A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Call an ambulance" in Spanish
How to ask for an ambulance in Spanish for emergency medical situations.
Llamar a una ambulancia
yah-MAHR ah OO-nah ahm-boo-LAHN-see-ahneutral
Spanish TTS · 0:01
Use this phrase when you or someone else needs immediate medical attention and you need to contact emergency services. This is for serious situations like accidents or sudden severe illness.
Alternatives
- Pedir una ambulanciaSlightly more common in some regions, meaning 'to request' an ambulance.
- Necesito una ambulanciaUse when you are the one directly requesting it for yourself or someone else.
Ways to get it wrong
Confusing 'llamar' with 'call'
'Llamar' means 'to call' on the phone, but also 'to call out' or 'to summon'.
Using 'llamar por'
While 'llamar por' can mean 'to call for' in some contexts, 'llamar a' is standard for summoning people or services.
A small cultural note
Emergency numbers vary by country in Latin America, so know the local emergency number if possible. In many places, dialing 911 will connect you to emergency services, but this is not universal.
Frequently asked
What is the Spanish word for ambulance?
The most common word for ambulance in Spanish is 'ambulancia'. You might also hear 'unidad móvil' or 'carro de bomberos' in specific contexts.
How do I say 'call for help' in Spanish?
To say 'call for help,' you can use 'Pedir ayuda' or 'Llamar pidiendo ayuda.' For immediate danger, '¡Socorro!' or '¡Ayuda!' are urgent cries.
What's the difference between llamar and pedir?
'Llamar' generally means to call or summon, often by phone. 'Pedir' means to ask for or request something.
