What does llamar in Spanish mean?

What is the meaning of the word llamar in Spanish? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use llamar in Spanish.

The word llamar in Spanish means call, call, name, knock, ring, call, phone, call, phone, name is, appeal to, call a spade a spade, call a witness, call the elevator, ring the bell, call on behalf of, make a scene, stand out, tell off, stand out like a sore thumb, not draw attention, call again. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word llamar

call

verbo transitivo (hacer venir)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Ana me llamó desde el otro lado de la oficina para que viera una foto de su hija. Llama a los perros para que vengan a comer.
Ana called me from the other side of the office to look at a photo of her daughter. Call the dogs for their food.

call, name

verbo transitivo (dar nombre) (give a name to)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Si es niña la llamarán Ana.
If it's a girl, they'll call (or: name) her Ana.

knock, ring

verbo intransitivo (tocar la puerta, el timbre) (request entry at a door)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Llamen antes de entrar.
Knock (or: ring) before you enter.

call, phone

verbo transitivo (contactar por teléfono) (telephone)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Te llamo mañana.
I'll call (or: phone) you tomorrow.

call, phone

(comunicarse por teléfono)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Llame al banco después de las 9 a. m.
Call (or: phone) the bank after 09:00.

name is

verbo pronominal (nombrar, apellidar)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Mi hijo se llama Juan. ¿Cómo te llamas?
My son's name is John. What's your name?

appeal to

verbo transitivo (gustar, atraer) (influence [sb] to approach)

Esa película no me llama en absoluto.
This film does not appeal to me in the slightest.

call a spade a spade

locución verbal (decir verdades)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
¿Por qué en vez de tantas vueltas no llamas a las cosas por su nombre?.
Instead of skirting around the issue why don't you call a spade a spade?

call a witness

locución verbal (llamar a declarar a testigo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
El abogado llamó a un testigo clave.
The attorney called a key witness.

call the elevator

locución verbal (apretar botón) (US)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Los empleados llamaron al ascensor y esperaron.

ring the bell

locución verbal (apretar botón)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Laura llamó al timbre y esperó a que abrieran la puerta.
Laura rang the bell and waited for someone to open the door.

call on behalf of

locución verbal (llamar en nombre de)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
La secretaria llamó de parte del jefe.
The secretary called on behalf of the boss.

make a scene

locución verbal (persona: actuar llamativamente)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Daniel es un niño insoportable que quiere llamar la atención a toda hora.
Daniel is an unbearable child; he's always making a scene.

stand out

locución verbal (cosa: ser llamativo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Si quieres vender tu apartamento, pon un aviso amarillo que llame la atención.
If you want to sell your flat, post an advert that stands out.

tell off

(informal (reprender)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
El director le llamó la atención a Sandra por el descuido.
The boss told Sandra off for the oversight.

stand out like a sore thumb

locución verbal (ser tremendamente llamativo) (colloquial)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ese vestido amarillo llama poderosamente la atención.
That yellow dress stands out like a sore thumb.

not draw attention

locución verbal (pasar inadvertido)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Hay mucha inseguridad, no llames la atención en la calle.

call again

locución verbal (marcar de nuevo)

Si no te contestan en la oficina, espera unos minutos y vuelve a llamar.
If they don't answer you at the office, wait a few minutes and call again.

Let's learn Spanish

So now that you know more about the meaning of llamar in Spanish, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in Spanish.

Do you know about Spanish

Spanish (español), also known as Castilla, is a language of the Iberian-Romance group of the Romance languages, and the 4th most common language in the world according to Some sources, while others list it as a 2nd or 3rd most common language. It is the mother tongue of about 352 million people, and is spoken by 417 million people when adding its speakers as a language. sub (estimated in 1999). Spanish and Portuguese have very similar grammar and vocabulary; The number of similar vocabulary of these two languages is up to 89%. Spanish is the primary language of 20 countries around the world. It is estimated that the total number of speakers of Spanish is between 470 and 500 million, making it the second most widely spoken language in the world by number of native speakers.