llamarla
/yah-MAR-lah/
to call her
Visualizing 'to call her' (by phone or verbally summoning).
llamarla(Verb Construction)
to call her
?by phone or verbally summoning
to summon it
?referring to a feminine noun (e.g., 'la ambulancia')
📝 In Action
Necesito llamarla ahora mismo para confirmar la cita.
A1I need to call her right now to confirm the appointment.
Él no quería despertarla, pero tuvo que llamarla.
A2He didn't want to wake her up, but he had to call her.
Debemos llamarla inmediatamente si vemos el problema.
B1We must call her immediately if we see the problem.
💡 Grammar Points
Pronoun Attachment Rule
This form combines the base verb ('llamar') with the direct object pronoun ('la'). This attachment happens when the verb is an infinitive (the 'to...' form), a command, or a gerund ('-ing' form).
Direct Object 'la'
The 'la' means 'her' or 'it' (if the 'it' is a feminine noun). It tells us who or what is receiving the action of calling.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Incorrect Placement
Mistake: "La voy a llamar."
Correction: Voy a llamarla. (Both are correct, but attaching it to the infinitive is a common and natural option.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Choosing Placement
When you have two verbs (e.g., 'ir a' + infinitive), you can put the pronoun ('la') either before the first verb ('La voy a llamar') or attached to the second verb ('Voy a llamarla'). Both are perfectly correct.
Visualizing 'to name her,' the act of assigning a designation.
llamarla(Verb Construction)
to name her
?assigning a name
to refer to her
?using a specific title or term
📝 In Action
Decidieron llamarla Sofía, como su abuela.
A2They decided to name her Sofía, like her grandmother.
Es irrespetuoso llamarla 'la jefa' cuando su nombre es María.
B1It is disrespectful to call her 'the boss' when her name is María.
💡 Grammar Points
The Naming Sense
The verb 'llamar' is used for both 'calling someone on the phone' and 'giving someone a name.' Context usually makes the meaning clear.
⭐ Usage Tips
Passive Construction
This sense is often used reflexively (llamarse) to mean 'to be named,' but 'llamarla' means someone else is doing the naming.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: llamarla
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'llamarla' in the sense of assigning a name?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there no accent mark on 'llamarla'?
Accent marks are needed when attaching pronouns to an infinitive or gerund only if the stress shifts. Since 'llamar' is stressed on the last syllable (llamar), attaching 'la' just adds a syllable without changing the stress pattern, so no accent is needed. (Compare this to the command form: 'Llámala' needs an accent.)
Can I use 'llamarla' to mean 'to call it'?
Yes, absolutely! If the object you are calling or naming is a feminine noun (like 'la policía' or 'la verdad'), you use 'la.' For example, 'Necesito llamarla' could mean 'I need to call the police (la policía).'