chiamare

Chiamare is a common Italian verb that means to call, to name, to summon, or to telephone. It covers actions such as calling someone by their name, summoning a group, drawing attention, or making a phone call. It can also designate or label something and is used in both literal and figurative senses. When referring specifically to telephone communication, chiamare is widely used, though telefonare is also common.

Etymology and cognates: the verb derives from Latin clamāre, meaning to shout or cry out, and reached its modern form in Old Italian as chiamare. Related words in other Romance languages include Spanish llamar and Portuguese chamar, all sharing the same root referring to calling or naming.

Usage and constructions: chiamare is a regular -are verb. In the present indicative: io chiamo, tu chiami, lui/lei chiama, noi chiamiamo, voi chiamate, loro chiamano. The imperfect is chiamavo, chiamavi, chiamava, chiamavamo, chiamavate, chiamavano; the past participle is chiamato, used with avere to form compound tenses. The future forms are chiamerò, chiamerai, chiamerà, chiameremo, chiamerete, chiameranno. The reflexive form, chiamarsi, is used to state one’s name: mi chiamo…, ti chiami…, si chiama…. In practice, you would say “Mi chiamo Luca” or “Chiamerò tua madre domani.” Chiamare can also mean to call out or to summon, as in “Chiamare l’attenzione” or “Chiamare in assemblea.”

Noun forms: chiamata denotes a call or phone call, as in una chiamata telefonica. The word is widely used across formal and informal Italian to express the various meanings associated with calling or naming.