I am scared. Help me.
PAH-oo-rah — three syllables; 'au' is not a diphthong in Italian, pronounce each vowel clearly.
Use when fear is genuine and immediate. These two phrases together communicate both your emotional state and your need for intervention.
In Italian, emotions are expressed with 'avere' (to have) rather than 'essere': 'ho paura' (I have fear). 'Aiutatemi' is the formal plural imperative — appropriate when addressing emergency services.
Sono in pericolo.
I am in danger.
More objective — focuses on the threat rather than the emotion.
Aiuto!
Help!
Single-word emergency call — universally understood.
Mi sento minacciato/a.
I feel threatened.
Describes a threat that may not yet be physical.
Italian emergency operators use 'stia calmo/a' (stay calm) as a standard de-escalation technique. Staying on the line and following their instructions increases the effectiveness of the response.