أنا تائه.
When to use
This is a direct and universally understood Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) phrase to indicate you are lost and likely need assistance.
How it works
A simple subject-predicate sentence. * `أنا` (ana): 'I'. The first-person singular pronoun. * `تائه` (ta'ih): 'lost' (masculine singular adjective). The root is `ت ي ه` (t-y-h).
Gender Agreement
The adjective `تائه` (ta'ih) is masculine. If the speaker is female, she would say `أنا تائهة` (ana ta'iha). The pronunciation of the final 'a' sound is key.
Dialectal Variation
In spoken dialects, the phrasing might differ. For example, in Egyptian Arabic, one might say `أنا تايه` (ana tāyih) (masculine) or `أنا تايهة` (ana tāyha) (feminine). Levantine might use `ضايع` (ḍāyiʿ) / `ضايعة` (ḍāyiʿa).
Notes
Simple way to ask for help. Neutral polite wording.