llámalo
/ʝamalo/from spelling rules
To say 'call him' in Spanish, you use llámalo.
The phrase is used to tell someone to contact a male person by telephone.
What does it mean word for word?
The word llámalo is a combination of the verb llama (call) and the direct object pronoun lo (him).
Which one should you use?
While llámalo refers to a male, you can change the object to a female by replacing the o with an a to get llámala (call her).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, some speakers may use Márcale instead of llámalo to mean 'call him'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Llámalo is the informal imperative or command form, used when speaking to a friend or someone you know well. Llámelo is the formal imperative form, used when speaking to a person to whom you use usted.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʝamalo/
Did you know?
- The word llamar is a distant relative of the English word 'alarm', as both originate from the Latin 'clamare' meaning 'to shout'.
- Spanish uses the same verb llamar for both contacting someone by phone and giving someone a name, such as 'naming' a child.
- The verb llamar is used for both telephoning someone and shouting to get their attention in a crowded room.
Examples in context
- Llámalo un abismo – ¡Qué profundo que es!Call him an abyss – how deep he is!This example shows how the phrase can be used to metaphorically label someone.Tatoeba #11433972 by Eremon, translation #940363 by shanghainese
- Llámalo, por favor.Please call him up.Tatoeba #1348754 by marcelostockle, translation #285147 by Zifre
- LlámeloCall him
- Oye, dale una llamada a JuanHey, give Juan a call.
- Si tienes un problema con él, llámalo.If you have a problem with him, call him.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are at home discussing a missing package.
- Lucía¿Dónde está el repartidor?Where is the delivery man?
- MateoNo sé, pero llámalo para preguntar.I don't know, but call him to ask.
- LucíaEstá bien, lo haré ahora mismo.Okay, I will do it right now.
- MateoGracias, Lucía.Thanks, Lucía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
