Inklingo
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llamaban

/yah-MAH-bahn/

they used to call

Two figures standing far apart in a green field, one figure shouting toward the other with hands cupped around their mouth to amplify the sound.

Illustrating 'they used to call' (habitual communication).

llamaban(Verb (Past Action))

A1regular ar

they used to call

?

habitual communication

,

they were calling

?

ongoing past action

Also:

you (plural, formal) used to call

?

habitual communication

📝 In Action

Mis padres me llamaban todos los días cuando estaba en la universidad.

A1

My parents used to call me every day when I was in college.

No sé quiénes eran, pero llamaban sin parar.

A2

I don't know who they were, but they were calling non-stop.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • telefonear (to phone)
  • comunicarse (to communicate)

Common Collocations

  • Llamaban a larga distancia – They were calling long distance
  • Llamaban por teléfono – They were calling on the phone

💡 Grammar Points

Imperfect Tense Function

'Llamaban' uses the imperfect tense, which is used to talk about actions that happened repeatedly or continuously over a stretch of time in the past.

Who is 'They'?

This form refers to 'ellos' (they, masculine/mixed group), 'ellas' (they, feminine group), or 'ustedes' (you all, formal).

⭐ Usage Tips

Setting the Scene

Use 'llamaban' when describing the background action in a story: 'Llovía y me llamaban, pero no escuché' (It was raining and they were calling me, but I didn't hear).

A child kneeling and smiling warmly at a small, curious brown puppy, suggesting the moment of designating an identity.

Illustrating 'they used to name' (designating identity).

llamaban(Verb (Past Action))

A2

they used to name

?

designating identity

,

they were called

?

passive naming description

📝 In Action

A los niños de antes los llamaban por el nombre de los abuelos.

A2

They used to name children after their grandparents back then.

En la escuela, a ese grupo lo llamaban 'Los Inquietos'.

B1

In school, they used to call that group 'The Restless Ones'.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • nombraban (they named)
  • decían (they said/referred to)

💡 Grammar Points

Naming vs. Calling

When used for naming, 'llamaban' often works like 'they designated' or 'they referred to,' setting up a long-term description of a person or place.

A close-up view of a person's fist sharply rapping on a plain, solid brown wooden door.

Illustrating 'they were knocking' (at a door/surface).

llamaban(Verb (Past Action))

B1

they were knocking

?

at a door/surface

,

they were ringing

?

a bell or buzzer

📝 In Action

Llamaban a la puerta con insistencia, pero no quise abrir.

B1

They were knocking on the door insistently, but I didn't want to open it.

Si llamaban al timbre y no había luz, era un vecino.

B2

If they rang the doorbell and there was no light, it was a neighbor.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • Llamaban a la puerta – They were knocking on the door
  • Llamaban al timbre – They were ringing the doorbell

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: llamaban

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'llamaban' to describe a past habit?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

llamar(to call (infinitive)) - verb
llamada(a call (noun)) - noun
llamamiento(a summons/appeal) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'llamaban' and 'llamaron'?

'Llamaban' (imperfect) describes actions that were repeated, ongoing, or served as background ('They were calling all night'). 'Llamaron' (preterite) describes a single, completed action ('They called once and hung up').

Can I use 'llamaban' to talk about myself?

No. 'Llamaban' means 'they' or 'you all' were doing the calling. To talk about yourself, you need 'yo llamaba' (I was calling).