An emergency is the worst moment to be searching for words, and in Germany the two numbers you need are short, memorable and free from any telephone.
This guide sets out what to say when you call, what happens at the scene, how to report a crime, and what the police may and may not ask you to do.
The Numbers That Matter
| German term | English meaning |
|---|---|
| die Notrufnummer | the emergency number |
| die Feuerwehr | the fire service |
| der Rettungsdienst | the ambulance service |
| die Polizei | the police |
| die Leitstelle | the control centre |
| der Notruf | the emergency call |
| die Wache | the police station |
| der Notarzt | the emergency doctor |
The number 112 reaches the fire service and the ambulance service anywhere in Europe, and 110 reaches the police. Both are free, both work from a locked phone, and both are recorded, so speak slowly and clearly.
Calling for Help
| German term | English meaning |
|---|---|
| die Meldung | the report |
| der Standort | the location |
| die Lage | the situation |
| die Verletzten | the injured |
| die Gefahr | the danger |
| die Wartezeit | the waiting time |
| der Rueckruf | the call back |
| die Entwarnung | the all-clear |
A call to 112 answers five questions: where you are, what has happened, how many people are hurt, what injuries they have, and who is calling. Answer them in that order and stay on the line until the operator ends the call.
At the Scene
| German term | English meaning |
|---|---|
| der Rettungswagen | the ambulance |
| die Absperrung | the cordon |
| der Zeuge | the witness |
| die Aussage | the statement |
| die Hilfeleistung | the assistance |
| die Erste Hilfe | the first aid |
| der Unfallort | the scene of the accident |
| die Bergung | the recovery |
You are obliged to help at an accident if it is reasonable to do so, and failing to help is a criminal offence. Do not move an injured person unless there is immediate danger, and make the scene safe first.
Reporting a Crime
| German term | English meaning |
|---|---|
| die Anzeige | the report to the police |
| die Straftat | the criminal offence |
| der Diebstahl | the theft |
| der Einbruch | the burglary |
| der Verdacht | the suspicion |
| der Beamte | the officer |
| das Aktenzeichen | the reference number |
| die Bescheinigung | the certificate |
A theft can be reported at any police station, and an online report is accepted for many straightforward cases. Ask for the Aktenzeichen and the written confirmation, because the insurer needs both for the claim.
Lost Property, Documents and Insurance
| German term | English meaning |
|---|---|
| der Verlust | the loss |
| das Fundbuero | the lost property office |
| die Verlustanzeige | the loss report |
| der Ersatz | the replacement |
| die Versicherung | the insurance |
| der Schaden | the damage |
| die Frist | the deadline |
| die Kopie | the copy |
Losing a passport or identity card must be reported, and the police give you a confirmation that the embassy or the registration office asks for. Ordinary lost property goes to the Fundbuero, and it is worth asking there before you buy a replacement.
Dealing with the Police
| German term | English meaning |
|---|---|
| die Kontrolle | the check |
| der Ausweis | the identity document |
| die Personalien | the personal details |
| das Recht | the right |
| der Anwalt | the lawyer |
| der Dolmetscher | the interpreter |
| die Durchsuchung | the search |
| das Protokoll | the record |
The police may ask for your identity documents and personal details, and you must provide them. You are not obliged to answer questions about the incident itself, and you may ask for an interpreter at any point.
Accidents, Insurance and Reports
| German term | English meaning |
|---|---|
| der Unfall | the accident |
| die Unfallmeldung | the accident report |
| die Berufsgenossenschaft | the employers' liability insurance |
| die Zeugenaussage | the witness statement |
| das Foto | the photograph |
| die Notiz | the note |
| die Behandlung | the treatment |
| der Antrag | the application |
For an accident at work, tell the employer on the same day and have it entered in the accident book, because the Berufsgenossenschaft covers the treatment and any lasting consequences.
Phrases for an Emergency
| German phrase | What it means |
|---|---|
| Hilfe, ich brauche einen Krankenwagen. | Help, I need an ambulance. |
| Es ist ein Unfall passiert. | There has been an accident. |
| Die Adresse ist Hauptstrasse zehn. | The address is Hauptstrasse ten. |
| Eine Person ist verletzt. | One person is injured. |
| Es brennt in der Kueche. | There is a fire in the kitchen. |
| Ich spreche wenig Deutsch. | I speak little German. |
| Bitte schicken Sie einen Dolmetscher. | Please send an interpreter. |
| Bleiben Sie am Telefon, bitte. | Please stay on the line. |
Two or three of these sentences, ready before you need them, remove the greatest source of danger in any emergency: delay.
Before You Ever Need It
Preparation is the whole game in an emergency, and the most useful thing you can do is to learn your own address in German and be able to spell the street name aloud.
Save 112 and 110 in your phone, add an emergency contact under ICE, and carry a small card with the names of any medicines you take and the allergies you have.
Nora is the official emergency app in Germany, and it can pass your location to the control centre automatically, which is a real advantage when you cannot speak clearly.
A short first-aid course is offered by almost every aid organisation, and the certificate is often required before you may drive or work with children.
Keep your insurance number and your employer's telephone number where someone else can find them, and tell the people you live with where those papers are kept.
In a building, learn where the fire extinguishers and the emergency exits are, and never block the stairwell, because the escape route is inspected for exactly that reason.
If you call for a neighbour or a stranger, ask someone nearby to wait for the ambulance and guide it to the door, which saves several minutes at the entrance. If you want the right words ready before you need them, learn German with a course that covers urgent situations as well as ordinary ones.
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When Minutes Matter
Emergency services in Germany are fast and professional, and the call itself is what sets them moving. A caller who can name the place and describe the situation saves time that matters.
Learn the numbers and the five questions by heart, and they will be there when you need them. If you want to learn German for daily life, the words of an emergency are the ones worth learning first.
An emergency call in Germany follows five questions and two numbers. Learn German with the words of emergencies, reporting and the police.
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