llamarte
“llamarte” means “to call you” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to call you, to phone you
Also: to name you
📝 In Action
Quiero llamarte después del trabajo.
A1I want to call you after work.
Es importante llamarte para confirmar la hora.
A2It is important to call you to confirm the time.
No puedo dejar de llamarte, eres mi mejor amigo.
B1I can't stop calling you, you are my best friend.
to call yourself
Also: to be named
📝 In Action
¿Cómo prefieres llamarte, por tu nombre o tu apodo?
A1What do you prefer to call yourself, by your name or your nickname?
No sé cómo llamarte en esta situación.
A2I don't know what to call you in this situation (how to address you).
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: llamarte
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'llamarte' to mean 'I need to call you'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The base verb 'llamar' comes from the Latin word *clamare*, which meant 'to shout' or 'to cry out.' Over time, it evolved in Spanish to mean 'to name' or 'to summon' (and later, 'to phone'). 'Llamarte' simply adds the informal pronoun 'te' (you) to this action.
First recorded: Base verb 'llamar' appeared in Spanish around the 10th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'te' attached to the end of 'llamar'?
In Spanish, when you use the infinitive form of a verb (the base form ending in -ar, -er, or -ir), you have the option to attach the object or reflexive pronoun directly to the end. This is very common, especially after verbs like 'querer' (to want) or 'necesitar' (to need).
Is 'llamarte' formal or informal?
It is informal. The pronoun 'te' is the informal way to address a single person (the equivalent of 'tú'). If you wanted the formal version, you would use 'llamarle' (or 'llamarla/o' depending on the person) or 'llamarse' (if reflexive) with 'usted'.