Inklingo
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llamen

YAH-men

VerbA1regular ar
(that) they call?Present Subjunctive (ellos/ellas),(that) you call?Present Subjunctive (ustedes, formal plural),Call!?Formal command (ustedes)
Also:(that) they knock?Subjunctive use when 'llamar' means 'to knock on the door',Call out!?Command to summon someone

Quick Reference

infinitivellamar
gerundllamando
past Participlellamado

📝 In Action

Espero que me llamen de vuelta mañana.

A2

I hope they call me back tomorrow.

¡Llamen a la policía inmediatamente!

A1

Call the police immediately!

No creo que llamen a la puerta tan tarde.

B1

I don't think they'll knock on the door so late.

El jefe quiere que ustedes llamen a todos los clientes.

B2

The boss wants you (plural formal) to call all the clients.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • telefonear (to phone)
  • convocar (to summon)

Common Collocations

  • que me llamen – that they call me
  • llamar a la puerta – to knock on the door

💡 Grammar Points

Subjunctive Trigger

Use 'llamen' when expressing desires, doubts, or emotions about what 'they' or 'you formal plural' do: 'Quiero que llamen' (I want them to call).

Formal Commands

For giving polite commands to a group of people ('ustedes'), the affirmative command is also 'llamen': '¡Llamen ahora!' (Call now!).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing Formal and Informal Commands

Mistake: "Using 'llamen' when talking to a group of friends (tú plural in Spain)."

Correction: For informal groups in Spain, use 'llamad'. 'Llamen' is reserved for formal groups or all groups in Latin America.

⭐ Usage Tips

Context is Key

If 'llamen' follows 'que,' it's usually the subjunctive (a wish or doubt). If it starts a sentence, it's a command.

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedllama
yollamo
túllamas
ellos/ellas/ustedesllaman
nosotrosllamamos
vosotrosllamáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedllamaba
yollamaba
túllamabas
ellos/ellas/ustedesllamaban
nosotrosllamábamos
vosotrosllamabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedllamó
yollamé
túllamaste
ellos/ellas/ustedesllamaron
nosotrosllamamos
vosotrosllamasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedllame
yollame
túllames
ellos/ellas/ustedesllamen
nosotrosllamemos
vosotrosllaméis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedllamara/llamase
yollamara/llamase
túllamaras/llamases
ellos/ellas/ustedesllamaran/llamasen
nosotrosllamáramos/llamásemos
vosotrosllamarais/llamaseis
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: llamen

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'llamen' to express a doubt?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

llamar(to call) - verb
la llamada(the call (phone call)) - noun
el llamamiento(the appeal/summons) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'llaman' and 'llamen'?

'Llaman' is the regular present tense ('they call' or 'you formal plural call'). 'Llamen' is the special form (subjunctive) used after verbs of wishing, emotion, or doubt, or when giving a direct command to a formal group.

Is 'llamen' irregular?

No, 'llamen' is a regular conjugation of the verb 'llamar.' The 'll' sound can be tricky for some learners, but the ending follows the standard pattern for -ar verbs in the subjunctive mood.