112 in Tenerife: what to say if you don't speak Spanish

Published on 13. October 2026 23:23 in Useful Tips

112 is free and works without a SIM. Learn the 4 Spanish phrases for your location, what happened and how many people — plus the questions you'll be asked.

112 is the emergency number for all of Spain and the EU. It covers police, ambulance and fire. It's free, works from any phone and without a SIM card — even from a locked handset. And in the Canary Islands, 112 answers in several languages, including English.

The first 15 seconds: three things

When they pick up, say these three things in order:

  1. Where you are: "Estoy en…" + street, landmark, or whatever you can see.
  2. What happened: "Ha habido un accidente" / "una emergencia médica".
  3. How many people: "Hay dos personas".

That covers the essentials. If you don't know the street, improvise: "Estoy delante del hotel…", "estoy cerca de la playa".

"English, please"

As soon as they answer, say "English, please" or "Inglés, por favor". Spain's 112 runs a translation service in over 50 languages: you get an interpreter within seconds, and they stay on the line with you. Don't hang up, even if it feels endless.

The phrases that save

  • "Necesito una ambulancia, por favor" — I need an ambulance.
  • "No respira" — not breathing.
  • "Está inconsciente" — unconscious.
  • "Tiene dolor en el pecho" — chest pain.
  • "Está sangrando mucho" — bleeding heavily.
  • "Se está ahogando" — choking.
  • "Hay un incendio" — there's a fire.
  • "Ha habido un accidente de tráfico" — road accident.

On the street, to get attention, shout "¡Socorro!" or "¡Ayuda!" — they cut through noise better than "Help!".

The questions you'll be asked (and how to answer)

  • "¿Qué ha pasado?" → "Un accidente / una caída / un incendio".
  • "¿Dónde está?" → "Estoy en…".
  • "¿Cuántas personas?" → "Hay una / dos / tres personas".
  • "¿Respira?" → "Sí, respira" or "No respira".
  • "¿Está consciente?" → "Está consciente" or "Está inconsciente".

Answer short, one phrase per question. Speak slowly.

If you can't speak: the AlertCops app

AlertCops is the official app from Spain's Ministry of the Interior. Download and register before you need it. You can send a medical or police alert with your exact GPS and a chat that auto-translates your text into Spanish. Ideal if you can't speak or feel unsafe.

Sources

  • jamesspanishschool.com — Spanish for emergency services calls
  • seekspain.com — Emergency Spanish: what to say
  • spainhandbook.com — How to handle medical emergencies without Spanish