Telugu Police Conversation Welcome to your essential Telugu police conversation lesson.
Introduction
Lesson
Whether you’re a tourist in Hyderabad, visiting relatives in Vijayawada, or living in Andhra Pradesh, knowing how to communicate with police can be lifesaving. In this practical daily conversation guide, you’ll learn polite yet urgent phrases to report incidents, ask for help, and navigate police stations confidently
In Telugu-speaking regions, police are generally helpful and patient with foreigners or learners. However, clear pronunciation and respectful tone are key. You’ll practice real-world scenarios like reporting a lost wallet, asking for directions to the police station, or handling minor emergencies. This lesson builds on previous useful phrases and conversations (such as Emergency and Traveller) so you can quickly connect what you’ve already learned
By the end of this page, you’ll be able to confidently ask for assistance, describe simple situations, and understand basic replies from officers. Let’s make your Telugu skills practical and empowering!
Key Police Phrases Help! సహాయం! Sahāyaṁ! — “Help!”
Call the police! పోలీసును పిలవండి! Pōlīsunu pilavaṇḍi! — “Call the police!”
Where is the police station? పోలీస్ స్టేషన్ ఎక్కడ ఉంది? Pōlīs sṭēṣan ekkada undi?
I lost my wallet. నా పర్సు పోయింది. Nā parsu pōyindi
I need your help. నాకు మీ సహాయం కావాలి. Nāku mī sahāyaṁ kāvāli
Stop! Thief! ఆపండి! దొంగ! Āpaṇḍi! Doṅga!
My passport is missing. నా పాస్పోర్ట్ కనిపించడం లేదు. Nā pāspōrṭ kanipinchadam lēdu
Please write it down. దయచేసి రాయండి. Dayachēsi rāyaṇḍi
I don’t understand. నాకు అర్థం కాలేదు. Nāku ardhaṁ kālēdu
Thank you for your help. మీ సహాయానికి ధన్యవాదాలు. Mī sahāyāniki dhanyavādālu
Sample Police Station Dialogue Tourist: నమస్కారం. నాకు సహాయం కావాలి. నా పర్సు పోయింది. Officer: ఎక్కడ పోయింది? ఎప్పుడు? Tourist: మార్కెట్ దగ్గర. ఒక గంట క్రితం. Officer: దయచేసి ఇక్కడ కూర్చోండి. మేము చూస్తాం. Tourist: ధన్యవాదాలు సార్
(Full audio dialogues available in our app.)
Vocabulary & Usage
💡 Tips & Common Mistakes
- Focus on the retroflex sounds like ‘ḍ’ and ‘ṭ’ in “pōlīs” and “sṭēṣan”. Speak slowly and clearly. The word “pilavaṇḍi” has stress on the second syllable. Listen repeatedly and mimic the tone — Telugu police interactions are calm and respectful
⚠️ Pronunciation Errors
- Saying "police" as English "po-lees" instead of "pō-līs". Mispronouncing "pilavaṇḍi" as "pi-la-van-di" (correct: pi-la-vaṇ-ḍi). Confusing "sahāyaṁ" with "sahāyam" — nasal ending is important. Forgetting the honorific "ṇḍi" ending which shows respect. Stressing wrong syllable in "pōyindi" (po-yin-di). Native Speaker Tip 💡 Always start with "Namaskāram" or "Excuse me" (Kṣamiñchaṇḍi) before asking for help. Officers appreciate polite greetings and will respond more patiently. Never shout "Police!" unless it's a real emergency — use it calmly.
🪴 Cultural Notes
🪴 Cultural Notes
- In Telugu states, police stations (often called "ṭhāṇā") are community-oriented. Officers may offer water or tea during long reports. Reporting lost items quickly increases chances of recovery. Always carry a copy of your ID/passport. Women can request female officers if uncomfortable.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Using informal "nuvvu" with police instead of formal "mīru". Forgetting to mention "dayachēsi" (please) when requesting action. Not providing clear location details when reporting theft. Speaking too fast without repeating key information. Failing to thank the officer at the end of interaction. 5 Practice Exercises Role-play: You lost your phone near Charminar. Ask a passerby to call police. Translate: "Where is the nearest police station?" into Telugu. Write a short dialogue about reporting a stolen bag. Practice saying "I need your help" 5 times with correct intonation. Listen and repeat the sample dialogue aloud twice. 5 Quiz Questions How do you say "Call the police" in Telugu? Answer: పోలీసును పిలవండి
- What does “Nā parsu pōyindi” mean? Answer: My wallet is lost.
- Which word means “Help”? Answer: సహాయం
- True or False: Use “nuvvu” when speaking to a police officer. Answer: False (use మీరు)
- How do you say “Stop!”? Answer: ఆపండి
- 5 FAQs Is it safe to go to a police station alone in Hyderabad? Yes, but inform a friend. Stations are generally safe and helpful.
- Do police speak English in Telugu regions? Many officers do, especially in cities. Still, knowing Telugu phrases helps.
- What documents should I carry? Passport copy, visa, and hotel address.
- How do I report a lost passport? Go to the station immediately and ask “Nā pāspōrṭ kanipinchadam lēdu.”
- Can I call 100 for emergencies? Yes! Dial 100 and say “Police pilavandi” or “Sahāyaṁ kavāli.”
- Related Lessons Card 1: Daily Conversation: Traveller Card 2: Useful Phrases: Emergency Card 3: Real Life Situations: Police Station Card 4: Grammar: Questions Card 5: Vocabulary: Numbers & Time
- Previous Lesson: Page 48: Daily Conversation – Job Interview Next Lesson: Page 50: Daily Conversation – Traveller
- 📥 PDF Download Suggestion: Download the full “Telugu Daily Conversations Pack” (includes audio MP3s) — Get PDF
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