Many meanings of "llamas"

Question

Why and how has the word llama(s) 3 meanings?

(you) call
llama (the animal)
flame

English is just a bad. How about "pine" the tree and "pine" the verb? — Walter Mitty, Jul 16 '14 at 09:31

score 22 · Answer 1 · edited May 04 '16 at 19:47

22

As to why, quite simple: three different etymological origins have resulted in the same word:

The verb llamar comes from latin clamare
The animal llama comes directly from a quechua word
The flame llama comes from latin flamma

Latin consonant groups -cl-, -fl- and others (such as -pl-) have frequently evolved into -ll- in Spanish, so these evolutions are quite normal.

As for confusing, I don't think so. It is not easy to construct a sentence where a verb and a noun could be confused. The two nouns (the flame and the animal) might be confused, but their meanings are so different that, aside from jokes or especially constructed sentences, I don't think it is very likely to happen because the context would give away the real meaning.

edited May 04 '16 at 19:47

DGaleano

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answered Jul 15 '14 at 12:32

Gorpik

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Llama «llama» la llama a la llama. :) – user0721090601 Jul 15 '14 at 13:11
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In voseo-speaking countries like Argentina is even less confusing since the first case (you call) is pronounced "llamás" (different accent). – Carlos Ferreyra Jul 15 '14 at 17:15
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As a side note, this can be used for puns. There was a series of ads for a phone company in the late 90's, called "la llama que llama" (it was about a llama that made prank calls, using equally bad puns) – Diego Mijelshon Jul 22 '14 at 01:50
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Actually even better. A la llama la llama la llama «la llama» – user0721090601 Apr 19 '16 at 21:20

score -2 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 20 '16 at 18:37

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When the Moores ruled in Spain, they had lookout posts on hilltops and it is said that in times of trouble they could call aid from Africa in a matter of hours by lighting the flames on top of the lookout towers, hence the connection between flame and call in Spanish.

edited Jun 20 '16 at 18:37

Rodrigo

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answered Apr 19 '16 at 20:33

catherine

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Roger still does that. – B. Clay Shannon-B. Crow Raven Apr 19 '16 at 20:38
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"it is said..." sounds very questionable. Do you have a citation to back it up? – Paul Apr 20 '16 at 04:34
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Absolutely not. As stated in other answers, they just come from similar unrelated latin words (flamma and clamare). – Gorpik Apr 20 '16 at 07:32

Many meanings of "llamas"

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