Gracias por llamar.
Thanks for calling.
At the end of the conversation, before hanging up, you thank the other person for taking the time to call. After por, Spanish keeps the infinitive llamar where English says calling.
From Suits · Spanish audio
Spanish vocabularyA1 · Beginner
How to say "call" in Spanish
llamar
verbregular -arnoun: la llamada
"To call" in Spanish is llamar, and "a call" is la llamada. The ll sounds like the y in yes for most speakers, so say yah-MAR. When you call a person, put a in front of them: Tengo que llamar a mi madre.
Hear "llamar" in a real movie scene
A thank-you right before someone hangs up. The video starts and stops on that line.
Phone phrases with llamar and llamada
Five things you'll say or hear around a phone.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| llamar por teléfono | to phone, to call on the phone |
| hacer una llamada | to make a call |
| Te llamo luego. | I'll call you later. |
| una llamada perdida | a missed call |
| ¿Cómo te llamas? | What's your name? |
Tip: Llamar also works for a door: Llaman a la puerta means someone is knocking or ringing.
Grammar: llamar, llamo, la llamada
Four points for calling people in Spanish.
A regular -ar verb
llamo, llamas, llama, llamamos, llamáis, llaman. Only llamáis, the vosotros form used in Spain, carries a written accent.Add a before a person
Quiero llamar a mi esposa. The personal a goes in front of the person you call. English has no word for it here.Where me and te go
Before a conjugated verb: Te llamo mañana. After an infinitive, joined to it: Voy a llamarte. With puedes both work: me puedes llamar, puedes llamarme.Me llamo is the same verb
Llamarse means to be called. That's why Me llamo Ana is how you give your name.Example sentences
Sentences from the Wordy Spanish course. Tap to listen.
Tienes que llamar a las doce en punto.
You have to call at twelve o'clock sharp.
Quiero llamar a mi esposa.
I want to call my wife.
Tienes que llamar a los bomberos.
You have to call the fire department.
Sabes que me puedes llamar.
You know you can call me.
Common mistakes
Mistakes learners make with this word, and how to fix them.
✗Llamo mi madre
✓Llamo a mi madre
A person you call takes the personal a.
✗Yo llamo Ana (giving your name)
✓Me llamo Ana
Without me, yo llamo means I'm calling someone. Me turns it into my name is.
✗lah-MAR (pronunciation)
✓yah-MAR
Spanish ll is never an English l. In most regions it comes out close to the y of yellow.
✗Te llamo atrás (meaning I'll call you back)
✓Te devuelvo la llamada
Atrás means behind. Spanish returns the call with devolver instead.
Real conversation: a guest arrives tomorrow
A short dialog at home, splitting up the jobs. Tap to listen.
Someone is coming to stay tomorrow, and you and Carmen are deciding who does what.
Pues mañana está aquí.
Well, our guest gets here tomorrow.
Sí, yo tengo que llamar.
Yes, I need to make a call.
Muy bien. ¿Y la habitación de hotel?
Great. And the hotel room?
Your turn to answer
In the app you reply in Spanish for the last 2 lines.
Continue the conversation in WordyPractice: 3 quick exercises
Free, and you don't need an account.
1 of 3 · Watch and choose
What do you hear in the video?
The other 23 exercises on this topic are in the app.
How to remember it
Llamar starts with llama. Picture a llama holding a phone to its ear, calling you to say hello.
Questions about "call" in Spanish
How do you say call in Spanish?
The verb is llamar: Te llamo mañana. The noun, a phone call, is la llamada.
How do you say "call me" in Spanish?
Llámame to a friend, with an accent on the first a. To someone you address as usted, say Llámeme.
Why does me llamo mean my name is?
Llamarse means to be called, so me llamo Ana is literally "I call myself Ana". The question form is ¿Cómo te llamas?
How do you say "call back" in Spanish?
Devolver la llamada: Te devuelvo la llamada. For a quick promise, Te llamo luego means I'll call you later.
