llamarte
/yah-MAHR-teh/
to call you
This illustration depicts the action of 'to call you,' as in making a phone call, which is the transitive meaning of llamarte.
llamarte(Verb)
to call you
?by phone, or to summon
,to phone you
?informal 'you'
to name you
?referring to a name
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Infinitive + Pronoun
This word is the base verb 'llamar' (to call) with the informal 'you' pronoun ('te') glued to the end. This happens when the infinitive follows another conjugated verb (like 'quiero' or 'puedo').
Pronoun Placement Flexibility
You can also place the 'te' before the conjugated verb: 'Te quiero llamar.' (I want to call you). Both 'Quiero llamarte' and 'Te quiero llamar' are correct and common.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Double Pronoun Error
Mistake: "Te quiero llamarte."
Correction: Te quiero llamar. OR Quiero llamarte. (Never use the pronoun twice.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Stress Change
When you attach the pronoun 'te' to the infinitive, the spoken emphasis (stress) stays on the last syllable of the verb ('llamar' -> 'llaMARte').
When you refer to yourself by a specific name, you are using the reflexive meaning 'to call yourself,' demonstrated here by the child claiming their identity.
llamarte(Verb)
to call yourself
?to refer to yourself by a name
to be named
?when asking someone's preferred name
📝 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).
💡 Grammar Points
The Reflexive Meaning
When 'llamar' is used reflexively ('llamarse'), it means 'to call oneself' or, more simply, 'to be named.' 'Llamarte' is that reflexive action directed at the informal 'you'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Asking for Names
While '¿Cómo te llamas?' (What is your name?) is the standard, 'llamarte' is used when asking about preferences or options: '¿Cómo quieres llamarte?' (What do you want to be called?)
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: llamarte
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'llamarte' to mean 'I need to call you'?
📚 More Resources
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'.