Inklingo

How to Say "i call" in Spanish

English → Spanish

llamo

/YA-mo//'ʝa.mo/

VerbA1General
Use 'llamo' when you are referring to the action of calling someone on the phone or shouting to get their attention.
A young person holding a bright red smartphone to their ear, making a call.

Examples

Te llamo más tarde, ahora estoy ocupado.

I'll call you later, I'm busy right now.

Llamo a mi abuela todos los domingos por la mañana.

I call my grandmother every Sunday morning.

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'.

apodo

/ah-POH-doh//aˈpoðo/

VerbB2Informal
Use 'apodo' when you are referring to giving someone a nickname or calling them by a specific, often informal, name.
A child placing a handmade paper crown on a friendly dog's head, representing the act of giving a name or title.

Examples

Yo apodo a mi hermano 'Lolo' porque no puede decir su nombre.

I nickname my brother 'Lolo' because he can't say his name.

Direct objects with 'apodar'

When you nickname a person, you often use the 'personal a'. Example: 'Apodan a Juan como "El Toro"'.

Calling vs. Nicknaming

The most common mistake is using 'apodo' when you mean to call someone on the phone. Remember, 'llamo' is for phone calls and shouting, while 'apodo' is specifically for giving or using nicknames.

Related Translations

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