Spanish Phrase
Llama ya al 911 si hay heridas graves.
Meaning
The sentence tells someone to dial the emergency number 911 immediately when there are serious injuries. It combines a direct command with a conditional clause, stressing urgency and the seriousness of the situation.
When to use
Use this phrase in an emergency situation where you need to instruct a by‑stander or a friend to call the emergency services right away because someone is badly hurt.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Llamayaal911sihayheridasgraves
Imperative (Llama)
‘Llama’ is the tú‑imperative form of the verb *llamar* (to call). It is used to give a direct command.
Adverb ‘ya’
‘Ya’ means ‘already’ or ‘right now’; placed after the verb it adds urgency: ‘Call now!’
Contraction ‘al’
‘Al’ = a + el. It introduces the destination of the call: ‘to the 911 emergency line’.
Conditional clause ‘si hay…’
‘Si’ introduces a condition, and ‘hay’ (there is/are) states the existence of something—in this case, serious injuries.
Adjective placement ‘heridas graves’
In Spanish the adjective usually follows the noun; ‘graves’ qualifies ‘heridas’ (serious injuries).
🗨In Conversation
¡Hay una persona con una herida profunda y sangrando mucho!
There's a person with a deep, heavily bleeding wound!
Llama ya al 911 si hay heridas graves.
Call 911 now if there are serious injuries.
✕Common Mistakes
Llamas ya al 911 si hay heridas graves.
‘Llamas’ is the present indicative; the correct command is the imperative ‘Llama’.
Llama ya al 911 si hay heridas serias.
While understandable, native speakers prefer ‘heridas graves’ for serious injuries.
Llama ya al 911 si hay una herida grave.
The conditional clause needs the plural ‘heridas graves’ to match the typical emergency context.
↔Alternatives
Marca el 911 inmediatamente si hay lesiones graves.
Dial 911 immediately if there are serious injuries.
Llama al 911 de inmediato cuando haya heridas graves.
Call 911 right away when there are serious wounds.
Si hay heridas graves, llama ya al 911.
If there are serious injuries, call 911 now.
Cultural Tip
In most Spanish‑speaking countries the emergency number is 911, but some places (e.g., Spain) use 112. When teaching this phrase, remind learners to adapt the number to the local context. Also, speaking clearly and using the imperative form shows authority, which is important when giving emergency instructions.