llamar por teléfono
/ʝamaɾ poɾ telefono/from spelling rules
To call on the phone in Spanish is llamar por teléfono.
The phrase llamar por teléfono is used to describe the act of communicating with someone using a telephone. You can also use the single verb llamar to mean 'to call' or 'to ring' without specifically mentioning the phone.
Which one should you use?
If you want to specify that the call is being made via a mobile phone, you can replace teléfono with celular in many Latin American countries to say llamar por celular.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many Latin American countries, it is common to use llamar por celular when specifically referring to using a mobile phone.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase llamar por teléfono is an infinitive phrase and can be conjugated to match different subjects and tenses. When you want to specify the person being called, such as 'Call Juan on the phone', you say Llamar por teléfono a Juan.
Did you know?
- The verb llamar is a linguistic sibling to the English words 'claim' and 'clamor'. All three originate from the Latin clāmāre, which meant 'to cry out'.
- In Spanish, the verb llamar can also mean 'to name' someone. If you say Me llamo Juan, you are literally saying 'I call myself Juan'.
- While celular is standard in Latin America, people in Spain almost exclusively use móvil when talking about calling on a mobile phone.
Examples in context
- Necesito hacer una llamada telefónica para solicitar información sobre el trabajoI need to make a phone call to request information about the job.
- Voy a llamar por teléfono para avisar que llegaré tardeI'm going to call on the phone to let them know I'll be late.
- Me puedes dar un toque cuando estés listo?Can you give me a call when you're ready?
- Te llamo por teléfono mañana.I will call you on the phone tomorrow.
- Debo llamar por teléfono a mi madre.I must call my mother on the phone.
- ¿Puedo llamar por teléfono mañana?Can I call on the phone tomorrow?
- Ella prefiere llamar por teléfono en vez de escribir.She prefers to call on the phone instead of writing.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are deciding how to contact a friend.
- MateoSofía, ¿quieres llamar por teléfono a Luis?Sofía, do you want to call Luis on the phone?
- SofíaNo, prefiero enviarle un mensaje.No, I prefer to send him a message.
- MateoEstá bien, yo lo llamaré por teléfono más tarde.That's fine, I will call him on the phone later.
- SofíaGracias, Mateo, es muy amable de tu parte.Thanks, Mateo, that is very kind of you.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries llamar, por, teléfono, CC BY-SA 4.0.
