llamarse
Lemma Details
Translation: to be called; to be named; to call oneself
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: Llamarse is the reflexive form of 'llamar' (to call), which comes from Latin 'clamare' meaning 'to shout, cry out'. The English word 'claim' shares this Latin root, as does 'clamor'. The reflexive construction in Spanish ('llamarse') creates the meaning of 'to call oneself' or 'to be called/named', which is different from the non-reflexive form 'llamar' which simply means 'to call' someone or something.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 50%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'llama' + 'se' = 'llamarse', like saying 'the llama calls itself'
- The double 'll' in Spanish is pronounced like 'y' in English, so 'llamarse' sounds a bit like 'yama-say' which can help remember it means 'to say what you're called'
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking cultures, introducing oneself with 'Me llamo...' (My name is..., literally 'I call myself...') is one of the first phrases learned by language students and is essential in everyday social interactions. The reflexive construction for stating one's name differs from English, where we say 'My name is...' rather than 'I call myself...'
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'llamarse' is reflexive and means 'to be called/named', 'llamar' without the reflexive pronoun means 'to call' someone or something, like making a phone call or calling someone's attention.
This word:
Me llamo Carlos.
My name is Carlos.
Confused word:
Voy a llamar a mi madre.
I'm going to call my mother.
Notes: The reflexive form changes the meaning significantly from actively calling someone to stating what someone is called.
Mnemonic: If there's 'se' attached to 'llamar', it's about names; without 'se', it's about making calls.
Explanation: 'Llamarse' (to be called) and 'llevar' (to carry, to wear, to take) look somewhat similar but have completely different meanings.
Confused word:
Llevo mi mochila a la escuela.
I take my backpack to school.
Notes: Both verbs begin with 'll' which can cause confusion for beginners.
Mnemonic: 'Llamarse' has double 'l' + 'm' and is about names; 'llevar' has double 'l' + 'v' and is about carrying things.