llamó
“llamó” means “he/she called” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
he/she called, you called
📝 In Action
Mi hermano me llamó anoche para contarme las noticias.
A1My brother called me last night to tell me the news.
¿Quién llamó mientras estaba en la ducha?
A2Who called while I was in the shower?
he/she knocked, he/she called out
Also: he/she summoned
📝 In Action
Alguien llamó a la puerta, pero no había nadie.
A2Someone knocked on the door, but nobody was there.
La profesora lo llamó a la pizarra para resolver el problema.
B1The teacher called him to the board to solve the problem.
he/she named, he/she called (something)
📝 In Action
Ella llamó a su gata 'Luna'.
B1She named her cat 'Luna'.
El crítico llamó a la película 'una obra maestra'.
B2The critic called the movie 'a masterpiece'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "llamó" in Spanish:
you called→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: llamó
Question 1 of 2
In the sentence 'El cartero llamó a la puerta,' what does 'llamó' mean?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
`Llamó` comes from the verb `llamar`, which traces back to the Latin word `clamāre`. `Clamāre` meant 'to shout' or 'to cry out.' Over time, its meaning softened in Spanish to include the more gentle act of calling someone's name or calling them on the phone.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between `llamó` and `llamaba`?
Think of it like this: `llamó` is for a specific, finished action, like a snapshot. 'Él me llamó anoche' (He called me last night) - it happened once and it's over. `Llamaba` is for a repeated or ongoing action, like a movie. 'Él me llamaba todas las noches' (He used to call me every night) - it was a habit.
Why does `llamó` have an accent mark but `llamo` doesn't?
That little accent mark is super important! It changes both the pronunciation and the meaning. `Llamó` (ya-MOH) is 'he/she called' in the past. `Llamo` (YA-mo) is 'I call' in the present. The accent tells you where to put the stress, which helps you know who is doing the action and when.
Can I just say `Llamó` without 'él' or 'ella'?
Yes, absolutely! In Spanish, the verb ending often tells you who is doing the action. If you and your friend are talking about Maria, you can just say '¿Llamó?' and your friend will know you mean 'Did she call?' because you were already talking about her.