Emergency

1. העלפֿט מיר!

   Helft mir!

   Help me!

   Usage

   A shout for help in danger or an emergency

   Grammar Note

   "העלפֿן" takes the dative, hence "מיר". To a close person use the singular "העלף מיר"

2. רופֿט די פּאָליציי!

   Ruft di politsey!

   Call the police!

   Usage

   Asks bystanders to call the police

   Grammar Note

   "פּאָליציי" is feminine, hence the article "די". To a close person use the singular "רופֿ". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. איך בין קראַנק.

   Ikh bin krank.

   I am sick.

   Usage

   Tells people you are unwell. The form is the same for men and women

   Grammar Note

   The adjective "קראַנק" takes no ending after the verb "to be" and does not change for gender

4. דאָ טוט מיר וויי.

   Do tut mir vey.

   It hurts here.

   Usage

   Say it while pointing at the sore place

   Grammar Note

   "טוט מיר וויי" literally means "does me pain"; the person in pain is in the dative. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. מײַן בײַטל איז געגנבֿעט געוואָרן.

   Mayn baytl iz geganvet gevorn.

   My wallet was stolen.

   Usage

   Tells the police or bystanders that you were robbed

   Grammar Note

   The passive is built with "ווערן" in the past ("געוואָרן") plus the participle

6. איך דאַרף אַ דאָקטער.

   Ikh darf a dokter.

   I need a doctor.

   Usage

   For when you are unwell and need a doctor

   Grammar Note

   "דאַרפֿן" means "need/must"; it is not the German "dürfen" (may). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. איך בין אַלערגיש צו ...

   Ikh bin alergish tsu ...

   I am allergic to ...

   Usage

   Add the food or medicine after "צו", for example "צו מילך" (milk)

   Grammar Note

   "Allergic" is a predicate adjective followed by the preposition "צו"

8. וווּ איז אַ שפּיטאָל אין דער נאָענט?

   Vu iz a shpitol in der noent?

   Where is a hospital nearby?

   Usage

   Asks a passer-by where a hospital is

   Grammar Note

   "אין דער נאָענט" means "nearby". This card asks for a hospital nearby rather than using a superlative "nearest". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

9. הערט אויף!

   Hert oyf!

   Stop it!

   Usage

   Said firmly to stop harassment or a pushy seller

   Grammar Note

   "אויפֿהערן" (to stop) is separable, so the imperative splits into "הערט אויף". To a close person: "הער אויף". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

10. רירט מיך נישט אָן!

    Rirt mikh nisht on!

    Don't touch me!

    Usage

    A clear refusal when a stranger touches you

    Grammar Note

    "אָנרירן" (to touch) is separable; in the imperative the particle "אָן" goes to the end. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

11. איך האָב מיך פֿאַרבלאָנדזשט.

    Ikh hob mikh farblondzht.

    I am lost.

    Usage

    A first sentence when you need help finding your way

    Grammar Note

    The perfect uses "האָבן" plus the participle; this verb is reflexive, hence "מיך". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

12. פֿײַער!

    Fayer!

    Fire!

    Usage

    Shout it to warn people around you of a fire

    Grammar Note

    "פֿײַער" is the noun "fire"; a one-word shout is enough

13. גנבֿ!

    Ganef!

    Thief!

    Usage

    Shout it on the spot when something is stolen

    Grammar Note

    "גנבֿ" can also mean "crook" as an insult; shouted at a theft it simply means "thief"

14. רעדט דאָ עמעצער יאַפּאַניש?

    Redt do emetser yapanish?

    Does anyone here speak Japanese?

    Usage

    Useful at an embassy or hospital when looking for someone who can interpret

    Grammar Note

    A yes/no question starts with the verb; "עמעצער" takes the 3rd person singular "רעדט". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

15. היט זיך!

    Hit zikh!

    Watch out!

    Usage

    For approaching danger such as a car or a falling object

    Grammar Note

    "היטן זיך" is a reflexive verb. To a close person: "היט דיך"

16. קומט באַלד, ביטע.

    Kumt bald, bite.

    Please come right away.

    Usage

    Asks someone to come quickly when you need help

    Grammar Note

    "באַלד" means "soon, right away". To a close person: "קום באַלד"

17. פֿירט מיך, ביטע, אין שפּיטאָל.

    Firt mikh, bite, in shpitol.

    Please take me to the hospital.

    Usage

    Ask a taxi driver or a bystander

    Grammar Note

    "אין שפּיטאָל" is normally said without an article, as in "to hospital". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

18. דאָס איז אַ נויטפֿאַל.

    Dos iz a noytfal.

    This is an emergency.

    Usage

    Conveys how serious the situation is when you need help fast

    Grammar Note

    Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

19. איך האָב עפּעס פֿאַרגעסן.

    Ikh hob epes fargesn.

    I forgot something.

    Usage

    The first thing to say when asking about a lost item

    Grammar Note

    "פֿאַרגעסן" has the same form as the infinitive in the perfect (verbs with the prefix פֿאַר- take no גע-)

20. אַן אַקצידענט איז געשען.

    An aktsident iz geshen.

    An accident has happened.

    Usage

    Tells others about an accident; it does not say what kind

    Grammar Note

    "געשען" means "to happen"; its perfect is "איז … געשען"

21. איך וויל מעלדן וועגן אַ גנבֿה.

    Ikh vil meldn vegn a gneyve.

    I want to report a theft.

    Usage

    Say it at a police station to file a theft report

    Grammar Note

    The present of "want" is "איך וויל"; the infinitive follows. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

22. איך בין אַראָפּגעפֿאַלן פֿון מײַן ביציקל.

    Ikh bin aropgefaln fun mayn bitsikl.

    I fell off my bicycle.

    Usage

    Describes a fall from a bicycle, for example to a doctor

    Grammar Note

    Verbs of motion and change take "זײַן" in the perfect. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

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