Inklingo
Dictionary

llamarle

yah-MAHR-lehʝaˈmaɾle

“llamarle” means “to call him/her/you” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to call him/her/youA1Verb

by phone or shouting

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to call/label him/herA2Verb

using a name or title

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to call him/her/youAlso: to phone him/her

VerbA1regular with attached pronoun ar
SpainLatin America
A person standing on a small hill, cupping their hands around their mouth to shout towards a friend in the distance.
gerundllamándole
past Participlellamado
infinitivellamarle

📝 In Action

Tengo que llamarle por teléfono esta tarde.

A1

I have to call him/her on the phone this afternoon.

Si ves a Juan, puedes llamarle para que venga.

A2

If you see Juan, you can call him so he comes over.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • telefonearle (to phone him/her)
  • avisarle (to notify him/her)

Antonyms

  • colgarle (to hang up on him/her)
  • ignorarle (to ignore him/her)

Common Collocations

  • llamarle enseguida – to call him/her immediately
  • llamarle por su nombre – to call him/her by his/her name

Idioms & Expressions

  • llamarle la atención – to catch someone's eye or to scold someone

to call/label him/herAlso: to name him/her

VerbA2regular with attached pronoun ar
A friendly teacher pointing to a student wearing a bright name tag.

📝 In Action

Podemos llamarle 'jefe' si él quiere.

A2

We can call him 'boss' if he wants.

No es correcto llamarle mentiroso.

B1

It isn't right to call him a liar.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • nombrarle (to name him/her)
  • apodarle (to nickname him/her)

Common Collocations

  • llamarle por su apodo – to call him/her by their nickname

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yole llamara
túle llamaras
él/ella/ustedle llamara
nosotrosle llamáramos
vosotrosle llamarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesle llamaran

Present Subjunctive

yole llame
túle llames
él/ella/ustedle llame
nosotrosle llamemos
vosotrosle llaméis
ellos/ellas/ustedesle llamen

Indicative

Preterite

yole llamé
túle llamaste
él/ella/ustedle llamó
nosotrosle llamamos
vosotrosle llamasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesle llamaron

Imperfect

yole llamaba
túle llamabas
él/ella/ustedle llamaba
nosotrosle llamábamos
vosotrosle llamabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesle llamaban

Present

yole llamo
túle llamas
él/ella/ustedle llama
nosotrosle llamamos
vosotrosle llamáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesle llaman
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: llamarle

Question 1 of 2

How do you say 'I want to call him' using 'llamarle'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
llamar(to call) — Verb
llamada(a call) — Noun
llamativo(showy/flashy) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes
darlehablarlemirarle
📚 Etymology

Derived from the Spanish verb 'llamar' (from Latin 'clamare', meaning 'to shout' or 'to cry out') combined with the pronoun 'le' (from Latin 'ille').

First recorded: 13th Century (as the separate parts combined in syntax)

Cognates (Related words)

English: claimPortuguese: chamarFrench: clamer

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between llamarle and llamarlo?

Technically, 'lo' is for a direct object and 'le' is for an indirect object. However, in many parts of Spain, people use 'llamarle' to mean 'call him' (a practice called 'leísmo'). In Latin America, 'llamarle' is mostly used for set phrases like 'llamarle la atención'.

Can 'llamarle' mean 'to call her'?

Yes! 'Le' is gender-neutral when it refers to 'him,' 'her,' or 'you (formal).'