Emergency Italian Phrases Every Traveler Should Know

Most trips to Italy never need a single phrase in this guide. But if something does go wrong — a fall on cobblestones, a stolen bag, a lost passport, a bad allergic reaction — you don't want to be scrolling through a translation app while adrenaline makes it hard to type. A handful of short, memorized phrases will get you further, faster, than any app in those first confused minutes.

This isn't a full Italian phrasebook — it's the narrow slice you'd actually reach for in a genuine emergency, organized by situation so you can find the right line quickly.

What is the one emergency number to know in Italy?

Italy uses 112 as its single emergency number, the same number that works across the entire European Union, per the European Commission's official guidance on emergency services. Dial it for police, ambulance, or fire, and the operator will route you to the right service — you don't need to know which one to ask for first. It works from any phone, including one with no SIM card or credit, and it works if your phone is locked (most phones let you dial an emergency number from the lock screen).

You may also see 113 (state police), 118 (ambulance), and 115 (fire brigade) posted around Italy — these are the older direct lines and they still work, but 112 is the number to default to. Operators in tourist areas and major cities often speak some English, but opening with a few Italian words gets you routed faster.

Aiuto! — Help! Chiamate il 112! — Call 112! È un'emergenza. — It's an emergency. Ho bisogno di aiuto. — I need help.

When you call, be ready to say where you are. If you don't know the street name, look for a shop sign, a piazza name, or ask a nearby local — "Dove siamo?" ("Where are we?") is a fair question to put to a stranger in a crisis.

If you need medical help

Medical Italian doesn't need to be elaborate. A few direct phrases cover almost every situation you'll actually face, from a twisted ankle to something more serious.

Ho bisogno di un medico. — I need a doctor. Mi fa male qui. — It hurts here (point to the spot). Non riesco a respirare. — I can't breathe. Sto sanguinando. — I'm bleeding. Sono incinta. — I'm pregnant. Ho la febbre. — I have a fever. Mi sono fatto/a male. — I've hurt myself (use fatto if you're male, fatta if you're female).

If you're not in a life-threatening situation but need same-day care — a bad stomach bug, an ear infection, a cut that needs stitches — say:

Dov'è il pronto soccorso più vicino? — Where's the nearest emergency room?

This is a good moment to flag something worth sorting out before you land, not during a crisis: travel insurance for Italy determines whether that ER visit costs you nothing or a few hundred euros, and whether you need to pay upfront and claim later. Check your policy's process for exactly this scenario before you go.

Pharmacy or hospital: which one do you need?

Italian pharmacies (farmacie) are marked by an illuminated green cross and are far more capable than pharmacies in many other countries — pharmacists can assess minor ailments, recommend and sometimes dispense treatment for things like colds, mild infections, rashes, and stomach issues without a doctor's visit. For anything short of a real medical emergency, the pharmacy is usually your first and fastest stop, not the hospital.

Ho bisogno di una farmacia. — I need a pharmacy. Avete qualcosa per...? — Do you have something for...? (mal di testa = headache, mal di stomaco = stomach ache, la tosse = a cough)

Every area has at least one farmacia di turno, a rotating pharmacy that stays open overnight and on Sundays when others are closed — the schedule is usually posted in the window of any closed pharmacy nearby, or ask at your hotel.

Go to the hospital's pronto soccorso (emergency room) instead of a pharmacy for chest pain, difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding, suspected broken bones, head injuries, or anything that feels genuinely serious. Don't try to tough out a real emergency to avoid the hospital — Italy's public healthcare system treats emergencies regardless of insurance status, and you sort out payment afterward.

Describing an allergy

Food allergies are worth rehearsing before you sit down at a restaurant, not after a reaction starts. Italian menus don't always flag allergens the way you might expect, so say it plainly to your server before ordering.

Sono allergico/a a... — I'm allergic to... (allergico if you're male, allergica if you're female) Ho un'allergia a... — I have an allergy to... Contiene noci / latticini / glutine / crostacei? — Does it contain nuts / dairy / gluten / shellfish? Ho bisogno del mio EpiPen. — I need my EpiPen. Sto avendo una reazione allergica. — I'm having an allergic reaction.

If you carry a severe allergy, it's worth writing your specific triggers on a card in Italian (a translation app can do this in seconds) and showing it to servers rather than relying on pronunciation alone — a mispronounced word is a bigger risk here than almost anywhere else on this list.

How do you report a theft to the police?

If something is stolen, report it to the local police (polizia) or carabinieri — both handle theft reports, and either station will take yours. This matters less for recovering the item, which is unlikely, and more for the official report (denuncia) that travel insurance and card issuers will ask for.

Mi hanno rubato il portafoglio / la borsa / il telefono. — My wallet / bag / phone has been stolen. Voglio denunciare un furto. — I want to report a theft. Dov'è la stazione di polizia più vicina? — Where's the nearest police station? Ho bisogno di una copia della denuncia. — I need a copy of the report.

Ask for a written copy of the report before you leave the station — you'll need it for insurance claims and, if a phone or card was taken, for canceling and replacing things once you're home. If you want to reduce the odds of needing this phrase at all, our guide on Rome's pickpocket patterns and street scams covers where theft actually happens and how to avoid the common setups.

What do you do about a lost or stolen passport?

Losing your passport is stressful but very manageable — thousands of travelers deal with it every year, and consulates have a routine for it. Two steps matter, in order: file a police report, then contact your embassy or consulate.

Ho perso il passaporto. — I've lost my passport. Mi hanno rubato il passaporto. — My passport has been stolen. Dov'è l'ambasciata americana/britannica/canadese? — Where's the American/British/Canadian embassy? (swap in your nationality) Ho bisogno di un documento di viaggio d'emergenza. — I need an emergency travel document.

File the police report first — most consulates require it (or at least ask for it) before issuing an emergency travel document, and it's also the proof you'll want if the passport was stolen rather than simply misplaced. Keep a photo of your passport's information page and a printed copy of your travel insurance details somewhere separate from the passport itself; it turns a multi-day scramble into an afternoon errand.

Frequently asked questions