el socorro
El socorro means help or aid, especially in urgent situations. It often appears as a cry for help.
Common Phrases
- pedir socorro — to ask for help
- gritar socorro — to shout for help
Example
Pidio socorro desde la ventana.
He asked for help from the window.
Common Mistake
Using socorro like a verb; say Grito socorro, not Socorro a alguien for "I help someone" (use ayudar for that).
la calma
La calma is calmness or a calm state, especially after fear, confusion, or danger.
Common Phrases
- mantener la calma — to stay calm
- volver la calma — for calm to return
Example
Mantuvieron la calma durante la evacuacion.
They stayed calm during the evacuation.
Common Mistake
Forgetting the article; say la calma, not calma when you mean "the calm" in a specific situation.
el bombero
El bombero is a firefighter, the person who responds to fires and many rescue calls.
Common Phrases
- llamar a los bomberos — to call the firefighters
- un bombero valiente — a brave firefighter
Example
El bombero entro primero para revisar el humo.
The firefighter went in first to check the smoke.
Common Mistake
Mixing it up with el bombre (misspelling); the correct word is el bombero.
la policia
La policia refers to the police as an institution or group. It is commonly used as a singular collective noun in Spanish.
Common Phrases
- llamar a la policia — to call the police
- la policia llego — the police arrived
Example
La policia llego y pidio paciencia.
The police arrived and asked for patience.
Common Mistake
Using plural agreement in Spanish; often you say la policia llego, not la policia llegaron when referring to the institution.
el rescate
El rescate means rescue, the act or operation of saving someone from danger.
Common Phrases
- equipo de rescate — rescue team
- operacion de rescate — rescue operation
Example
El rescate llego a tiempo.
The rescue arrived in time.
Common Mistake
Confusing it with money "ransom" in English; el rescate can mean both, so in safety contexts keep it clear with phrases like equipo de rescate.
el humo
El humo is smoke, often linked to fire, poor air, or dangerous conditions indoors.
Common Phrases
- haber humo — for there to be smoke
- oler a humo — to smell like smoke
Example
Hay humo en el pasillo.
There is smoke in the hallway.
Common Mistake
Using es humo to report smoke; prefer hay humo to state presence in a place.
la urgencia
La urgencia is urgency, and it can also refer to an emergency medical service area in some contexts.
Common Phrases
- con urgencia — urgently
- ir a urgencias — to go to the emergency room
Example
Actuaron con urgencia.
They acted urgently.
Common Mistake
Spacing errors in writing; say la urgencia (with a space), not laurgencia.
la ambulancia
La ambulancia is an ambulance, the emergency vehicle that transports and treats injured or sick people.
Common Phrases
- llamar una ambulancia — to call an ambulance
- la ambulancia llego — the ambulance arrived
Example
Llamaron una ambulancia para el herido.
They called an ambulance for the injured person.
Common Mistake
Dropping the article; say la ambulancia, not ambulancia when referring to a specific vehicle that is coming or present.