llamo
/YA-mo/
I call
Llamo means 'I call' (as in using the phone).
llamo(Verb)
I call
?by phone or shouting
I phone
?specifically on the telephone
,I ring
?British English for calling on the phone
📝 In Action
Te llamo más tarde, ahora estoy ocupado.
A1I'll call you later, I'm busy right now.
Llamo a mi abuela todos los domingos por la mañana.
A2I call my grandmother every Sunday morning.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'I' Form of Verbs
'Llamo' is the form of 'llamar' that means 'I call'. In Spanish, the ending of the verb changes to show who is doing the action. The '-o' ending almost always means 'I'.
Using the Present for the Future
Just like in English ('I'm calling you tomorrow'), you can use 'llamo' to talk about the very near future. 'Te llamo en cinco minutos' means 'I'll call you in five minutes'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Calling a Person
When you call a specific person, you need to add the little word 'a' before their name or title. For example, 'Llamo a mi hermano' (I'm calling my brother).
When used with 'me' (me llamo), it means 'my name is' (literally, 'I call myself').
llamo(Verb (used with 'me'))
my name is
?when saying 'me llamo'
I call myself
?the literal meaning of 'me llamo'
📝 In Action
Hola, me llamo Sofía. ¿Y tú?
A1Hi, my name is Sofia. And you?
Yo me llamo Alejandro, pero mis amigos me llaman Álex.
A1My name is Alejandro, but my friends call me Alex.
💡 Grammar Points
What 'Me Llamo' Really Means
In Spanish, you don't 'have' a name, you 'call yourself' a name. 'Me llamo' literally means 'I call myself'. The 'me' is the 'myself' part. It's a different way of thinking, but it's the most common way to say your name.
❌ Common Pitfalls
'Llamo' vs. 'Me llamo'
Mistake: "To introduce yourself, saying 'Llamo Carlos'."
Correction: Always say 'Me llamo Carlos'. Without 'me', it sounds like you are calling out for someone named Carlos, not that it's your name.
⭐ Usage Tips
The Most Natural Introduction
While you can say 'Mi nombre es...' (My name is...), 'Me llamo...' is much more common and natural in everyday conversation. Stick with 'Me llamo' and you'll always sound like a local!
Llamo also means 'I knock' (as in knocking on a door).
llamo(Verb)
I knock
?on a door
I summon
?calling a taxi, a waiter
,I call for
?requesting someone's presence
📝 In Action
Disculpe, llamo a la puerta pero nadie abre.
A2Excuse me, I'm knocking on the door but nobody is opening.
Llamo al camarero para pedir la cuenta, por favor.
B1I'm calling the waiter to ask for the check, please.
⭐ Usage Tips
Knocking vs. Calling
It might seem odd, but Spanish uses the same word, 'llamar', for both calling on the phone and knocking on a door ('llamar a la puerta'). The context makes the meaning clear.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: llamo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly means 'My name is Pablo'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important difference between 'llamo' and 'me llamo'?
The little word 'me' changes everything! 'Llamo' means 'I call' someone else (like on the phone). 'Me llamo' means 'My name is' (literally, 'I call myself'). Forgetting 'me' when introducing yourself is a very common beginner mistake.
Can I use 'llamo' to talk about something I'm going to do in a few minutes?
Yes, absolutely! It's very common in Spanish to use the simple present tense for the near future. Saying 'Te llamo en un rato' (I'll call you in a bit) is perfectly natural and used all the time.