llamar a mamá
/ʝamaɾ a mama/from spelling rules
To call mom in Spanish, you say llamar a mamá.
This phrase is used when you want to telephone one's mother.
Which one should you use?
Use llamar a mamá to mean calling your own mother. In contrast, llamar a la mamá would typically refer to a specific mother of a child in a more detached sense.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you can use the informal phrase Marca a mi mamá, por favor. In Argentina, the formal Llame a mi madre, por favor. is used, while the informal Llámale a mi vieja, por favor. is also common.
How does it change in a sentence?
The preposition a is required in this phrase because mamá is the direct object of the verb and refers to a specific person. Adding the definite article la to create llamar a la mamá changes the meaning to 'call the mom', which sounds less natural when referring to one's own mother.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʝamaɾ a mama/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, calling one's mother 'mi vieja' is a common, affectionate way to refer to her. While 'vieja' means 'old woman' in English, in this context, it is a term of endearment rather than an insult.
- The verb llamar actually shares a common ancestor with the English word 'claim'. While it means 'to call' today, its roots stem from the Latin 'clamare', meaning 'to cry out'.
- Spanish uses a special grammar rule called the 'personal a' in this phrase, which is only used when the object of a verb is a specific person.
Examples in context
- Tengo que llamar a mamá ahora.I have to call mom now.
- ¿Puedes llamar a mamá más tarde?Can you call mom later?
- Voy a llamar a mamá para saludar.I am going to call mom to say hello.
Example conversation
María and Javier are in the kitchen in the morning.
- María¿Vas a llamar a mamá hoy?Are you going to call mom today?
- JavierSí, la llamaré por la tarde.Yes, I will call her in the afternoon.
- MaríaEstá bien, dile que la queremos.Okay, tell her we love her.
- JavierClaro, yo me encargo.Sure, I'll take care of it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, llamar, mamá, CC BY-SA 4.0.
