French Phrase
Appelle le numéro des urgences en cas de danger mortel.
Meaning
This sentence is a direct instruction: call the emergency phone number if you find yourself in a situation that could cause death. It combines a command with a conditional clause that stresses the seriousness of the danger.
When to use
Use this phrase on safety signs, in first‑aid courses, or when giving verbal instructions during drills. It is also common in emergency‑preparedness videos and public‑service announcements.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Appellelenumérodesurgencesencasdedangermortel
Imperative (2nd person singular)
‘Appelle’ is the affirmative imperative of the verb ‘appeler’; the subject ‘tu’ is omitted.
Definite article ‘le’
‘le’ specifies a particular number – the emergency number.
Contraction ‘des’ = de + les
‘des urgences’ means ‘of the emergencies’; it is not a partitive article here.
Idiomatic expression ‘en cas de’
Literally ‘in case of’, it introduces a condition that may happen.
Adjective after noun
‘mortel’ follows ‘danger’; many adjectives describing a noun’s quality are placed after the noun in French.
🗨In Conversation
Que dois‑je faire si je vois un incendie qui se propage rapidement ?
What should I do if I see a fire spreading quickly?
Appelle le numéro des urgences en cas de danger mortel.
Call the emergency number in case of mortal danger.
✕Common Mistakes
Appel le numéro des urgences...
‘Appel’ is a noun; the correct imperative verb form is ‘Appelle’.
danger mortelle
‘Danger’ is masculine, so the adjective must agree: ‘mortel’.
en cas du danger mortel
The idiom is ‘en cas de’, not ‘en cas du’.
le numéro les urgences
When the noun follows ‘numéro’, the correct preposition is ‘des’ (de + les), not ‘les’.
↔Alternatives
Compose le numéro d’urgence si tu es en danger de mort.
Dial the emergency number if you are in mortal danger.
Téléphone le 112 dès que tu te trouves en situation mortelle.
Phone 112 as soon as you find yourself in a lethal situation.
En cas de danger mortel, appelle immédiatement les services d’urgence.
In case of lethal danger, call emergency services immediately.
Cultural Tip
In France the general European emergency number is 112, but specific services have their own numbers: 15 for medical emergencies (SAMU), 17 for police, and 18 for fire. When speaking to French speakers, it’s common to say ‘le numéro d’urgence’ or simply ‘le 112’. The phrase is formal and suitable for public signage; in casual conversation you might hear ‘Appelle le 112 si c’est grave.’