Llamado

Llamado is a Spanish noun derived from the verb llamar and commonly means an act of calling, summoning, or inviting someone to appear or respond. It can refer to a physical call, such as a knock on a door or a telephone contact, as well as to more abstract invitations or appeals, like a call to action or a summons to participate in an event.

Etymologically, llamado stems from llamar, which means to call or to name, and the form llam ado marks the past participle used as a noun in many contexts. In Spanish, the masculine form el llamado is often contrasted with la llamada, which is more routinely used for a phone call or a louder, more immediate sound. The choice between llam ado and llamada can reflect nuance: el llamado tends to emphasize the act of being summoned or summoned in a formal or purposeful sense, whereas la llamada more commonly denotes a vocal or telephonic contact.

Common uses of the term include: a formal summons to appear, as in legal or official contexts; a call to attention or a call to action; a religious or spiritual vocation, where one speaks of a “llamado” to a particular life or service; and phrases like levantarse ante un llamado, responder al llamado, or la llamada a la oración. In everyday language, researchers and writers may prefer llamada for ordinary phone calls, reserving llamado for situations with a sense of duty, invitation, or significance.

See also: llamar, llamada, vocación, convocar.