llamada
/ya-MA-da/
call
Llamada most often refers to a phone call.
📝 In Action
Tengo una llamada perdida de mi madre.
A1I have a missed call from my mom.
Espera un momento, estoy en una llamada importante.
A2Wait a moment, I'm on an important call.
Gracias por devolver mi llamada.
B1Thanks for returning my call.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'Hacer' and 'Tener'
To talk about making a call, use the verb 'hacer': 'Voy a hacer una llamada'. To talk about having an incoming call, use 'tener': 'Tienes una llamada'.
Llamada can also mean a physical summons, like a knock on the door or a shout.
📝 In Action
Oí una llamada a la puerta, pero no había nadie.
B1I heard a call at the door (a knock), but nobody was there.
El capitán hizo una llamada a sus soldados.
B2The captain made a call to his soldiers.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
This meaning is about a person trying to get another's attention. Listen for clues like 'a la puerta' (at the door) to know it's not about a phone.
In a formal context, llamada refers to a calling or vocation (a sense of purpose).
llamada(Noun)
calling
?vocation, purpose
vocation
?professional or spiritual purpose
,appeal
?a call to action
📝 In Action
Sintió la llamada de la medicina desde muy joven.
B2She felt the calling of medicine from a very young age.
La ONG hizo una llamada a la solidaridad internacional.
C1The NGO made an appeal for international solidarity.
⭐ Usage Tips
Figurative Meaning
Think of this as life or a cause 'calling' you to do something. It's about purpose or destiny, not a literal shout.
As an adjective, llamada (feminine) means 'called' or 'named', used to introduce a feminine noun.
📝 In Action
Una aplicación llamada 'Inklingo' te ayuda a aprender idiomas.
A2An app called 'Inklingo' helps you learn languages.
Conozco a una chica llamada Lucía que es de Argentina.
B1I know a girl named Lucía who is from Argentina.
💡 Grammar Points
It's an Adjective, So It Must Match!
'Llamada' is the feminine form. You use it to describe a feminine noun, like 'una chica' or 'la aplicación'. For a masculine noun, like 'un chico', you must use the masculine form: 'llamado'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up with 'se llama'
Mistake: "La mujer se llamada Ana."
Correction: Use either 'La mujer se llama Ana' (The woman calls herself Ana) or 'La mujer llamada Ana...' (The woman called Ana...). 'Llamada' here is a description, not the main action verb of the sentence.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: llamada
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'llamada' correctly to mean 'named'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'llamada' and 'llamo'?
'Llamada' is a noun meaning 'a call' (or an adjective 'called'). 'Llamo' is the 'I' form of the verb 'llamar' (to call). So, 'Hago una llamada' (I make a call) vs. 'Yo llamo a mi amigo' (I call my friend).
How do I say 'a missed call'?
You say 'una llamada perdida'. 'Perdida' literally means 'lost', so you can think of it as a 'lost call' that you didn't answer.
Is 'llamada' always feminine?
Yes, when it's a noun meaning 'a call', it is always feminine ('la llamada', 'una llamada'). When it's an adjective meaning 'called', it's the feminine form used to match feminine nouns. The masculine version is 'llamado'.