" means police station in Catalan, corresponding to Spanish "comisaría"
Prou!
Stop it!
Usage
Show the screen to firmly shut down a pushy tout, a scam, or someone following you — it works without raising your voice
No em toqui!
Don't touch me!
Usage
Show it to anyone making physical contact; bystanders can read it too
Grammar Note
"Toqui" is the negative imperative of "tocar" addressed to "vostè"; for several people say "No em toquin!"
Truqueu a la policia!
Call the police!
Usage
Ask bystanders to call the police. The emergency number is 112; Catalonia's own force is the Mossos d'Esquadra
l'incendi
Fire
Usage
Say a building or a forest is burning; the emergency number is 112
Grammar Note
Masculine noun; "el" elides to "l'" before a vowel. Plural "incendis"
el lladre
Thief
Usage
The person who stole; for a woman it takes the feminine article, "la lladre"
Grammar Note
The noun has one form for both genders and only the article changes (el lladre / la lladre); plural "els lladres"
el robatori
Robbery
Usage
Report that property was taken by force or intimidation; theft without violence is "el furt" instead
Grammar Note
A masculine noun derived from "robar" (to rob); plural "robatoris"
l'estrebada
Snatching
Usage
Show this when a bag was yanked away from you; the word also plainly means "a hard tug", so use it where the situation is clear
Grammar Note
Feminine noun; "la" elides to "l'" before a vowel. Derived from the verb "estrebar" (to tug)
el carterista
Pickpocket
Usage
Someone who lifts wallets in a crowd; the warning word on the Barcelona metro and La Rambla
Grammar Note
One form for both genders, with only the article changing (el / la carterista); built on "cartera" (wallet)
el segrest
Kidnapping
Usage
Report that a person has been seized and deprived of their freedom
Grammar Note
A masculine noun from "segrestar" (to kidnap); plural "segrestos"
l'assassinat
Murder
Usage
The word for a killing; a killing without aggravating circumstances is "l'homicidi" instead
Grammar Note
Masculine noun; "el" elides to "l'" before a vowel. It is also the offence named in art. 139 of the Spanish penal code
els aldarulls
Riot
Usage
Tells someone a crowd has turned violent; Catalan normally names it in the plural. An organised popular uprising is "l'avalot"
Grammar Note
Masculine noun. The singular is "l'aldarull" ("el" elides to "l'" before a vowel), but the singular is also glossed as plain "confusion", so the plural is what names a riot
la bomba
Bomb
Usage
Show this to report a suspicious package or an explosive device
Grammar Note
Feminine noun. A separate word spelled the same way (bomba²) means "pump", so use it where the situation is clear
Hi ha un incendi! Sortiu!
Fire! Run!
Usage
Shout to warn people there is a fire and to get them out
Grammar Note
The existential "Hi ha un…" ("there is a…"). The first sense of "sortir" is passing from inside to outside, and "Sortiu" is its second-person plural imperative
Al lladre! Pareu-lo!
Thief! Catch him!
Usage
Shout to alert bystanders and get them to stop a thief who is running away
Grammar Note
"Pareu" is the same imperative as the standalone "stop" card, here with the object pronoun "lo" hyphenated after it — the same attachment as in "aturar-lo" or "agafar-lo"
Truqueu als bombers, si us plau
Please call the fire brigade
Usage
Ask someone to call the fire brigade for a fire or a rescue
Grammar Note
"Als" contracts "a + els". Catalan calls for the firefighters rather than the vehicle; the engine itself is "el camió de bombers"
Vull fer una denúncia per robatori
I want to report a theft
Usage
Use at a police station to file the theft report an insurance claim needs
Grammar Note
The "Vull fer una + noun" frame. "Denúncia" is the act and result of reporting an offence; "Fer una denúncia" means to file a report
Hi ha algú que parli japonès?
Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?
Usage
Use at a police station or hospital to look for someone who speaks Japanese
Grammar Note
"Hi ha…?" is the existential question. Because the antecedent is indefinite the relative clause takes the subjunctive "parli"
Aquesta persona està inconscient
This person is unconscious
Usage
Tell paramedics or bystanders that a collapsed person is not conscious
Grammar Note
The demonstrative "Aquesta" is feminine singular, agreeing with "persona". Because the state is temporary the copula is "estar", not "ser". "Inconscient" means "not conscious"
Algú s'està ofegant! Ajuda!
Someone is drowning
Usage
Shout to report that someone is drowning and to call for help
Grammar Note
The "estar + present participle" progressive, here in the third person ("està"). "Ofegar-se" is a pronominal verb meaning to drown
M'han pegat
I was beaten
Usage
Report to the police or a doctor that you were assaulted
Grammar Note
The "M'han + past participle" frame — Catalan prefers this third-person-plural active over a passive. "Pegar" means to deal blows to someone and takes an indirect object pronoun ("Per què li pegueu, a aquest xicot?")
M'han apunyalat
I was stabbed
Usage
Tell paramedics or police you were stabbed with a blade — a top-priority injury
Grammar Note
The "M'han + past participle" frame. "Apunyalar" derives from "punyal" (dagger) and means to wound with a dagger
Han entrat a robar a la meva habitació
My room was broken into
Usage
Report to police or hotel staff that your room was entered while you were out
Grammar Note
The subjectless third-person-plural active does the work of the Japanese passive
Aquesta persona és el culpable
That person is the culprit
Usage
Point out the offender to the police; you can show it without saying anything
Grammar Note
The "Aquesta persona + copula" frame, but here the clause identifies rather than describes a temporary state, so it takes "ser" ("és"). "Culpable" means one who has willingly committed a wrong
M'han enganyat
I was deceived
Usage
Report a scam or a rip-off to the police
He oblidat una cosa
I left it behind
Usage
Say you left something behind in a shop or a vehicle
Grammar Note
The "haver + past participle" perfect. "Oblidar" means to forget to take something with you
Hi ha hagut un accident de trànsit
There has been a traffic accident
Usage
Use to report that a traffic accident has happened
M'ha atropellat un cotxe
I was hit by a car
Usage
Tell paramedics or police that a car hit you
Grammar Note
The "M'ha(n) + past participle" frame with a singular subject. "Atropellar" means to run violently into someone, especially with a vehicle
Sortiu per la sortida d'emergència, si us plau
Please escape through the emergency exit
Usage
Tell someone to get out through the emergency exit in a fire or similar
Grammar Note
The verb "Sortiu" is the second-person-plural imperative of "sortir", sharing its root with the noun "sortida"; ", si us plau" is the polite tag
Compte!
Watch out!
Usage
The single word you shout to make someone notice an immediate danger; it works spoken or shown. Example: "Compte, que el terra és relliscós" (careful, the floor is slippery)
Grammar Note
Used as an interjection, "compte" works like "Alerta", an expression that warns someone of a danger, puts them on their guard and draws their attention. As a noun, "compte" means care or attention, as in "Aneu amb compte" (go carefully). The "compte" meaning "bill" is a different sense of the same word
Afanyeu-vos, si us plau
Please hurry
Usage
Ask someone to hurry with a rescue or a procedure
Grammar Note
"Afanyar-se" means to hurry. Being pronominal, its second-person-plural imperative takes "vos" after the verb; ", si us plau" is the polite tag
Veniu de seguida, si us plau
Please come right away
Usage
Ask a doctor or the police to come to where you are at once
Grammar Note
The second-person-plural imperative of "venir". "De seguida" is an adverbial phrase meaning without delay; ", si us plau" is the polite tag
És una emergència
It's an emergency
Usage
Say this when you are being made to wait and the situation cannot wait
Porteu-me a l'hospital, si us plau
Please take me to a hospital
Usage
Ask a taxi driver or a passer-by to take you to a hospital
Grammar Note
"Portar" here in the second-person-plural imperative with the object pronoun "me" hyphenated after it — the same attachment as "Pareu-lo"
More Catalan phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
- Nightlife
- Massage & Spa
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Beach & Activities
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Health & Hospital
- Internet & WiFi
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
- Sports & Activities
- Public Transport
- Accommodation
- Banking & ATM
- Visa & Immigration
- Business & Work
- School & Education
- Cooking & Markets
- Music & Entertainment
- Art & Museums
- Festivals & Events
- Photography
- Laundry
- Post Office
- Language Learning
- Dating & Romance
- Dating Apps
- Volunteering
- Accessibility
- Sustainability & Eco
- Fruits
- Colors
- Dietary & Allergies
- Markets & Souvenirs
- Wine & Spirits
- Car Rental & Driving
- Time & Dates
- Hiking & Trekking
- Diving & Water Sports
- Skiing & Winter Sports
- Hot Springs & Baths
- Yoga & Wellness
- Casino & Gambling
- Beauty & Grooming
- Remote Work
- Fashion & Clothing
- Convenience Store
- Martial Arts
- Signs
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Slang
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences