llamando
“llamando” means “calling” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
calling, shoutingAlso: dialing, summoning
📝 In Action
¿Quién está llamando a estas horas?
A1Who is calling at this hour?
Están llamando a los niños para la cena.
A2They are calling the children for dinner.
Aún no he terminado; sigo llamando a los clientes.
B1I haven't finished yet; I'm still calling the clients.
Word Connections
knocking, ringingAlso: beeping
📝 In Action
Oigo ruido, alguien está llamando a la puerta principal.
B1I hear noise, someone is knocking at the main door.
La ambulancia está llamando la atención con su sirena.
B2The ambulance is drawing attention with its siren (by calling/sounding the alarm).
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: llamando
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'llamando' to describe an ongoing action?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology
The verb 'llamar' comes from the older Latin verb *clamare*, which meant 'to shout' or 'to cry out.' Over many centuries, the initial hard 'C' sound softened and changed into the 'LL' sound we use today, broadening the meaning from just shouting to making contact (calling on the phone, knocking, or naming).
First recorded: Appeared in Spanish as 'clamar' in early forms, shifting to 'llamar' during the Middle Ages.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'llamando' ever used without 'estar'?
Yes, but rarely. It can act as an adjective meaning 'calling' or 'appealing' (e.g., 'una fuerza llamando' - an appealing force), but 99% of the time, learners should use it with 'estar' to form continuous tenses.
How do I say 'He is calling himself'?
Since 'llamar' can be reflective (to name oneself), you would use 'se está llamando' or 'está llamándose'. For example, 'Se está llamando a sí mismo un experto' (He is calling himself an expert).