llamando a la puerta
/ʝamando a la pweɾta/from spelling rules
llamando a la puerta is the Spanish way to say knocking.
If you want to describe the physical act of hitting a door with your hand or a fist rather than the social act of 'calling' at the door, use dar golpes en la puerta.
Meaning: act in which something is knocked on (noun)
Which one should you use?
While llamando a la puerta is the continuous action (knocking), the noun form for a single knock is llamada a la puerta.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʝamando a la pweɾta/
Did you know?
- While llamando a la puerta is common, in some regions people use the verb tocar, as in tocar la puerta, which literally means 'to touch the door'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, if you hear a knock and want to signal you are coming, you might shout ¡Ya voy! instead of just opening the door.
- The verb llamar is used both for the physical act of knocking on a door and for the digital act of making a telephone call.
Examples in context
- ¿Quién está llamando a la puerta?Who's knocking on the door?This sentence is useful for asking who is knocking on the door using the form llamando a la puerta.Tatoeba #4500769 by rsarias, translation #4500428 by CK
- Alguien está llamando a la puerta.Someone is knocking on the door.This sentence is useful for stating that someone is knocking on the door using the form llamando a la puerta.Tatoeba #980442 by ssc73, translation #1065448 by CK
- Sé que es Tom quién está llamando a la puerta.I know it's Tom who's knocking on the door.This sentence is useful for identifying a specific person who is knocking on the door using the form llamando a la puerta.Tatoeba #4112046 by konrad509, translation #2376078 by CK
- Estoy llamando a la puerta de la oficina. ¿Puedo pasar?I am knocking on the office door. Can I come in?
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are in the living room when they hear a sound.
- DanielEscucha, creo que hay alguien llamando a la puerta.Listen, I think there is someone knocking at the door.
- LucíaNo espero a nadie hoy, Daniel.I am not expecting anyone today, Daniel.
- DanielSigue llamando a la puerta con insistencia.They keep knocking at the door insistently.
- LucíaEstá bien, yo iré a abrir.Alright, I will go open it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
