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"Phone" is a noun which is often translated as "el teléfono", and "call" is a noun which is often translated as "la llamada". Learn more about the difference between "phone" and "call" below.
phone(
fon
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (medium)
a. el teléfono (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
He's on the phone right now. Can I take a message?Ahora mismo está en el teléfono. ¿Quiere dejar un mensaje?
2. (device)
a. el teléfono (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I have to buy a new phone because I dropped mine in the toilet.Tengo que comprar un teléfono nuevo porque el mío se me cayó al inodoro.
b. el celular (M) (cell) (Latin America)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
The battery life on my phone is terrible.La duración de batería de mi celular es malísima.
c. el móvil (M) (cell) (Spain)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Spain
I need to buy a new screen protector for my phone.Necesito comprar un protector de pantalla nuevo para mi móvil.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
3. (to call)
b. telefonear
Why don't you phone your mother and ask her?¿Por qué no telefoneas a tu madre y le preguntas?
c. hablarle a (Mexico)
Regionalism used in Mexico
Have you phoned the dentist for an appointment?¿Le has hablado al dentista para pedir cita?
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
call(
kal
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. la llamada (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I have to make a call to the bank as soon as it opens.Tengo que hacer una llamada al banco en cuanto abra.
b. el llamado (M) (Latin America)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
I got a call from someone in Buenos Aires.Recibí un llamado de alguien en Buenos Aires.
2. (cry)
a. la llamada (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I heard a call for help in the woods.Oí una llamada de auxilio en el bosque.
b. el llamado (M) (Latin America)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
They had no option but to respond to his call.No tuvieron otra opción más que acudir a su llamado.
c. el grito (M) (of an animal)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Have you heard the call of a sea lion before? - Yes, it sounds like a dog barking.¿Alguna vez has escuchado el grito de un lobo marino? - Sí, se escucha como el ladrido de un perro.
d. el canto (M) (of a bird)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The mockingbird mimics the calls of other birds.El sinsonte imita los cantos de otros pájaros.
e. el reclamo (M) (of a bird)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The bird's call lures the quails out when we go hunting.El reclamo del pájaro atrae a las codornices cuando salimos a cazar.
a. el llamamiento (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
They settled under the threat of a strike call.Llegaron a un acuerdo bajo la amenaza de un llamamiento a la huelga.
b. el llamado (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Community leaders issued a call to the public to attend a peace rally.Los líderes comunitarios hicieron un llamado al público para que asistiera a una manifestación por la paz.
c. la convocatoria (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The regulations require that the call to convene be published at least five days prior.Los reglamentos exigen que la convocatoria se publique con por lo menos cinco días de antelación.
4. (lure)
a. la llamada (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The call of the sea pulled him away.Lo arrastró la llamada del mar.
5. (visit)
6. (religious)
a. la llamada (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Carlos has decided to answer the call to become a priest.Carlos ha decidido responder a la llamada a ser sacerdote.
7. (reason)
b. la necesidad (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
There was no call for such rudeness, young man. Apologize to your sister.No hubo necesidad de tal grosería jovencito. Pídele disculpas a tu hermana.
8. (demand)
a. la demanda (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
With these hot days we’ve been having, there’s not much call for sweaters.Con estos días de calor que hemos tenido, no hay mucha demanda de suéteres.
9. (cards)
a. la declaración (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Whose call is it?¿A quién le toca la declaración?
10. (military)
11. (sports)
a. la decisión (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The fans are not happy with the referee’s call.Los aficionados no están contentos con la decisión del árbitro.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
12. (to telephone)
a. llamar
Are you going to call your mom on Mother's Day? - Of course I am.¿Vas a llamar a tu mamá en el Día de las Madres? - Por supuesto que sí.
b. telefonear
He calls his children every night when he's on a business trip.Telefonea a sus hijos todas las noches cuando está en viajes de negocios.
13. (to shout)
a. llamar
I thought I heard someone calling me but I must have imagined it.Creí que oí a alguien llamándome pero debí imaginarlo.
14. (to name)
15. (to consider)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
He took a weekend course and now he calls himself an expert.Tomó un curso de fin de semana y ahora se considera un experto.
How's the food at the new restaurant? - I wouldn't call it bad, but it isn't good either.¿Qué tal es la comida del restaurante nuevo? - No diría que es mala, pero tampoco buena.
16. (to summon)
a. llamar
Honey, can you call the children in for dinner please?Cariño, ¿puedes llamar a los niños a cenar por favor?
b. convocar
We called this meeting to discuss a very pressing issue.Convocamos esta reunión para discutir un asunto muy apremiante.
c. hacer venir a
If she goes into shock, you’ll need to call the doctor.Si entra en shock, tendrás que hacer venir al médico.
17. (to address as)
18. (to awaken)
a. despertar
I asked the front desk to call me at 6:00 am.Le pedí a la recepción que me llamara a las 6:00 am.
20. (to end)
a. exigir
After three months of failing to pay, the bank can call the loan.Después de tres meses de no pagar, el banco puede exigir el pago del préstamo.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
23. (to telephone)
25. (to visit)
a. pasar
Aunt Lupe is planning to call on us later today.Tía Lupe está planeando pasar a vernos hoy al rato.
b. venir
I really appreciate you calling on me. You've been very helpful.Muchas gracias por venir. Me has ayudado mucho.
c. visitar
We must remember to call on you when we travel to London in the spring.Tenemos que recordar visitarte cuando viajemos a Londres en la primavera.
26. (cards)
27. (to appeal to)
a. apelar
The coaches of both teams called on fans to avoid the use of insulting language.Los entrenadores de ambos equipos apelaron a los fanáticos a evitar el uso de palabras groseras.
b. recurrir
I think it’s time to call on your friend in the senate to see if he can help.Creo que es hora de recurrir a tu amigo en el senado para ver si puede ayudar.
