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Ahora le devolvemos la llamada.

Ahora le devolvemos la llamada.
We are calling her back now.
FromLesson 15inHardcore Spanish (Spain)

Breakdown of Ahora le devolvemos la llamada.

nosotros
we
ahora
now
devolver la llamada
to call back
le
her

Questions & Answers about Ahora le devolvemos la llamada.

What does the pronoun in le devolvemos refer to?
Le is the indirect object pronoun meaning “to him/her/you-formal (usted)” in singular. It refers to the person who will receive the returned call. Without more context, it’s ambiguous which of those three.
Why is it le and not lo or la?
Because with devolver, the pattern is devolver algo a alguien (return something to someone). Here, la llamada is the direct object (the thing returned), and the person is the indirect object, so le is correct. Using lo/la would wrongly point to the call as a direct object pronoun.
When would I use les instead of le?
Use les for plural recipients: ustedes, ellos, or ellas. Example: Ahora les devolvemos la llamada.
Is this an example of Spanish leísmo?
No. Here le is an indirect object, which is standard everywhere. Leísmo is using le as a direct object for people (e.g., in Spain many say Le llamo instead of Lo llamo). With devolver la llamada a alguien, the person is an indirect object, so there’s no leísmo.
Can I move ahora or the pronoun around?

Yes. Common options with the same meaning:

  • Ahora le devolvemos la llamada.
  • Le devolvemos la llamada ahora.
  • Ahora mismo le devolvemos la llamada. (more emphatic)
Why present tense (devolvemos) instead of future (devolveremos)?

Spanish often uses the present for actions happening right now or in the immediate future, especially with ahora/ahora mismo. If the callback will be later, say:

  • Le devolveremos la llamada (later today/another time).
  • Enseguida le devolvemos la llamada (very soon).
Is Vamos a devolverle la llamada equivalent?

Yes. Both are fine. With this periphrasis, the clitic can go in two places:

Could I just say Ahora le llamamos or Ahora le volvemos a llamar?

Yes:

  • Devolver la llamada specifically means “return the call.”
  • Volver a llamar means “call again” (often amounts to the same). In Spain, devolver la llamada and volver a llamar are both common. Llamar de vuelta is more Latin American.
How do I replace la llamada with a pronoun?

Use the double‑pronoun sequence and the le→se rule:

  • Ahora se la devolvemos. When le/les combines with lo/la/los/las, it becomes se.
How does the sentence change with informal or plural you?
  • To a friend (tú): Ahora te devolvemos la llamada.
  • To several friends (vosotros, Spain): Ahora os devolvemos la llamada.
  • To you‑plural formal or to them: Ahora les devolvemos la llamada.
Can I omit le?
Only if you explicitly name the recipient: Ahora devolvemos la llamada a Marta. In real usage, Spanish strongly prefers clitic doubling with indirect objects, so Ahora le devolvemos la llamada a Marta is more natural. Without either le or an a + persona phrase, it sounds vague.
Why la llamada and not su llamada?
Devolver la llamada is the set expression. Su llamada is also possible and a bit more explicit/formal: Ahora le devolvemos su llamada. Both are correct.
What should I know about the verb devolver here?
How do I pronounce the sentence naturally (Spain)?
  • Ahora: [aˈoɾa] (silent h; tap the r).
  • le: [le].
  • devolvemos: [ðeβolˈβemos] (v sounds like a soft b).
  • la llamada: [la ʝaˈmaða] (ll as y; d between vowels is soft). All together: [aˈoɾa le ðeβolˈβemos la ʝaˈmaða].
Difference between ahora, ahora mismo, enseguida, and ya?
  • Ahora: now (can be immediate or simply “at this moment”).
  • Ahora mismo: right now, very immediate.
  • Enseguida: right away/very soon (usually written as one word).
  • Ya: already/now/soon depending on context; Ya le llamamos often means “we’re about to call you.”
How would I make a command to tell someone to call back?
  • Tú: Devuélvele la llamada ahora. / No le devuelvas la llamada ahora.
  • Usted: Devuélvale la llamada ahora. / No le devuelva la llamada ahora.
  • Vosotros: Devolvedle la llamada ahora. / No le devolváis la llamada ahora.
Is llamado ever used instead of llamada?
In Spain, the noun for a phone call is la llamada. In some Latin American regions you may see el llamado for “call,” but in Spain that sounds odd in this context.
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