llamar
/ʝaˈmaɾ/
To call out in Spanish is to llamar.
llamar is used when you want to shout someone's name or speak loudly to get their attention. When you are calling out to a specific person, you must use the preposition a before the person's name or the pronoun, forming the pattern llamar a alguien.
How does it change in a sentence?
The present participle (calling) is llamando. If you want to say that he or she called out in the past, use the third person singular preterite form llamó.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʝaˈmaɾ/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word llamar is a close relative of the English word 'claim'. Both words share a common ancestor that relates to the act of shouting or making a public cry.
- When asking a person their name with ¿Cómo se llama?, you are literally asking 'How are you called?'
- The expression llamar la atención describes something that 'calls the attention', which is the common way to say something is eye-catching or striking.
Examples in context
- Él tuvo que llamar a Lucía desde lejos.He had to call out to Lucía from afar.
- ¿Puedes llamar a Mateo para que venga?Can you call out to Mateo to have him come?
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are looking for each other in a crowded park.
- MateoNo te veo, voy a llamar a Lucía.I don't see you, I'm going to call out to Lucía.
- Lucía¡Aquí estoy! Te escuché.I'm here! I heard you.
- MateoTuviste que llamar fuerte para oÚrme.You had to call out loudly to hear me.
- LucíaSí, hay mucha gente hoy.Yes, there are many people today.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry llamar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries llamar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
