A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "I need to file a police report" in Italian
Learn how to tell the police you need to file a formal report for a crime or incident.
Devo sporgere denuncia.
deh-voh spo-RJEH-reh deh-NOON-chahneutral
Italian TTS · 0:01
Use this phrase when you need to officially report a crime, like theft, assault, or vandalism, to the Carabinieri or Polizia di Stato. You'll say this upon arriving at the station or when speaking to an officer.
Alternatives
- Ho bisogno di fare una denuncia.Slightly more common in everyday speech, but 'sporgere' is the official verb.
- Voglio denunciare un furto/un'aggressione.Use if you know the specific crime you want to report.
Ways to get it wrong
Mispronouncing 'denuncia'
Make sure to pronounce the 'u' sound clearly and don't skip the 'n' before the 'c'.
Using 'riportare' instead of 'denunciare'
'Riportare' means to report in a general sense, like reporting news; 'denunciare' is specifically for reporting a crime.
A small cultural note
Italy has two main police forces: the Carabinieri (military status, broader jurisdiction) and the Polizia di Stato (civilian, often handles traffic and more urban crime). Either is appropriate for filing a report.
Frequently asked
What's the difference between Carabinieri and Polizia?
The Carabinieri are a military corps with police duties, while the Polizia di Stato is a civilian police force. Both can handle your report.
Do I need to know the exact crime?
It helps to have a general idea, but you can explain the situation and they will guide you on how to formally state the crime.
Can I say this in English?
You can try, but knowing 'Devo sporgere denuncia' will be much more effective and show you're serious about the report.
