Emergency

1. Tulong!

   Help!

   Usage

   Shout loudly in emergencies. Filipinos have a strong spirit of mutual aid.

   Grammar Note

   "Tulong" is the noun "help" used as an exclamation. Verb form: "tumulong" (to help, -um- actor-focus). More specific request: "Pakitulungan mo ako!" (Please help me! — beneficiary-focus).

2. Tumawag ka ng pulis!

   Call the police!

   Usage

   The Philippine emergency number is 911 — the nationwide hotline that replaced Patrol 117 under Executive Order No. 56 (2016).

   Grammar Note

   "Tumawag" = -um- actor-focus imperative (call). "Pulis" from Spanish "policía". Emergency number: 911 (nationwide — police, fire, medical). 117 is the PNP legacy line, still answered but superseded by 911 under Executive Order No. 56 (2016); 8527-8084 is the Red Cross.

3. Kailangan ko ng doktor!

   I need a doctor!

   Grammar Note

   "Kailangan ko ng X" = I need X. "Kailangan" expresses necessity. "Doktor" from Spanish. Extend the pattern: "Kailangan ko ng ospital" (hospital), "Kailangan ko ng gamot" (medicine).

4. Naaksidente ako.

   I was in an accident.

   Grammar Note

   "Na-" prefix marks completed or accidental events: "naaksidente" (had an accident — something that happened to them). Spanish "accidente" → "aksidente". Tagalog verb morphology distinguishes intentional vs accidental actions.

5. Nawala ang aking bag.

   My bag is lost.

   Grammar Note

   "Nawala" = na- + wala (nothing) = it has disappeared/been lost. "Aking" = my (possessive). For theft: "Ninakaw ang aking bag" (My bag was stolen). Report incidents to police with these phrases.

6. Masakit ang tiyan ko.

   My stomach hurts.

   Grammar Note

   "Masakit ang [body part] ko" = My [body part] hurts. "Masakit" = painful (adjective of "sakit", pain/illness). Body parts: ulo (head), puso (heart), likod (back), paa (foot), kamay (hand), tiyan (stomach).

7. May sumasakit sa akin.

   Something is hurting me.

   Grammar Note

   "Sumasakit" = ongoing form of "sakit" (hurt) with -um- and reduplication: sa-sakit → sumasakit. "Sa akin" = in/to me (locative). Reduplication of the first syllable signals ongoing/incomplete aspect.

8. Allergic ako sa penicillin.

   I am allergic to penicillin.

   Usage

   Medical terms in English are widely understood, but saying it in Filipino ensures clarity.

   Grammar Note

   "Sa + thing" = to/for something (in terms of allergies). Medical terms use English directly. Express conditions: "Mayroon akong diabetes" (I have diabetes), "Hypertensive ako" (I have hypertension).

9. Saan ang pinakamalapit na ospital?

   Where is the nearest hospital?

   Grammar Note

   "Ospital" from Spanish "hospital". Apply the pattern: "Saan ang pinakamalapit na botika?" (nearest pharmacy?), "Saan ang emergency room?" Emergency rooms are called "ER" or "emergency room" in English.

10. Huwag mo akong iwan!

    Don't leave me!

    Grammar Note

    "Huwag" = prohibitive negator (don't). "Iwan" = i- object-focus verb "to leave behind". "Ako + -ng linker = akong". Structure: "Huwag + mo (actor) + akong (focused object) + iwan (verb)".

11. Nasusunog!

    Fire!

    Usage

    For a fire in the Philippines call 911 (nationwide); 160 is the Bureau of Fire Protection direct line.

    Grammar Note

    "Nasusunog" = ongoing burning (na- + sunog root reduplication). Simple "Sunog!" (fire) also works. Dial 911 — "Tumawag ng 911!"; the Bureau of Fire Protection direct line is 160. "Tumawag ng bombero!" = Call the firefighters!

12. Tumigil ka!

    Stop it!

    Usage

    A firm, silent way to make someone stop unwanted behavior such as a persistent tout or harassment

13. Huwag mo akong hawakan!

    Do not touch me!

    Usage

    A blunt refusal of unwanted physical contact with you or your belongings

14. Ninakawan ako!

    I have been robbed!

    Usage

    Tells police or bystanders that you have been robbed

15. Magnanakaw

    Thief

    Usage

    The word for a thief; use it to report a theft or to point someone out on the spot

16. Holdap

    Robbery (hold-up)

    Usage

    A hold-up: robbery at gunpoint or knifepoint. An everyday word borrowed from English "hold-up"

17. Hablot

    Snatching

    Usage

    The act of snatching: suddenly grabbing a bag or phone from someone

18. Mandurukot

    Pickpocket

    Usage

    A pickpocket: someone who lifts wallets in a crowd

19. Pagdukot

    Kidnapping

    Usage

    Kidnapping, the forcible taking of a person. The root "dukot" also covers taking things out of a bag or pocket, so this sense applies when the object is a person

20. Pagpatay

    Murder

    Usage

    The act of killing or murder. The same noun also covers putting out a fire or switching a machine off, so use it in a clearly criminal context

21. Kaguluhan

    Riot / civil disorder

    Usage

    Covers riots, civil disorder and public disturbance broadly rather than naming a riot alone

22. Bomba

    Bomb

    Usage

    The word for a bomb. That is its first sense, but the same word also means a pump, so use it in an unmistakably urgent context

23. Nasusunog! Lumabas kayo!

    Fire! Get out!

    Usage

    Alerts the people around you to a fire and tells them to get outside

    Grammar Note

    "Lumabas kayo!" is a -um- actor-focus imperative with the actor in the ang-form ("kayo"). The escape is expressed as going outside (lumabas).

24. Magnanakaw! Hulihin po ninyo siya!

    Thief! Catch him!

    Usage

    Calls on bystanders to seize someone who has just stolen from you

    Grammar Note

    Same request frame as "Tulungan po ninyo ako": object-focus verb + "po ninyo" (polite ng-form actor) + ang-form patient. "Hulihin" is the object-focus verb of "huli" (arrest, capture) — a homograph of, and etymologically separate from, "huli" (late).

25. Tumawag ka ng trak ng bombero!

    Please call a fire engine

    Usage

    Asks someone to call a fire engine. The Philippine emergency number is 911; the Bureau of Fire Protection direct line is 160

    Grammar Note

    The object slot of "Tumawag ka ng pulis!" filled with "Trak ng bombero" (fire engine). With this -um- verb the person addressed takes the ang-form and the thing called takes the ng-form. The two "ng" markers in a row are the object marker followed by the possessive inside "trak ng bombero" (the firefighters' truck).

26. Nasaan ang istasyon ng pulis?

    Where is the police station?

    Usage

    Asks for the nearest police station so you can report an incident

    Grammar Note

    Combines the "Nasaan ang X?" frame with the "istasyon ng X" possessive phrase ("istasyon ng MRT"). The facility takes the ang marker and the possessor takes the ng marker.

27. Kailangan ko ng ulat ng pulisya.

    I need a police report

    Usage

    Asks the police for the written report you need for an insurance claim or a replacement document. The sentence itself does not name the theft, so say or mime that part

    Grammar Note

    The "Kailangan ko ng X" frame filled with "ulat ng pulisya" (police report).

28. May tao ba na nagsasalita ng wikang Hapon?

    Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?

    Usage

    Looks for a Japanese speaker at a hospital or a police station

    Grammar Note

    Takes "May tour guide ba na nagsasalita ng Ingles?" and swaps "tour guide" for "tao" (person) and "Ingles" for "wikang Hapon". Bare "Hapon" is a homograph of "hapon" (afternoon), so "wika" (language) is prefixed to remove the ambiguity.

29. Wala siyang malay.

    This person is unconscious

    Usage

    Tells responders or bystanders that the person who has collapsed is unconscious

    Grammar Note

    Same "Wala + ang-form pronoun + -ng linker + noun" frame as "Wala po akong reservation", with the pronoun switched to third person and the noun to "malay" (consciousness).

30. May taong nalulunod!

    Someone is drowning

    Usage

    Raises the alarm when you see someone drowning at the beach or in a pool

    Grammar Note

    The existential frame of "May tour guide ba na …?" without the question particle. "Nalulunod" is the ongoing form of "malunod" (to drown); the na- prefix plus first-syllable reduplication is the same morphology as "nasusunog".

31. Binugbog ako.

    I was beaten

    Usage

    Reports to police or a doctor that you were assaulted

    Grammar Note

    Same "completed object-focus verb + ang-form ako" frame as "Ninakawan ako!". "Binugbog" is the completed form of "bugbugin" (to beat).

32. Sinaksak ako.

    I was stabbed

    Usage

    Tells responders or police that you were stabbed with a blade

    Grammar Note

    Same frame as "Ninakawan ako!". "Sinaksak" is the completed form of "saksakin" (to stab with a blade). Do not confuse it with "saksakan" (electrical outlet), which comes from the same root but a different sense.

33. Pinasok ang kwarto ko.

    My room was broken into

    Usage

    Reports to the hotel or the police that your room was entered while you were out

    Grammar Note

    Keeps the "predicate + ang + noun + ko" order of "Masakit ang ulo ko" with "kwarto" (room) in the noun slot. "Pinasok" is the completed form of "pasukin"; this form is used for a house being broken into by thieves.

34. Ang taong iyon ang salarin.

    That person is the culprit

    Usage

    Points out the offender to the police

    Grammar Note

    An equational sentence with the ang marker on both sides. The demonstrative "Iyon" and "tao" are joined by the -ng linker. "Salarin" means culprit or offender.

35. Niloko ako.

    I was deceived

    Usage

    Says that you were cheated or scammed

    Grammar Note

    Same frame as "Ninakawan ako!". "Niloko" is the completed form of "lokohin", the verb in "Huwag mo akong lokohin" (do not fool me).

36. Ninakaw ang aking pitaka.

    My wallet was stolen

    Usage

    Reports the theft of your wallet to the police or your hotel

    Grammar Note

    Swaps the verb and the noun of "Nawala ang aking bag.". "Ninakaw" is the object-focus completed form of the root "nakaw" of "ninakawan", so the stolen item takes the ang-form.

37. Naiwan ko ang aking bag.

    I left my bag behind

    Usage

    Says that you left your bag behind on a vehicle or in a shop

    Grammar Note

    Keeps "ang aking bag" from "Nawala ang aking bag." and swaps the verb for "naiwan" (left behind). The na- prefix marks an accidental event; the root "iwan" is the one in "mag-iwan".

38. Nabangga ako ng kotse.

    I was hit by a car

    Usage

    Tells responders or police that a car hit you

    Grammar Note

    Same "completed patient-focus verb + ang-form ako + ng-form agent" order as "Hinarangan ako ng pulis.", with the agent swapped for "ng kotse". The na- prefix marks the event as accidental.

39. Lumabas kayo sa Fire Exit!

    Please escape through the emergency exit

    Usage

    Directs people to the escape route. Emergency exits in the Philippines are signposted in English as "Fire Exit"

    Grammar Note

    A -um- actor-focus imperative with the route marked by the locative "sa". The signage term "Fire Exit" is kept in English.

40. Mag-ingat kayo!

    Watch out!

    Usage

    Warns people of an immediate danger

    Grammar Note

    A mag- actor-focus imperative with the ang-form "kayo". The root "ingat" is the one in "maingat" and the mag- + root shape is that of "mag-iwan". The farewell "Ingat" shares the root but is a parting greeting, not a warning.

41. Bilisan mo po!

    Please hurry

    Usage

    Urges someone to hurry; the particle "po" makes it polite

    Grammar Note

    Same "object-focus verb + ng-form mo" frame as "Dalhin mo ako sa…". The root is "bilis" (speed), with the politeness particle "po".

42. Pumarito po kayo ngayon din.

    Please come right away

    Usage

    Asks someone — on the phone, for instance — to come immediately

    Grammar Note

    Builds on the verb "Pumarito" with the politeness particle "po", the ang-form "kayo", and "Ngayon din" (right now). Being a -um- verb, its actor takes the ang-form.

43. Emergency ito!

    It is an emergency

    Usage

    States that the situation is urgent — to be seen ahead of a queue, for instance

    Grammar Note

    A predicate-initial equational sentence: "X ito" = "this is X". In medical and safety contexts the English word "emergency" is used as is (for example "emergency signal").

44. Dalhin mo ako sa ospital.

    Please take me to a hospital

    Usage

    Asks a taxi driver or a bystander to take you to a hospital

    Grammar Note

    The destination slot of "Dalhin mo ako sa…" filled with "ospital". The verb is object-focus, so the person being taken is in the ang-form and the one taking them in the ng-form.

45. May aksidente sa daan.

    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 the Philippines is 911

    Grammar Note

    "May aksidente" with "daan" (road) added in the locative with "sa". "Aksidente" is an event that goes wrong and is not expected. "Aksidente sa kalsada" and "aksidente sa trapiko" are also said.

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