મદદ કરો!
Ma-dad ka-ro!
Help me!
Usage
The most basic emergency call for help
Grammar Note
"Madad" (help) is borrowed from Arabic, shared with Hindi. "Karo" is the polite imperative of "karvun" (to do).
દવાખાનું ક્યાં છે?
Da-vaa-khaa-nun kyaan chhe?
Where is the hospital?
Usage
Asking for directions to the hospital
Grammar Note
"Davaakhaanun" is a compound meaning "medicine house": "dava" (medicine) + "khaanun" (house). A common word for hospital or clinic.
પોલીસ બોલાવો
Po-lis bo-laa-vo
Call the police
Usage
Requesting someone to call the police
Grammar Note
"Bolaavo" is the polite imperative of "bolaavvun" (to call/summon). The police emergency number in Gujarat is 100.
ડૉક્ટર જોઈએ છે
Doc-tor jo-ie chhe
I need a doctor
Usage
Expressing the need for medical attention
Grammar Note
"Joie chhe" expresses necessity in Gujarati. The subject can be omitted ("doctor joie chhe" = a doctor is needed/I need a doctor).
ચોરી થઈ
Cho-ri tha-i
I was robbed / Theft occurred
Usage
Reporting theft to police or accommodation
Grammar Note
"Chori" (theft) is shared with Hindi. "Thai" is the past tense of "thavun" (to happen/become), indicating the event occurred.
દુખાવો થાય છે
Du-khaa-vo thaay chhe
I am in pain / It hurts
Usage
Communicating pain to a doctor or emergency responder
Grammar Note
"Dukhavo" derives from Sanskrit "dukha" (suffering/pain). "Thaay chhe" is the present tense of "thavun" (to happen/be).
એમ્બ્યુલન્સ બોલાવો
Ambulance bo-laa-vo
Call an ambulance
Usage
Requesting an ambulance
Grammar Note
India's ambulance emergency number is 108. Gujarat's "108 Ambulance Service" provides free emergency transport.
શ્વાસ લેવાતો નથી
Shvaas le-vaa-to na-thi
I cannot breathe
Usage
Communicating breathing difficulty to emergency responders
Grammar Note
"Shvaas" derives from Sanskrit "shvaas" (breath). "Levaato nathi" is passive potential negative meaning "cannot be taken/done".
દૂતાવાસ ક્યાં છે?
Du-taa-vaas kyaan chhe?
Where is the embassy?
Usage
Finding your country's embassy in an emergency
Grammar Note
"Dootavaas" is a compound: "doot" (messenger/ambassador) + "vaas" (dwelling). A native Gujarati word for embassy.
દવા જોઈએ છે
Da-vaa jo-ie chhe
I need medicine
Usage
Requesting medicine at a pharmacy or medical facility
Grammar Note
"Dava" (medicine) is a Persian loanword widely used across South Asia. "Joie chhe" expresses necessity.
બંધ કરો
Bandh karo
Stop it
Usage
Firm refusal for pushy touts or scams; can be shown without speaking
મને અડશો નહીં
Mane adsho nahi
Don't touch me
Usage
Show this clearly to anyone touching you
આગ
Aag
Fire
Usage
The word for fire; feminine આગ means fire, while an identically spelt masculine noun means "coming, income"
ચોર
Chor
Thief
Usage
The word for the person; the act of theft itself is "chori"
લૂંટ
Lunt
Robbery
Usage
Taking by force; a raid by a gang of robbers is "dhad"
ખિસ્સાકાતરુ
Khissakataru
Pickpocket
Usage
Literally "pocket-cutter"; use it to report a theft in a crowded market or train
અપહરણ
Apaharan
Kidnapping
Usage
The word for carrying a person off; show it when reporting to the police
હત્યા
Hatya
Murder
Usage
"Khun" is a synonym but also means "blood", so this less ambiguous word is used here
રમખાણ
Ramkhan
Riot
Usage
A crowd turning violent; a communal riot is "komi ramkhan"
બોમ્બ
Bomb
Bomb
Usage
A loanword from English; it means a violent weapon of gunpowder
ચોર! પકડો!
Chor! Pakdo!
Thief! Catch him!
Usage
Shout it to bystanders right after a theft, pointing at the person
Grammar Note
"Chor" means "thief". "Pakdo" is the imperative of "pakadvun" (to hold, to catch), formed with the same -o ending as "karo".
આગબંબો બોલાવો
Aagbambo bolaavo
Please call a fire engine
Usage
Ask a bystander to call the fire brigade when you find a fire
Grammar Note
The same "... bolaavo" (please call ...) frame as "ambulance bolaavo", with the object "aagbambo" (fire engine).
પોલીસ સ્ટેશન ક્યાં છે?
Polis steshan kyam chhe?
Where is the police station?
Usage
Asking the way to a police station in order to report a crime
Grammar Note
The same "... steshan kyam chhe?" frame as "railway station kyam chhe?", with the modifier "polis" (police).
મારે ચોરીની ફરિયાદ કરવી છે
Mare chorini fariyad karvi chhe
I want to report a theft
Usage
Tell the desk at a police station that you want to report a theft
Grammar Note
The "mare ... karvun chhe" (I want to ...) frame, with the object "chorini fariyad" (a theft report). "Fariyad" is feminine, so "karvun" becomes "karvi".
જાપાની બોલતા કોઈ છે?
Japani bolata koi chhe?
Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?
Usage
Look for someone who can interpret when you cannot explain the situation
Grammar Note
The same "... bolata ... chhe?" frame as "English-speaking doctor chhe?", with the language "japani" (Japanese) and the target "koi" (anyone).
આ વ્યક્તિ બેભાન છે
Aa vyakti bebhan chhe
This person is unconscious
Usage
Point at the collapsed person while showing this to responders or bystanders
Grammar Note
An "aa + noun + adjective + chhe" sentence using the demonstrative "aa" and the noun "vyakti" (person). "Bebhan" means "unconscious" (synonym: "beshuddha").
આ વ્યક્તિ ડૂબી રહી છે
Aa vyakti dubi rahi chhe
Someone is drowning
Usage
Call for help while pointing at a person drowning in the water
Grammar Note
The "verb + rahi chhe" progressive (is ...ing). The verb "dubvun" means "to sink, to drown"; "vyakti" is feminine, hence "rahi".
મને માર માર્યો
Mane maar maryo
I was beaten
Usage
Report to police or medical staff that you have been assaulted
Grammar Note
The object "mane" means "me". "Maar maarvo" is the compound verb for "to beat"; "maar" alone is the noun "a beating" (a masculine noun, "the act of beating, thrashing"). Without "maar", bare "maryo" reads as "killed", so "maar" must be kept. The agent is left unstated.
મારા રૂમમાં ચોરી થઈ
Mara roomma chori thai
My room was broken into
Usage
Use at the front desk or with police when your room has been ransacked
Grammar Note
The locative "mara ...ma" (in my ...) filled with "room", followed by "chori thai" (a theft happened). Literally "a theft happened in my room".
તે વ્યક્તિ ગુનેગાર છે
Te vyakti gunegar chhe
That person is the culprit
Usage
Use it to point out the offender to the police
Grammar Note
A "demonstrative + noun + predicate + chhe" sentence with the distal "te". "Gunegar" derives from "guno" (offence, sin, misdeed) with the Persian agent suffix.
મારી છેતરપિંડી થઈ
Mari chhetarpindi thai
I was deceived
Usage
Use when reporting a scam or a rip-off
Grammar Note
The pattern of "chori thai" (a theft happened) with the noun replaced by "chhetarpindi" (fraud, deceit) and the possessive "mari" (my) added.
મારું પાકીટ ચોરાઈ ગયું
Marun pakit chorai gayun
My wallet was stolen
Usage
Tell police or bystanders that your wallet has been stolen
Grammar Note
The possessive "marun" agrees with the neuter noun "pakit". The passive "-ai gayun" means "got ...ed". The stem "chor-" is "steal". "Pakit" means "wallet; handbag".
હું મારી વસ્તુ ભૂલી ગયો
Hu mari vastu bhuli gayo
I left it behind
Usage
Use when you have left something behind in a shop, a vehicle or your lodging
Grammar Note
"Bhuli gayo" means "forgot / left behind"; the object is "vastu" (thing). The "-yo" past is masculine-speaker (a woman would say "bhuli gai").
મને ગાડીએ ટક્કર મારી
Mane gadie takkar mari
I was hit by a car
Usage
Tell responders or police that a car hit you
Grammar Note
The noun "gaadi" is "car" and "mane" is "me". "Takkar" means "collision"; "takkar mari" means "hit / collided with".
જલદી કરો
Jaldi karo
Please hurry
Usage
Show it when you need help or paperwork to be speeded up
Grammar Note
The imperative "karo" (as in "bandh karo", "aaram karo") with the adverb "jaldi". "Jaldi" means "quickly".
અત્યારે જ આવો
Atyare ja aavo
Please come right away
Usage
Ask someone on the phone or in front of you to come immediately
Grammar Note
The adverbial "atyare ja" means "right now". "Aavo" is the imperative of "aavvun" (to come), formed with the same -o ending as "karo".
આ કટોકટી છે
Aa katokati chhe
It's an emergency
Usage
Tell a desk or a queue that your situation cannot wait
Grammar Note
"Katokati" (emergency; also used on emergency-exit signs) placed in an "aa + noun + chhe" frame.
મને દવાખાને લઈ જાઓ
Mane davakhane lai jao
Please take me to a hospital
Usage
Ask a driver or a bystander when you cannot get there on your own
Grammar Note
The object "mane" is "me" and "davakhanun" is "clinic / hospital", here in the oblique "-e" of direction. "Lai javun" (to take along) is a "lai + motion verb" pattern.
આગ! દોડો!
Aag! Dodo!
Fire! Run!
Usage
Shout it to the people around you when you find a fire
Grammar Note
"Aag" means "fire". "Dodo" is the imperative of "dodvun" (to run), formed with the same -o ending as "karo".
વાહન અકસ્માત થયો
Vahan aksmat thayo
There has been a traffic accident
Usage
Tell the police or bystanders that a road accident has happened
Grammar Note
"Aksmat thayo" means "an accident happened". "Thayo" is the perfective agreeing with the masculine noun "aksmat". Bare "aksmat" can also mean nuclear or construction accidents, so "vahan" (vehicle) restricts it to a road accident.
More Gujarati phrases
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