Emergency

1. Apua!

   A-pu-a

   Help!

   Usage

   The most critical phrase to shout in an emergency

   Grammar Note

   Apua is partitive of apu (help). The partitive form is used for urgent exclamations

2. Soita hätänumeroon 112

   SOI-ta HÄ-tä-nu-me-roon 112

   Call the emergency number 112

   Usage

   Finland's emergency number is 112 for police, ambulance, and fire

   Grammar Note

   Hätänumeroon is illative (-on) expressing the destination of the call

3. Tarvitsen lääkäriä

   TAR-vit-sen LÄÄ-kä-ri-ä

   I need a doctor

   Usage

   Essential phrase when you need medical attention

   Grammar Note

   Lääkäriä is partitive. Tarvita (to need) takes partitive object in Finnish

4. Missä on lähin sairaala?

   MIS-sä on LÄ-hin SAI-raa-la

   Where is the nearest hospital?

   Usage

   Find medical care quickly when needed

   Grammar Note

   Sairaala (hospital) derives from sairas (sick). Finnish healthcare is high quality

5. Olen allerginen penisilliinille

   O-len AL-ler-gi-nen PE-ni-sil-lii-nil-le

   I am allergic to penicillin

   Usage

   Inform medical staff of a drug allergy — critical information

   Grammar Note

   Allative -lle expresses the target "allergic to". Carry this written for safety

6. Passini on kadonnut

   PAS-si-ni on KA-don-nut

   My passport is lost

   Usage

   Report a lost passport to police or your embassy

   Grammar Note

   Kadonnut is the active past participle of kadota (to disappear/get lost)

7. Minua on ryöstetty

   MI-nu-a on RYÖS-tet-ty

   I have been robbed

   Usage

   Report a robbery to the police

   Grammar Note

   On ryöstetty is Finnish passive perfect. Minua partitive marks the affected person

8. Minulla on kova päänsärky

   MI-nul-la on KO-va PÄÄN-sär-ky

   I have a severe headache

   Usage

   Describe symptoms to a doctor or pharmacist

   Grammar Note

   Päänsärky is a compound: pää (head) + särky (ache). Use minulla on for symptoms

9. Tarvitsen tulkin

   TAR-vit-sen TUL-kin

   I need an interpreter

   Usage

   Request an interpreter at police stations or hospitals

   Grammar Note

   Tulkin is accusative of tulkki (interpreter). Accusative marks the complete object

10. Missä on Suomen suurlähetystö?

    MIS-sä on SUO-men SUUR-lä-he-tys-tö

    Where is the Finnish embassy?

    Usage

    Find the embassy for passport loss or emergency consular assistance

    Grammar Note

    Suomen is genitive of Suomi (Finland). Suurlähetystö = large + sending + place

11. Lopettakaa!

    Stop it!

    Usage

    Show this without speaking to make someone stop harassing, hassling, or overcharging you

    Grammar Note

    Plural imperative; the singular "Lopeta!" is even more direct and forceful

12. Älkää koskeko minuun!

    Do not touch me!

    Usage

    Show this to state a clear refusal when someone gets physically close

    Grammar Note

    Plural negative imperative; the singular "Älä koske minuun!" is sharper and aimed at one person

13. Soittakaa poliisille!

    Call the police!

    Usage

    Show this to ask bystanders to call the police; the emergency number is 112

    Grammar Note

    "Poliisille" is allative (call to the police). "Soittaa" also means to play an instrument, but in this construction it means to phone

14. Minulta on varastettu

    Something was stolen from me

    Usage

    Show this when reporting a theft to police or hotel staff, then point to what is missing

    Grammar Note

    Passive construction. The phrase "Minua on ryöstetty" means being robbed with force, while this covers theft and pickpocketing generally

15. Olen eksynyt

    I am lost

    Usage

    States plainly that you are lost; show it together with a map or your hotel address

    Grammar Note

    Perfect of eksyä (to get lost); if a child is missing, use "Lapseni on kadonnut"

16. tulipalo

    Fire

    Usage

    The word for a fire itself, in a building or a vehicle; the emergency number is 112

    Grammar Note

    A compound of tuli (fire) and palo (burning); plain "tuli" is fire for cooking or light, while "tulipalo" is only a fire that has got out of control

17. varas

    Thief

    Usage

    Names the person who steals; the act itself is "varkaus" (theft)

    Grammar Note

    In gardening the same word also means a sucker shoot on a tomato plant, but that sense cannot be misread here; theft is Chapter 28 Section 1 "Varkaus" of the Criminal Code

18. ryöstö

    Robbery

    Usage

    Taking property by force or threat; theft without force is "varkaus"

    Grammar Note

    The offence named in Chapter 31 Section 1 of the Criminal Code; the verb is "ryöstää"

19. taskuvaras

    Pickpocket

    Usage

    The person who lifts a wallet in a crowd; also used on warning signs

    Grammar Note

    A compound of tasku (pocket) and varas (thief); the Criminal Code has no separate offence for it and it falls under Chapter 28 Section 1 "Varkaus"

20. kidnappaus

    Kidnapping

    Usage

    The act of abducting a person; "ihmisryöstö" is a synonym

    Grammar Note

    A colloquial anglicism; the Criminal Code has no offence of this name and such acts fall under Chapter 25 Section 1 "Vapaudenriisto" (deprivation of liberty) and neighbouring sections

21. murha

    Murder

    Usage

    The deliberate, planned killing of a person

    Grammar Note

    The offence named in Chapter 21 Section 2 of the Criminal Code; killing without premeditation is a separate offence, "Tappo" (Chapter 21 Section 1)

22. mellakka

    Riot

    Usage

    A violent disturbance by a crowd; the word used as-is in local news

    Grammar Note

    The offence named in Chapter 17 Section 2 of the Criminal Code; the aggravated form is "Väkivaltainen mellakka" (Chapter 17 Section 3)

23. pommi

    Bomb

    Usage

    The explosive device itself; a bomb threat is "pommiuhkaus"

    Grammar Note

    Colloquially it can also mean a machine about to fall apart, but in an emergency context it is read as the explosive

24. Tulipalo! Juoskaa ulos!

    TU-li-pa-lo JUOS-kaa U-los

    Fire! Run!

    Usage

    Shout this to warn the people around you and send them outside when a fire breaks out

    Grammar Note

    The word "tulipalo" (fire) followed by the plural imperative "Juoskaa" (from juosta, to run) and the directional adverb "ulos" (out); -kaa/-kää is the same plural imperative ending as in "Auttakaa minua"

25. Varas! Ottakaa kiinni!

    VA-ras OT-ta-kaa KIIN-ni

    Thief! Catch him!

    Usage

    Shout this right after a theft to ask bystanders to stop the thief

    Grammar Note

    The word "varas" (thief) plus the plural imperative of "ottaa kiinni" (to catch); on its own "kiinni" can mean closed, but with "ottaa" it means to seize

26. Soittakaa paloauto!

    SOIT-ta-kaa PA-lo-au-to

    Please call a fire engine

    Usage

    Ask bystanders to call the fire brigade; the emergency number is 112

    Grammar Note

    The "Soittakaa + vehicle + heti" construction with "paloauto" (fire engine) as the vehicle; the vehicle summoned stands in the nominative

27. Missä on poliisiasema?

    MIS-sä on PO-lii-si-a-se-ma

    Where is the police station?

    Usage

    Ask the way to the police station where you can file a report

    Grammar Note

    The "Missä on X?" pattern with "poliisiasema" (poliisi = police + asema = station); "poliisi" names the force, "poliisiasema" the building

28. Haluaisin tehdä rikosilmoituksen.

    HA-lu-ai-sin TEH-dä RI-kos-il-moi-tuk-sen

    I want to file a report

    Usage

    Show this at a police counter after a theft to say you want to file a report; the copy of this report is what an insurer asks for. The sentence itself does not name the theft, so say or mime that part

    Grammar Note

    A "rikosilmoitus" is the crime report the police register, and in Finland it is the document that serves as a theft certificate; it is the victim who files it, so the subject is first person. The frame is "Haluaisin + infinitive"; the total object takes the accusative "rikosilmoituksen"

29. Puhuuko joku japania?

    PU-huu-ko JO-ku JA-pa-ni-a

    Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?

    Usage

    Ask at a police or hospital counter whether anyone there speaks Japanese

    Grammar Note

    The frame is verb + question clitic -ko + language in the partitive, with "joku" (someone) as the subject and "japania" (Japanese) as the language

30. Tämä henkilö ei ole tajuissaan

    TÄ-mä HEN-ki-lö ei O-le TA-juis-saan

    This person is unconscious

    Usage

    Tell paramedics or bystanders the condition of a person who has collapsed

    Grammar Note

    "Tajuissaan" is an adverb, the plural inessive of "taju" (consciousness) with a possessive suffix, meaning conscious; with the negative "ei ole" it states that the person is not

31. Joku on hukkumassa!

    JO-ku on HUK-ku-mas-sa

    Someone is drowning

    Usage

    Raise the alarm when you see someone going under at the waterside

    Grammar Note

    The inessive of the third infinitive (-massa/-mässä) marks an action in progress; "hukkua" is to suffocate from inhaling water

32. Minua on lyöty

    MI-nu-a on LYÖ-ty

    I was beaten

    Usage

    Report being assaulted to the police or to medical staff

    Grammar Note

    A passive perfect, with the passive past participle of "lyödä" (to hit)

33. Minua on puukotettu

    MI-nu-a on PUU-ko-tet-tu

    I was stabbed

    Usage

    Report having been stabbed; point to the wound as well if you are bleeding

    Grammar Note

    A passive perfect; "puukottaa" comes from "puukko" (a Finnish knife) but covers stabbing with any blade

34. Huoneeseeni on murtauduttu

    HUO-nee-see-ni on MUR-tau-dut-tu

    My room was broken into

    Usage

    Tell hotel staff or the police that your room was entered while you were out

    Grammar Note

    A noun + on + past participle frame; "murtautua" is to force one's way in, and the place entered takes the illative

35. Tuo henkilö on syyllinen

    TUO HEN-ki-lö on SYYL-li-nen

    That person is the culprit

    Usage

    Point out the offender to the police; be sure you are pointing at the right person

    Grammar Note

    "Syyllinen" is the one who committed the act; "tuo" points to something away from both speaker and listener

36. Minua on huijattu

    MI-nu-a on HUI-jat-tu

    I was deceived

    Usage

    Report a scam or being overcharged

    Grammar Note

    A passive perfect; "huijata" is to cheat or act dishonestly, and a swindler is a "huijari"

37. Minulta on varastettu lompakko

    MI-nul-ta on VA-ras-tet-tu LOM-pak-ko

    My wallet was stolen

    Usage

    Show this when reporting a stolen wallet to the police or hotel staff

    Grammar Note

    "Minulta on varastettu" with the stolen item added; in the Finnish passive the stolen item stands in the nominative

38. Unohdin tavarani

    U-noh-din TA-va-ra-ni

    I left my things behind

    Usage

    Say that you left your belongings in a shop or a vehicle; show a photo of the item as well

    Grammar Note

    The possessive suffix -ni (my); "unohtaa" is to leave something without remembering it

39. Liikenneonnettomuus tapahtui

    LII-ken-ne-on-net-to-muus TA-pah-tui

    There has been a traffic accident

    Usage

    Report that a traffic accident has happened; point out the place on a map

    Grammar Note

    The "an accident happened" frame, with "liikenne" (traffic) prefixed to form the compound

40. Auto törmäsi minuun

    AU-to TÖR-mä-si MI-nuun

    I was hit by a car

    Usage

    Tell paramedics or the police that a car hit you

    Grammar Note

    A subject + third person past + first person object frame; "törmätä" governs the illative, so the pronoun is "minuun", not "minut"

41. Poistukaa hätäuloskäynnistä

    POIS-tu-kaa HÄ-tä-u-los-käyn-nis-tä

    Please escape through the emergency exit

    Usage

    Direct the people around you to the emergency exit in a fire or a blackout

    Grammar Note

    The word "Hätäuloskäynti" (emergency exit) in the elative; the plural imperative is "Olkaa hyvä ja poistukaa!"

42. Varokaa!

    VA-ro-kaa

    Watch out!

    Usage

    A one-word warning that there is danger right there

    Grammar Note

    The plural imperative of "varoa" (to guard oneself against danger); it shares its root with "Olkaa erittäin varovaisia", but is the form shouted at immediate danger

43. Kiirehtikää, kiitos

    KII-reh-ti-kää, KII-tos

    Please hurry

    Usage

    Tell the other person that this is urgent, for instance while waiting for an ambulance or the police

    Grammar Note

    A plural imperative + "kiitos" frame, with the verb "kiirehtiä" (to hurry)

44. Tulkaa heti!

    TUL-kaa HE-ti

    Please come right away

    Usage

    Ask someone on the phone or in person to come at once

    Grammar Note

    The word "heti" (right away) after the plural imperative of "tulla" (to come)

45. Viekää minut sairaalaan

    VIE-kää MI-nut SAI-raa-laan

    Please take me to a hospital

    Usage

    Ask to be taken to hospital when you cannot get there yourself

    Grammar Note

    The word "sairaala" (hospital) in the illative marks the destination; "viedä" is to carry someone or something somewhere, and its object here is the accusative "minut"

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