Emergency in Albanian: 45 Travel Phrases with Audio

Ndihmë!
Help!
Usage
Basic cry for help in an emergency
Grammar Note
Shouting the noun "help" signals emergency. The verb form "ndihmo" also means help me
Thirrni policinë!
Call the police!
Usage
Calling for police in a dangerous or criminal situation
Grammar Note
"Thirrni" is the formal imperative of "thërras" (to call). Singular: "Thirr"
Kam nevojë për doktor
I need a doctor
Usage
When medical help is needed due to illness or injury
Grammar Note
"Kam nevojë për" is a fixed phrase meaning "I need" (literally "I have a need for")
Thirrni ambulancën!
Call an ambulance!
Usage
Urgently requesting an ambulance for serious injury or illness
Grammar Note
Albanian emergency numbers: 112 (EU standard), 127 ambulance, 128 fire, 129 police. Caution: 112 is fully operational only in Tirana — elsewhere it runs on a single line that just one caller at a time can reach, so outside the capital the direct numbers 127/128/129 are more reliable
M'u vodh çanta
My bag was stolen
Usage
Reporting to police or bystanders that you were robbed
Grammar Note
"m'u vodh" is a passive-like construction. Literally "it was stolen from me"
Ku është spitali më i afërt?
Where is the nearest hospital?
Usage
Locating the nearest hospital in an emergency
Grammar Note
"më i afërt" is the superlative of "afër" (near). Superlatives use "më" before the adjective
Jam i lënduar
I am injured
Usage
Communicating that you are injured and need help
Grammar Note
"i lënduar" is the masculine participial adjective. Feminine: "e lënduar"
Mos lëviz!
Don't move!
Usage
Telling someone not to move in an emergency
Grammar Note
"Mos" is the Albanian negative imperative particle. Used with the subjunctive verb form
Ku është farmacia?
Where is the pharmacy?
Usage
Looking for medicine or first-aid supplies
Grammar Note
"farmacia" is borrowed from Greek/Latin. Universally understood throughout Albania
Humba pasaportën time
I lost my passport
Usage
Reporting a lost passport to authorities or an embassy
Grammar Note
"pasaportën" is definite accusative. "time" is the feminine possessive of "my"
Ndaloni!
Stop it!
Usage
Tells someone to stop what they are doing; can be shown without speaking
Mos më prekni!
Do not touch me!
Usage
A firm refusal of physical contact; show it as it is, without softening
Më lini të qetë!
Leave me alone!
Usage
To shut down persistent touts or harassers
Më vodhën!
I have been robbed!
Usage
Reports a theft in general; point at what was taken
zjarr
Fire
Usage
Covers both fire as such and a fire that has broken out; point at what is burning. A fire engine is a "zjarrfikëse"
Grammar Note
Masculine noun: indefinite "zjarr", definite "zjarri". Albanian suffixes its definite article
hajdut
Thief
Usage
Point at this to say that someone has stolen from you; a synonym is "vjedhës"
Grammar Note
Masculine noun: indefinite "hajdut", definite "hajduti"
grabitje
Robbery
Usage
Taking property by force; for example "grabitje në rrugë" (robbery in the street)
Grammar Note
Feminine noun: indefinite "grabitje", definite "grabitja". The Albanian criminal code has no standalone robbery offence; it is an aggravated theft, "Vjedhja me dhunë" (Article 139)
hajdut xhepash
Pickpocket
Usage
The thief who lifts things out of pockets
Grammar Note
"hajdut" (thief) + "xhepash" (of pockets, ablative plural); the two words form a collocation
rrëmbim
Kidnapping
Usage
Carrying a person off by force; for example "rrëmbimi i fëmijëve" (kidnapping of children)
Grammar Note
Masculine noun: indefinite "rrëmbim", definite "rrëmbimi". Example: "Rrëmbimi ose mbajtja peng e personit"
vrasje
Murder
Usage
The taking of a person's life
Grammar Note
Feminine noun: indefinite "vrasje", definite "vrasja". Example: "Vrasja me dashje" (intentional homicide)
trazira
Riot
Usage
A collective outbreak of disorder in the streets; Albanian normally says it in the plural
Grammar Note
The singular indefinite is "trazirë", but the concept is normally used in the plural "trazira"; the definite plural is "trazirat"
bombë
Bomb
Usage
The word for an explosive device; show it when reporting a suspicious object
Grammar Note
Feminine noun: indefinite "bombë", definite "bomba"
Zjarr! Ikni!
Fire! Run!
Usage
Used to alert others to a fire and tell them to get out
Grammar Note
"Ikni" is the 2nd person plural imperative of "iki" (to leave a place on foot or by vehicle); the -ni ending matches "Mos më prekni!"
Hajdut! Kapeni atë!
Thief! Catch him!
Usage
Used to call on bystanders when you catch someone stealing
Grammar Note
"Kapeni" is the 2nd person plural imperative of "kap" (to seize someone or something so that it cannot escape); the -ni ending is the same as in "Thirrni policinë!" and "Ndaloni!"
Thirrni zjarrfikësen!
Please call a fire engine
Usage
Used to ask someone to summon the fire service; the emergency number is 112
Grammar Note
The "Thirrni + definite accusative" pattern of "Thirrni ambulancën!" with "zjarrfikëse" (fire engine). Just as "ambulancë" is made definite there, the object here takes the definite form "zjarrfikësen"
Ku është stacioni i policisë?
Where is the police station?
Usage
Used to ask the way to a police station, e.g. to report a crime
Grammar Note
The "Ku është + definite noun phrase?" pattern of "Ku është spitali më i afërt?", with the "stacioni i + genitive" frame of "Ku është stacioni i autobusit?" and "polici" (from "Thirrni policinë!") in the genitive "policisë"
Kam nevojë për një raport të vjedhjes
I need a theft report
Usage
Used at a police station to ask for written proof of a theft, e.g. for an insurance claim
Grammar Note
The "Kam nevojë për + noun" pattern of "Kam nevojë për doktor" with "raport" from "raport mjekësor" (medical report). "vjedhje" means the secret appropriation of property belonging to others
A flet dikush japonisht?
Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?
Usage
Used to look for someone who can interpret when you cannot make yourself understood
Grammar Note
The question particle "A" is that of "A keni nevojë për recetë?" and the verb form "flet" that of "Flet shumë mirë shqip". "japonisht" is an adverb, as in "Flet japonisht." (speaks Japanese). "dikush" means some person whose identity is unknown
Ky person është pa ndjenja
This person is unconscious
Usage
Used to tell paramedics or bystanders that someone has passed out
Grammar Note
"person" is the same word as in "një person" (one person) and "është" the copula of "Ku është spitali më i afërt?". Sense 2 of "ndjenjë" is the state in which a person is aware of the outside world and of their own actions (consciousness), as in "Është pa ndjenja. Ra pa ndjenja. Humbi ndjenjat."
Një person po mbytet!
Someone is drowning
Usage
Used to raise the alarm when you see someone in the water
Grammar Note
Sense 1 of "mbytem" is dying for lack of breath when submerged in water, as in "U mbyt një njeri." and "Ndihmë, se u mbyt!". "po + present" marks an action in progress
Më rrahën!
I was beaten
Usage
Used to report an assault to the police or to medical staff
Grammar Note
Same "Më + 3rd person plural aorist" pattern as "Më vodhën!" (I was robbed), which reports what happened to you without naming the agent. The transitive "rrah" means striking someone repeatedly with the hand, a stick or something else so as to hurt them
Më therën!
I was stabbed
Usage
Used to tell paramedics or police that you have been stabbed
Grammar Note
Same "Më + 3rd person plural aorist" pattern as "Më vodhën!". Sense 2 of "ther" is piercing part of the body with a knife, needle or spike, as in "E theri me kamë." (stabbed him with a dagger)
Hynë me forcë në dhomën time
My room was broken into
Usage
Used to report to police or hotel staff that your room was broken into while you were out
Grammar Note
The same agentless 3rd person plural aorist pattern as "Më vodhën!". "dhomën" is the definite accusative used in "Mund të ndërroj dhomën?". "me forcë" (by force) is a set phrase
Ai person është fajtori
That person is the culprit
Usage
Used to point out the offender to the police
Grammar Note
The noun "fajtor" means the one who has committed a fault, including in the legal sense, as in "Ai është fajtori."
Më mashtruan!
I was deceived
Usage
Used to report a scam or a rip-off to the police
Grammar Note
Same "Më + 3rd person plural aorist" pattern as "Më vodhën!", with the verb root of "Mos më mashtroni!". "mashtroj" means deliberately deceiving someone with tricks, flattery or false promises, as in "Mashtronte blerësit." (he was cheating the buyers)
M'u vodh portofoli
My wallet was stolen
Usage
Used to report a stolen wallet to the police
Grammar Note
Exactly the pattern of "M'u vodh çanta" (my bag was stolen) with the subject swapped. "portofol" means a small pocket case of leather or similar for holding money and personal documents, as in "Humbi portofolin." The subject takes the definite form "portofoli"
Kam harruar diçka
I left it behind
Usage
Used to tell shop or station staff that you have left something behind
Grammar Note
The "Kam + past participle" perfect of "Kam humbur barnat e mia." (I have lost my medicine). "diçka" is the word in "Diçka tjetër?". "harroj" means no longer remembering someone or something, or not recalling it when needed, as in "Harrova orën (ditën)."
U godita nga një makinë
I was hit by a car
Usage
Used to report that a car has hit you
Grammar Note
"makinë" is the noun in "A keni makinë elektrike / hibride?". The clitic "u + verb" forms the mediopassive and the agent is marked by the preposition "nga". Typical phrases are "u godit nga" and "nga një makinë"
Ikni nga dalja e emergjencës!
Please escape through the emergency exit
Usage
Used to direct others to the escape route in a fire or other emergency
Grammar Note
"emergjenc-" is the phrase of the sign "Dalje emergjence" (emergency exit); inside a sentence it takes the definite form "dalja e emergjencës" (the sign itself is indefinite). The -ni ending of "Ikni" is the 2nd person plural imperative of "Mos më prekni!"
Kujdes!
Watch out!
Usage
The shout used to make someone watch out for an immediate danger
Grammar Note
A one-word interjection. "kujdes" means the attention one gives to someone or something; colloquially it is the interjection for "watch out". "Rrezik!" (= Danger!) names the hazard itself and belongs on signage, not in a shout warning a person
Shpejtoni, ju lutem
Please hurry
Usage
Used to ask emergency services or anyone else to move quickly
Grammar Note
Same "2pl imperative + ju lutem" pattern as "Prisni, ju lutem" (please wait). "shpejtoj" means making something faster, speeding it up, hurrying. The root is that of "i shpejtë"
Ejani menjëherë, ju lutem
Please come right away
Usage
Used to ask someone to come immediately in an emergency
Grammar Note
Same "2pl imperative + ju lutem" pattern as "Prisni, ju lutem". "eja" is the imperative of "vij" (to come); plural example: "Ejani të këndojmë!"
Është emergjencë
It's an emergency
Usage
Used on the phone or at a counter to say that the situation is urgent
Grammar Note
"Është" is the copula of "Ku është spitali më i afërt?" and "emergjenc-" the noun of the sign "Dalje emergjence". Albanian drops the subject pronoun, so the copula alone carries "it is"
Më çoni në spital, ju lutem
Please take me to a hospital
Usage
Used to ask a taxi driver or a passer-by to take you to a hospital
Grammar Note
Same "2pl imperative + ju lutem" pattern as "Prisni, ju lutem", with the clitic "Më" placed as in "Më ndihmoni, ju lutem". "çoj" means taking someone along and accompanying them to another place or person
Ndodhi një aksident automobilistik
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 Albania is 112
Grammar Note
"Ndodhi një aksident" with the adjective "automobilistik" appended. "aksident" means a sudden, chance misfortune that can injure or kill a person. "aksident rrugor" also exists, but "aksident automobilistik" is commoner

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