Verb · A1 · Spanish glossary

Llamar: to call, to name

llamar

Pronunciation: yah-MAHR (stress the capital letters)

Llamar means “to call, to name” in English.

Quick answer

  • Meaning: to call, to name
  • How to say it: yah-MAHR
  • Present: yo llamo, tú llamas
  • Level: Beginner (A1)

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What “llamar” means and how to use it

Llamar means “to call” someone and, with the reflexive form, “to be named.” “Me llamo Ana” means “My name is Ana.”

How to conjugate “llamar”

Present tense and key past forms
WhoSpanishEnglish
yollamoI
túllamasyou (informal)
él, ella, ustedllamahe, she, you (formal)
nosotrosllamamoswe
ellos, ustedesllamanthey, you all
Past (preterite)yo llamé, él llamóI / he or she
Past participlellamadoused with haber

Examples with audio

  • Llamo a mi mamá los domingos.I call my mom on Sundays.
  • Me llamo Carlos.My name is Carlos.
  • ¿Cómo se llama tu perro?What is your dog’s name?

Usage tip

Use “llamar a” before the person you call: llamo a mi hermano. “Llamar” also covers knocking at a door: llaman a la puerta.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say “to call, to name” in Spanish?

“to call, to name” in Spanish is “llamar.” It is pronounced yah-MAHR, with the stress on the syllable in capital letters.

How do you pronounce “llamar”?

Say yah-MAHR. The syllable in capital letters gets the stress. Press the speaker button at the top of this page to hear it.

What is the past tense of “llamar”?

In the preterite, “yo” is “llamé” and “él” is “llamó.” The past participle is “llamado.”

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