How to Say "It Is Called" in Spanish

se llama

/se ʝama/from spelling rules

In Spanish, the phrase 'it is called' is expressed as se llama.

The phrase se llama is used to name people, objects, places and abstract concepts.

What does it mean word for word?

Literally, se llama means 'it calls itself' because it utilizes the reflexive pronoun se.

Which one should you use?

Use the plural form se llaman if you are referring to multiple items.

How do you pronounce it?

/se ʝama/

What mistakes should you avoid?

English speakers often mistakenly use the literal translation es llamado to mean 'is called'. Instead, use the idiomatic se llama to sound natural in Spanish.

Did you know?

In Spanish, the word llama is a homonym that can mean 'it is called', 'flame' or the animal from the Andes mountains.
While se llama comes from Latin, the Spanish word for the animal llama was borrowed from Quechua, the language of the Inca Empire.

Examples in context

El pasado ya es historia, el futuro es un misterio. Lo que importa es el hoy y es un "obsequio". Por eso se llama "presente".
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the "present".
This sentence uses se llama to explain why the word 'present' is used for the current moment.
Tatoeba #1183076 by Imp, translation #1183050 by Imp
La catedral se llama Sagrada Familia.
The cathedral is called Sagrada Familia.
Mi perro se llama Max.
My dog is called Max.
La comida callejera de México es conocida como 'antojitos.'
Street food in Mexico is known as 'antojitos.'
Le dicen La Ciudad de los Palacios a la Ciudad de México.
They call Mexico City 'The City of Palaces.'
Los edificios se llaman rascacielos.
The buildings are called skyscrapers.
El libro se llama 'Cien años de soledad.'
The book is called 'One Hundred Years of Solitude.'
El restaurante se llama 'El rinconcito.'
The restaurant is called 'The Little Corner.'
Se dice 'pisto' para referirse al dinero en El Salvador.
'Pisto' is said to refer to money in El Salvador.
Ese animal se llama capibara.
That animal is called a capybara.
¿Cómo se llama esta calle?
What is this street called?

Example conversation

Mateo and Lucía are looking at a painting in a gallery.

Mateo

¿Sabes cómo se llama esta obra?
Do you know what this work is called?
Lucía

No, no sé cómo se llama.
No, I don't know what it is called.
Mateo

Creo que se llama "Verano Eterno".
I think it is called "Eternal Summer".
Lucía

¡Qué nombre tan bonito tiene!
What a beautiful name it has!

Sources

IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries llama, se, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

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How to Say “It Is Called” in Spanish