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PhrasesCalling AmbulanceDove si trova? Ci dia l'indirizzo.
A2urgent

Dove si trova? Ci dia l'indirizzo.

Where are you? Give us the address.

Pronunciation

in-di-RIZ-zo — four syllables, double 'z'. 'Si trova' — impersonal reflexive, used by dispatcher.

When to use it

The dispatcher will ask you this immediately. Be ready to give a precise address, landmark, or GPS coordinates.

What it means

'Dove si trova?' = where are you (located)? — the formal reflexive form. 'Ci dia l'indirizzo' = give us the address — formal imperative. When calling 118, have the address ready before you dial. If you do not know the address, describe landmarks: 'Siamo vicino al Duomo', 'Davanti alla farmacia in Via...'

Variations

Siamo in Via Garibaldi venti, a Milano.

We are at Via Garibaldi 20, in Milan.

Give: street name + number + city. Clear and complete.

Siamo sull'autostrada A1, chilometro duecento.

We are on the A1 motorway, kilometre 200.

On motorways, kilometre markers ('cartello chilometrico') are crucial location references

Non so l'indirizzo esatto. Siamo vicino alla stazione.

I do not know the exact address. We are near the station.

Use landmarks if you do not know the address — always better than nothing

Mini Dialogue

— 118, cosa è successo? — Mio padre ha avuto un infarto. Venite subito! — Dove si trova? Ci dia l'indirizzo. — Siamo a casa sua. Via Leopardi quarantadue, Torino. Quinto piano. — Bene. L'ascensore funziona? — Sì. Sbrigatevi per favore!

— 118, what happened? — My father has had a heart attack. Come quickly! — Where are you? Give us the address. — We are at his home. Via Leopardi 42, Turin. Fifth floor. — Good. Is the lift working? — Yes. Please hurry!

Cultural Note

Italian 118 dispatchers are trained to gather location quickly and simultaneously dispatch the ambulance. Modern 118 systems use GPS location from mobile phones ('geolocalizzazione') when available. If you call from a mobile phone, the dispatcher can sometimes locate you automatically. In rural areas ('zone rurali'), what3words or GPS coordinates are increasingly used to guide ambulances.