Signification
To make a phone call to someone.
Contexte culturel
In Spain, it is common to answer the phone with '¿Diga?' or '¿Dígame?'. This comes from the verb 'decir' (to say) and literally means 'Speak to me'. Mexicans almost always say '¿Bueno?'. It's a tradition from when lines were unreliable and you were checking if the connection was good. Argentines often use 'Hola' just like in English, but with a very distinct rising intonation on the 'la'. In Colombia, '¿Aló?' is very common, and the conversation usually starts with very polite inquiries about one's health and family.
Drop the 'por teléfono'
If you are already holding your phone, just say 'Voy a llamar a Juan'. Everyone will know what you mean!
The Personal 'A'
Don't forget the 'a' when calling people. It's the most common mistake for English speakers.
Signification
To make a phone call to someone.
Drop the 'por teléfono'
If you are already holding your phone, just say 'Voy a llamar a Juan'. Everyone will know what you mean!
The Personal 'A'
Don't forget the 'a' when calling people. It's the most common mistake for English speakers.
Phone Greetings
Don't be surprised if a Spaniard sounds abrupt with '¿Diga?'. It's just their way of saying 'I'm listening'.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing word to complete the phrase.
Yo quiero llamar ___ teléfono a mi abuela.
The standard preposition for this collocation is 'por'.
Which sentence correctly uses the 'personal a'?
Select the correct sentence:
When calling a person, you must use 'a'.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of 'llamar'.
Juan: '¿Qué haces?' María: '___ por teléfono a mi jefe.'
The subject is 'Yo' (implied by María speaking about herself).
Match the greeting to the country.
Where would you hear '¿Bueno?' when answering the phone?
'Bueno' is the classic Mexican phone greeting.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Phone Greetings by Region
Spain
- • ¿Diga?
- • ¿Dígame?
Mexico
- • ¿Bueno?
Argentina
- • ¿Hola?
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesYo quiero llamar ___ teléfono a mi abuela.
The standard preposition for this collocation is 'por'.
Select the correct sentence:
When calling a person, you must use 'a'.
Juan: '¿Qué haces?' María: '___ por teléfono a mi jefe.'
The subject is 'Yo' (implied by María speaking about herself).
Where would you hear '¿Bueno?' when answering the phone?
'Bueno' is the classic Mexican phone greeting.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, but it sounds a bit formal or like something from an old movie. 'Llamar' is much more natural.
It's a historical habit from when they needed to confirm the line was working well ('good').
Use 'llamar a [person]' to say who you are calling, and 'llamar para [action]' to say why you are calling.
No, only if you need to be specific that it's a phone call and not a visit or a shout.
You say 'Te llamo'.
'Marcar' is specifically the action of dialing the numbers.
Yes, people usually say 'Llamar por WhatsApp'.
It is neutral. It works in both formal and informal situations.
You still use 'a'. 'Llamo al restaurante'.
The verb is 'colgar'.
Expressions liées
Hacer una llamada
synonymTo make a call
Colgar el teléfono
contrastTo hang up the phone
Pasar al teléfono
builds onTo put someone on the phone
Quedarse sin batería
similarTo run out of battery
Mensaje de voz
specialized formVoice message
