Emergency

1. Hjálp!

   Help!

   Usage

   Shout it first when you are in danger

   Grammar Note

   "Hjálp" is a feminine noun meaning help, used alone as a cry. For a calmer request say "Hjálpaðu mér!"

2. Hringdu í 112!

   Call 112!

   Usage

   In Iceland 112 is the single emergency number for police, ambulance and fire

   Grammar Note

   "Hringja í + accusative" means "to call". The imperative "hringdu" includes the clitic "þú"; to several people say "Hringið í 112!". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

3. Hringdu í lögregluna!

   Call the police!

   Usage

   To ask someone nearby to call the police

   Grammar Note

   "Lögregla" is a feminine noun; accusative with the article gives "lögregluna", after "hringja í"

4. Ég þarf lækni

   I need a doctor

   Usage

   Tell people nearby or the hotel desk when you are unwell

   Grammar Note

   "Þurfa" takes the accusative. "Læknir" is masculine with the accusative "lækni"; with no article it means "a doctor". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

5. Ég er slasaður

   I am injured

   Usage

   Say it after an accident or a fall

   Grammar Note

   A man says "slasaður", a woman says "slösuð". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

6. Ég var rændur

   I have been robbed

   Usage

   Tell the police or bystanders that you were robbed

   Grammar Note

   "Ræna" means "to rob", used here with the victim as subject. "Rændur" is masculine; a woman says "rænd"

7. Ég týndi vegabréfinu mínu

   I lost my passport

   Usage

   For reporting the loss to the police, the embassy or your hotel

   Grammar Note

   "Týna" takes the dative, so the neuter "vegabréf" appears as "vegabréfinu" (dative with article), and "mínu" is the dative neuter of "minn". "Týndi" is the past. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

8. Ég er veikur

   I am sick

   Usage

   To say you are unwell, e.g. at a pharmacy or doctor's

   Grammar Note

   A man says "veikur", a woman says "veik"

9. Hvar er næsta sjúkrahús?

   Where is the nearest hospital?

   Usage

   When you need to find a hospital quickly

   Grammar Note

   "Næsta" means "next, nearest" and agrees with the neuter "sjúkrahús". In an emergency calling 112 is the quicker route. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

10. Geturðu hjálpað mér?

    Can you help me?

    Usage

    To ask a person nearby for help

    Grammar Note

    "Hjálpa" takes the dative, so "I" becomes "mér". "Geturðu" contracts "getur þú"

11. Hættu!

    Stop it!

    Usage

    To make someone stop harassing you or doing something dangerous

    Grammar Note

    The imperative of "hætta", meaning "stop". To several people say "Hættið!". It can be extended to "Hættu þessu!" ("Stop this!")

12. Ekki snerta mig!

    Don't touch me!

    Usage

    To say clearly when someone touches you unwanted

    Grammar Note

    "Ekki + imperative" gives a prohibition. "Snerta" takes the accusative, so "mig". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

13. Einhver stal af mér

    Someone stole from me

    Usage

    To report a theft; add what was taken afterwards

    Grammar Note

    "Stela af + dative" means "to steal from". "Stal" is the past of "stela" and "mér" is dative. Add the object afterwards if needed. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

14. eldur

    Fire

    Usage

    The word to call out when you see a fire

    Grammar Note

    A masculine noun meaning fire. To warn others, shout "Eldur!". The accusative is "eld"

15. þjófur

    Thief

    Usage

    The word to alert others to a thief

    Grammar Note

    A masculine noun. The accusative is "þjóf" and with the article "þjófinn"

16. vasaþjófur

    Pickpocket

    Usage

    To warn about or describe a pickpocketing incident

    Grammar Note

    A masculine noun made of "vasi" (pocket) and "þjófur" (thief). The accusative is "vasaþjóf"

17. mannrán

    Kidnapping

    Usage

    For describing the crime to the police

    Grammar Note

    A neuter noun made of "maður" (person) and "rán" (robbery). The nominative and accusative are the same

18. morð

    Murder

    Usage

    The word for reporting a killing to the police

    Grammar Note

    A neuter noun with the same nominative and accusative, as in "Ég vil tilkynna morð" ("I want to report a murder")

19. óeirðir

    Riot

    Usage

    For describing disturbances in the street or at a gathering

    Grammar Note

    The plural of the feminine noun "óeirð", which the dictionary lists as a plural noun. "Það eru óeirðir" means "there is rioting"

20. sprengja

    Bomb

    Usage

    For reporting a suspicious object to the police

    Grammar Note

    A feminine noun with the accusative "sprengju". "Sprengja" is also a verb ("to blow up")

21. Eldur! Hlauptu út!

    Fire! Run!

    Usage

    To warn people and get them out during a fire

    Grammar Note

    The imperative of "hlaupa" with the clitic "þú"; to several people say "Hlaupið út!". "Út" means "out". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

22. Stöðvið þjófinn!

    Stop the thief!

    Usage

    To ask bystanders to stop someone who has stolen from you

    Grammar Note

    The plural imperative of "stöðva", addressed to several people. "Þjófur" in the accusative with the article is "þjófinn"

23. Hringdu í slökkviliðið!

    Call the fire brigade!

    Usage

    Ask someone nearby; the emergency number is 112 for all services

    Grammar Note

    "Slökkvilið" is a neuter noun (fire brigade). After "hringja í" it is accusative with the article: "slökkviliðið". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

24. Hvar er næsta lögreglustöð?

    Where is the nearest police station?

    Usage

    For reporting a theft or loss

    Grammar Note

    "Lögreglustöð" is feminine, so the adjective is the feminine "næsta". It is made of "lögregla" (police) and "stöð" (station). Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

25. Ég þarf að tilkynna þetta til lögreglunnar

    I need to report this to the police

    Usage

    Said at a police station or on the phone to report a loss or crime

    Grammar Note

    "Tilkynna" means "to report"; "til" takes the genitive, so "lögregla" appears as "lögreglunnar" (genitive with article). Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

26. Talar einhver japönsku?

    Does anyone speak Japanese?

    Usage

    To ask around when you need an interpreter

    Grammar Note

    A verb-first question. "Einhver" means "anyone"; the language "japanska" is a feminine noun and accusative as an object: "japönsku". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

27. Þessi manneskja er meðvitundarlaus

    This person is unconscious

    Usage

    To tell the emergency service about a person who has collapsed

    Grammar Note

    "Manneskja" is feminine, so the demonstrative is "þessi". "Meðvitundarlaus" means "without consciousness"; masculine and feminine forms are the same. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

28. Einhver er að drukkna!

    Someone is drowning!

    Usage

    To call for help when someone is drowning in a pool, the sea or a river

    Grammar Note

    "Vera að + infinitive" shows an action in progress; "drukkna" means "to drown". Call 112 straight away. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

29. Ég var barinn

    I was beaten up

    Usage

    To tell the police or a doctor you were assaulted

    Grammar Note

    A passive of "berja" (to beat). A man says "barinn", a woman says "barin". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

30. Ég var stunginn með hnífi

    I was stabbed

    Usage

    To report a stabbing to the emergency service; call 112 immediately

    Grammar Note

    A passive of "stinga"; a man says "stunginn". "Með" + dative means "with", and the dative of "hnífur" is "hnífi". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

31. Það var brotist inn í herbergið mitt

    My room was broken into

    Usage

    To tell the hotel and the police that your room was entered by force

    Grammar Note

    "Brjótast inn" means "to break in". "Það var brotist inn" is an impersonal passive that does not say who did it. After "í" of direction the accusative "herbergið" is used, with "mitt" in the neuter accusative. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

32. Þessi maður þarna er sökudólgurinn

    That person over there is the culprit

    Usage

    For pointing the culprit out to the police

    Grammar Note

    "Sökudólgur" is a masculine noun for the one to blame or the culprit. "Þessi" is masculine nominative and "þarna" means "over there". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

33. Ég var blekktur

    I was deceived

    Usage

    To say you were cheated, for example by a scam or a wrong charge

    Grammar Note

    The passive of "blekkja" (to deceive). A man says "blekktur", a woman says "blekkt". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

34. Veskinu mínu var stolið

    My wallet was stolen

    Usage

    To tell the police or your card company that your wallet was stolen

    Grammar Note

    "Stela" takes a dative object, so even in the passive "veski" stays dative: "veskinu", with "mínu" in the dative neuter. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

35. Ég skildi dótið mitt eftir

    I left my things behind

    Usage

    Said when you left your belongings somewhere, such as a cafe or bus

    Grammar Note

    "Skilja ... eftir" means "to leave behind". "Dót" (stuff) is neuter, accusative with the article "dótið", with "mitt" in the neuter accusative. "Skildi" is the past. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

36. Ég varð fyrir bíl

    I was hit by a car

    Usage

    To tell the emergency service or police that you were hit by a vehicle

    Grammar Note

    "Verða fyrir + dative" means "to be hit by, to suffer". "Bíll" is masculine with the dative "bíl". "Varð" is the past of "verða". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

37. Farið út um neyðarútganginn!

    Please leave through the emergency exit!

    Usage

    An instruction-style call to evacuate during a fire or alarm

    Grammar Note

    The plural imperative of "fara", addressed to a group. "Út um + accusative" means "out through". "Neyðarútgangur" is masculine, accusative with the article: "neyðarútganginn". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

38. Það er hættulegt!

    It's dangerous!

    Usage

    To warn someone away from a hazard

    Grammar Note

    "Hættulegur" means dangerous, in the neuter "hættulegt" to agree with "það".

39. Komdu strax!

    Come right away!

    Usage

    To summon someone urgently

    Grammar Note

    The imperative of "koma" with the clitic "þú"; to several people say "Komið strax!". "Strax" means "immediately"

40. Þetta er neyðartilfelli

    It's an emergency

    Usage

    To state that it is an emergency, for example on the phone

    Grammar Note

    "Neyðartilfelli" is a neuter noun from "neyð" (distress) and "tilfelli" (case). The nominative and accusative are the same. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

41. Keyrðu mig á sjúkrahús, takk

    Please take me to a hospital

    Usage

    For asking for a lift to hospital; for serious cases call 112

    Grammar Note

    The imperative of "keyra" with the clitic "þú", "mig" being accusative. "Á" + accusative marks direction, and "sjúkrahús" without an article means "to a hospital". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

42. Flýttu þér!

    Hurry!

    Usage

    To urge someone to hurry in an emergency

    Grammar Note

    "Flýta sér" is the reflexive "to hurry"; "flýttu" is the imperative and "þér" the dative reflexive. To several people say "Flýtið ykkur!"

43. Það hefur orðið umferðarslys

    There has been a traffic accident

    Usage

    For reporting a road accident to the emergency service

    Grammar Note

    "Verða" can mean "to happen" and the perfect "hefur orðið" means "has happened". "Umferðarslys" is a neuter noun from "umferð" (traffic) and "slys" (accident). Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

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