Daily Conversation: Police Station

⭐⭐ Intermediate⏱ ⏱️ 30 minutes📊 Lesson 34 of 121
సహాయం!
sahāyaṁ!
Key Police Phrases Help!
పోలీసును పిలవండి!
pōlīsunu pilavaṁḍi!
Call the police!
పోలీస్ స్టేషన్ ఎక్కడ ఉంది?
pōlīs sṭēṣan ekkaḍa uṁdi?
Where is the police station?
నా పర్సు పోయింది.
nā parsu pōyiṁdi.
I lost my wallet.
నాకు మీ సహాయం కావాలి.
nāku mī sahāyaṁ kāvāli.
I need your help.
ఆపండి! దొంగ!
āpaṁḍi! doṁga!
Thief!
నా పాస్‌పోర్ట్ కనిపించడం లేదు.
nā pās pōrṭ kanipiṁcaḍaṁ lēdu.
My passport is missing.
దయచేసి రాయండి.
dayacēsi rāyaṁḍi.
Please write it down.
నాకు అర్థం కాలేదు
Nāku ardhaṁ kālēdu
I don’t understand
మీ సహాయానికి ధన్యవాదాలు.
mī sahāyāniki dhanyavādālu.
Thank you for your help.

💬 Pronunciation Tips

  • 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.
  • Saying "police" as English "po-lees" instead of "pō-līs".

⚠️ 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.

🌴 Culture Note

  • s 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.
More on this topic

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.

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."