¿quieres llamar?
The English phrase "do you wanna call" is translated into Spanish as ¿quieres llamar?
Note that native speakers often use ¿quieres hablar? (do you want to talk?) when suggesting a conversation over the phone.
How does it change in a sentence?
Depending on the context and the person you are addressing, the verb changes. Use ¿quiere llamar? when speaking to someone in a formal context or to show respect, such as a stranger or an elder. If you are asking a group of two or more people if they want to call, use the plural form ¿quieren llamar?
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the same verb used for calling someone on the phone is used to ask for a person's name, as in ¿cómo se llama?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone 'out of the blue' without a text message first can be seen as overly intrusive.
- The verb llamar comes from the Latin 'clamāre', meaning 'to cry out'. While we use it to 'call' someone on a phone, its ancestral meaning was much more much more vocal and loud.
Examples in context
- ¿Desea llamar al señor García?Do you want to call Mr. García?
- ¿Le gustaría llamar al cliente?Would you like to call the client?
- ¿Quieres llamar a María?Do you wanna call María?
- ¡Hola! Me preguntaba si quieres llamar a Juan esta tarde.Hi! I was wondering if you wanna call Juan this afternoon.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries llamar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
