Once you go to a new country, there’s always a chance that things will go South. You can get lost, feel unsafe, get robbed by a thief, hurt yourself, or any other inconvenience that can happen at any time. That’s why I made this post with a few Latvian phrases for emergencies that everyone should know if they ever intend to head to Latvia. Keep reading below to learn more!
No matter how safe a country is, there is always a small chance that something terrible will happen, and we will have to ask for help. In these cases, it becomes helpful to know some phrases for emergencies that help us ask for help. Latvia is no exception. Suppose you travel to the beautiful city of Riga. In that case, anything unexpected can happen, and trust me when I say that you will thank me for teaching you some emergency phrases that you will definitely find useful.
I personally had once my things stolen, and at that time, I knew some words that helped me connect with the police and explain my situation. Even if you’re lost or feel like you can’t find your way to your hotel after dinner, some of those that will be covered below will come in handy. With that said, let’s get right into it!
Emergency 101: Call For Help In Latvian
Let’s start with the basics: How to call for help in Latvian. This is probably the most useful and universal phrase you can use in an emergency. In this case, fill your lungs with air and scream, Palīgā! (Help!). The Latvian people will make everything they can to help you get through your problem!
Another important word is pietura which means “Stop” in Latvian. If, in an emergency, you start to use this word because, for example, you’re being bothered, you’ll definitely turn some heads, and someone will come to your aid. Let’s look at other examples of phrases when you’re in need of help.
| Latvian | English | Pronunciation |
| Uzmanies! | Watch Out! | Uzmanies! |
| Ļauj man iet! | Let me go! | Ļauj man iet! |
| Vai kāds var man palīdzēt? | Can someone help me? | Vai kāds var man palīdzēt? |
| Zvaniet policijai! | Call the police! | Zvaniet policijai! |
| Šeit! | Over here! | Šeit! |
| Šī ir ārkārtas situācija! | This is an emergency! | Šī ir ārkārtas situācija! |
Useful Phrases To Use In The Hospital
Well, this is much more common when you’re in a foreign country. Sometimes just eating food that we are not used to can make our internal organs go crazy, and we may eventually need some medical attention. If you’re heading to the slimnīca (hospital) and you’re not feeling good, the last thing you want is to get there and not be able to explain what is hurting.
The first thing you should say when you get to the hospital is Es esmu slims (I am ill). This should help you at least get the attention of the nurses. To say that you really need a doctor, you should say izsauc ārstu (call a doctor). To ensure that nothing will be lost in translation, let’s take a look at some other useful phrases for when the doctor gets by your side.
| Latvian | English | Pronunciation |
| Man sāp galva | I have an headache | Man sāp galva |
| Es nokritu un savainoju kāju | I fell and hurt my leg | Es nokritu un savainoju kāju |
| Man sāp vēders | My belly hurts | Man sāp vēders |
| Man uzbrauca mašīna | A car ran over me | Man uzbrauca mašīna |
| Es nejūtos labi | I don’t feel good | Es nejūtos labi |
| Man reibst galva | I feel dizzy | Man reibst galva |
| Man vajag vemt | I need to throw up | Man vajag vemt |
| Es ēdu kaut ko sliktu | I ate something bad | Es ēdu kaut ko sliktu |
| Vai varat mani aizvest uz slimnīcu? | Can you take me to the hospital? | Vai varat mani aizvest uz slimnīcu? |
| Mans draugs ir ievainots! | My friend is hurt! | Mans draugs ir ievainots! |
| Es esmu sāpināts | I am hurt | Es esmu sāpināts |
| Es jūtos slims | I feel sick | Es jūtos slims |
| Es jūtu sāpes krūtīs | I feel pain in my chest | Es jūtu sāpes krūtīs |
Who To Reach Out to In Latvia
Latvian people are warm and helpful, so if you ever find yourself in an emergency, reach out to a random stranger, and I’m sure they will do their best to get you professional help. Nevertheless, in Latvia, you’ll see plenty of policija (police) patrolling the streets, so feel free to reach out to any of them if you’re ever in an emergency. They will also connect you to the ugunsdzēsējs (firefighters) if your emergency is fire related.
Emergency Contacts In Latvia
In the face of an emergency, you should immediately call 113. This is the national emergency number that has no cost and is available 24/7. Additionally, you can also call 112, which is Europe’s single emergency phone. It is reachable anywhere in Europe, any time of the day, even without a SIM card installed. This will connect you to the police, emergency services, and firefighters.
If your emergency does not require medical assistance, you can call the policija (police) through the 110 number.
Here is a list of all the emergency contacts in Latvia.
| Number | Description |
| 110 | Latvian Police |
| 112 | European Emergency Number |
| 113 | Latvia’s National Emergency Number |
| 114 | Gas Emergency Service |
| 115 | Marine Search And Rescue Service |
Latvia is overall a very safe place with very good emergency services that are promptly available to help you. Crime and pickpocketing are very rare in Latvia, but keep your guard up as in every other country.
Learn More Useful Phrases In Latvian With Ling
There is so much more to learn about the Latvian language, and I have the perfect place for you to keep learning it: It is called Ling App! This platform has revolutionized the way language learning should be! Instead of the basic flashcards, this resource paves the way for you to get top-notch lessons for Latvian and 60+ other languages…all in a gamified way! How cool is that?
From quizzes and chatbots to fun mini-games, the app has everything you’ll ever need to support your progress! Simply pop it open and learn every day for at least 15 minutes! Want to try it out? Download Ling App from Play Store or App Store today to start learning Latvian the best way possible! Try it out now!
