Inklingo

How to Say "call" in Spanish

English → Spanish
verbA1informal
Use this when giving a direct, informal command or suggestion to call someone, often used among friends or family.

Examples

Si necesitas algo, llámame.

If you need anything, call me.

nounA2
Use this when referring to a phone call as a communication event or a summons.

Examples

Recibí una llamada de mi hermana.

I received a call from my sister.

conferencia

kon-feh-REN-syah/koɱ.feˈɾen.sja/

nounB1formal
Use this for a formal telephone or video call, typically involving multiple participants or a business meeting.
Three people seated around an oval table participating in a formal meeting.

Examples

Tenemos una conferencia telefónica con el equipo de Madrid a las tres.

We have a conference call with the Madrid team at three o'clock.

Los presidentes se reunieron para una conferencia de paz de emergencia.

The presidents met for an emergency peace conference.

Combining Words

When referring to remote meetings, 'conferencia' is often combined with other words like 'telefónica' (telephone) or 'web' (web/video) to specify the type of meeting.

marcar

mar-KAR/maɾˈkaɾ/

verbA1
Use this verb when referring specifically to the action of dialing numbers on a phone.
A cartoon hand presses a button on a modern smartphone screen.

Examples

Por favor, marca el código de área antes del número.

Please dial the area code before the number.

¿Ya marcaste el teléfono de la oficina?

Did you already dial the office phone number?

The 'Qu' Spelling Change

In the preterite 'yo' form (yo marqué) and the subjunctive, the 'c' changes to 'qu' before 'e' to keep the hard 'k' sound. This is common for -car verbs.

Confusing 'Marcar' and 'Llamar'

Mistake: “Using 'marcar' when you mean 'to call someone's name' (Llamar a María).”

Correction: 'Marcar' is for the physical action of dialing. Use 'llamar' for the complete communication.

Verb vs. Noun Confusion

Learners often confuse the noun 'llamada' (a call) with the verb 'llamar' (to call). Remember that 'llamada' refers to the event of the call itself, while 'llamar' is the action of making the call.

Related Translations

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