llamaron
“llamaron” means “they called” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
they called, you all called
Also: they summoned
📝 In Action
Ellos llamaron a la policía cuando vieron el accidente.
A1They called the police when they saw the accident.
Mis padres me llamaron 'Sofía' por mi abuela.
A2My parents named me 'Sofía' after my grandmother.
Ustedes llamaron a la puerta muy fuerte.
B1You all knocked on the door very loudly.
they phoned, you all phoned
📝 In Action
Esperamos toda la tarde, pero nunca llamaron.
A1We waited all afternoon, but they never called (on the phone).
¿A qué hora te llamaron tus clientes ayer?
A2What time did your clients call you yesterday?
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: llamaron
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'llamaron' to mean 'to name'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The Spanish verb 'llamar' comes directly from the Latin verb *clamare*, which meant 'to shout' or 'to cry out.' Over time, the initial 'cl-' sound shifted to the 'll-' sound we hear today, and the meaning broadened to include summoning and naming.
First recorded: Before 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'llamaron' means 'they' or 'you all'?
In most of Latin America, 'ustedes' (you all) is standard, so it usually means 'you all called.' In Spain, 'ustedes' is formal, so unless you are speaking formally, it usually means 'they called.' Context is key!
Is 'llamaron' used for 'they called themselves'?
No. For 'they called themselves' or 'they were named,' you need the reflexive form, which is 'se llamaron.' 'Llamaron' needs a direct object (like 'a la policía').