Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ско́рая по́мощь | skóraja pómoščʹ | feminine |
| автомоби́ль ско́рой по́мощи | avtomobílʹ skóroj pómošči | masculine |
| каре́та ско́рой по́мощи | karéta skóroj pómošči | dated, feminine, formal |
| санита́рная маши́на | sanitárnaja mašína | feminine |
| неотло́жка | neotlóžka | colloquial, feminine |
| ско́рая | skóraja | colloquial, feminine |
| каре́та | karéta | colloquial, feminine |
The term refers to an emergency vehicle or the emergency medical service itself.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ско́рая по́мощь literally translates to 'fast help'.
Which one should you use?
While ско́рая по́мощь can refer to either the medical service or the vehicle, the colloquial term неотло́жка is used more specifically to refer to the urgent care aspect in casual contexts. For the physical vehicle, you might also see the masculine form автомоби́ль ско́рой по́мощи or the feminine санита́рная маши́на.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ско́рая по́мощь is the formal term for an ambulance. In everyday speech, Russians often shorten this to the colloquial ско́рая. You may also hear the colloquial term неотло́жка or the colloquial каре́та. The term каре́та ско́рой по́мощи is a formal but dated way to say ambulance.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to say 'to call an ambulance', you use the accusative case of the shortened form: вы́звать ско́рую.
How do you pronounce it?
skóraja pómoščʹ
Did you know?
- The colloquial term каре́та for an ambulance literally means 'carriage'. This is a linguistic holdover from the 19th century when medical emergencies were attended to by horse-drawn carriages.
- A person might call the неотло́жка instead of the ско́рая if the situation is urgent but not life-threatening, as these can be two different levels of medical response.
- While санита́рная маши́на looks like the word for 'ambulance', it is typically used for non-emergency patient transport between medical facilities.
Examples in context
- Ско́рая по́мощь уже е́дет.Skóraya pómosch uže yédet.The ambulance is already coming.
Example conversation
Olga and Sergey are witnessing a medical emergency on the street.
- Ольга OlgaСерге́й, ему́ пло́хо! Вызови́ ско́рую по́мощь!Sergey, emu plokho! Vyzovi skoruyu pomoshch!Sergey, he feels unwell! Call an ambulance!
- Сергей SergeyДа, я уже́ звоню́ в ско́рую по́мощь.Da, ya uzhe zvonyu v skoruyu pomoshch.Yes, I am already calling the ambulance.
- Ольга OlgaОни́ ска́зали, что ско́рая по́мощь бу́дет ско́ро.Oni skazali, chto skoraya pomoshch budet skoro.They said that the ambulance will be here soon.
- Сергей SergeyХорошо́, дава́й помо́жем ему́ до тех пор.Khorosho, davay pomozhem emu do tekh por.Alright, let's help him until then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ambulance” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
