Spanish Phrase
¿A quién intentas llamar?
Meaning
Literally “To whom are you trying to call?” It asks the listener which person they are attempting to reach on the phone or via any other communication method.
When to use
Use this question when you hear someone dialing a number, when you pick up a call and want to know the intended recipient, or in role‑plays that involve making phone calls.
✦Grammar Breakdown
aquiénintentasllamar
Personal *a*
When the direct object refers to a person, Spanish uses the preposition *a* before the noun or pronoun (e.g., *a quién*).
Interrogative pronoun *quién*
The accent on *quién* marks it as a question word meaning “who”.
Verb *intentar* + infinitive
The verb *intentar* (to try) is followed by an infinitive; here it is *llamar*.
Second‑person singular present
*Intentas* is the present indicative form for “you (tú) try”.
🗨In Conversation
¿A quién intentas llamar?
Who are you trying to call?
Quiero hablar con Ana, pero su móvil está apagado.
I want to talk to Ana, but her phone is off.
✕Common Mistakes
¿A quien intentas llamar?
Missing the accent changes the word from a question word to a relative pronoun.
¿A quién intentas a llamar?
The preposition *a* is already attached to *quién*; adding another *a* before *llamar* is redundant.
¿A quién intentas llamas?
After *intentar* you must use the infinitive *llamar*, not the conjugated form *llamas*.
↔Alternatives
¿A quién le estás llamando?
Who are you calling?
¿Quién es a quien intentas llamar?
Who is the person you’re trying to call?
¿A quién llamas?
Who are you calling?
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries the construction *¿A quién le llamas?* is more common than using *intentar*. Adding *intentas* conveys a slight doubt or difficulty, as if the call might not go through. Also remember to keep the accent on *quién*; without it the word becomes the relative pronoun *quien* (who, which) and the sentence loses its interrogative force.