Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| llamar | /ʝaˈmaɾ/ | |
| telefonear | /telefoneˈaɾ/ | |
| timbrar | /timˈbɾaɾ/ | Latin America |
The verb llamar is used both for contacting someone by phone and for calling out someone's name or summoning them. When you wish to refer specifically to the act of using a telephone, you may use telefonear.
Which one should you use?
Llamar is the general verb for calling, whereas telefonear specifically emphasizes the act of using a telephone. In certain regions, timbrar may be used to refer to making a phone call or ringing a bell.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Timbrar is used in some Latin American regions to refer to making a phone call or ringing a bell.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When calling a person, you must use the personal 'a' before the object, forming the structure llamar a.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʝaˈmaɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying llamar a él to mean 'call him'. Instead, use the correct object pronoun such as llamarlo or llamarle.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the act of calling is closely tied to the concept of 'naming', as llamar is also used to give a name to a baby or a pet.
- The verb llamar shares the same roots as the English words 'claim' and 'clamor'. They all stem from the Latin 'clamare', which means 'to cry out'.
- The word telefonear is constructed by adding the suffix -ear to teléfono, a common way in Spanish to turn a noun into a repetitive action.
Examples in context
- Lo voy a llamar.I'll call him.This sentence shows how to use llamar to express calling a person.Tatoeba #4356875 by umano, translation #698858 by Eldad
- Voy a llamar a Tom.I'll call Tom.This sentence demonstrates the use of the personal 'a' when calling Tom with llamar.Tatoeba #2122962 by Shishir, translation #2235747 by CK
- Te llamaré un taxi.I'll call you a cab.This sentence illustrates how llamar can be used to mean summoning a taxi for someone.Tatoeba #3547511 by marcelostockle, translation #1890880 by CK
- Necesito llamar a mi cliente para confirmar la cita.I need to call my client to confirm the appointment.
- Por favor, llame al servicio de ayuda si necesita asistencia.Please call the help center if you need assistance.
- Por favor, comuníquese con el departamento de ventas para obtener más información.Please call the sales department to get more information.
- Voy a llamar a Juan para contarle las novedades.I'm going to call Juan to tell him the news.
- Llama a María y dile que llego tarde para la cena.Call María and tell her I'll be late for dinner.
- Voy a marcar a mi amiga para quedar esta tarde.I'm going to call my friend to meet up this afternoon.
- Si necesitas ayuda, márcame y estaré allí enseguida.If you need help, call me, and I'll be there right away.
- 400 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are discussing a doctor's appointment.
- JavierTengo que llamar al médico ahora.I have to call the doctor now.
- LucíaPuedes llamar después de la cena.You can call after dinner.
- JavierNo, debo llamar antes de que cierren.No, I must call before they close.
- LucíaEstá bien, Javier, hazlo ya.That is fine, Javier, do it now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “call” translations and entries llamar, telefonear, timbrar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries llamar, telefonear, timbrar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
