Spanish word of the day: Llamada perdida

What does llamada perdida mean?

Llamada perdida (feminine noun) – Literally “missed call,” this phrase refers to a call that ends before the receiver can answer-either because the caller hangs up after just a ring or two, or because the recipient doesn’t pick up in time. In Spanish-speaking countries, a llamada perdida often isn’t just an accident-it’s a deliberate way to send a message without actually talking or spending money.

Example sentences with llamada perdida

• Te hice una llamada perdida para avisarte que ya llegué.
  📱I gave you a missed call to let you know I’d arrived.

• Tengo una llamada perdida de mi jefe, mejor le devuelvo la llamada.
  📞 I have a missed call from my boss, I’d better call him back.

• Cuando no tenía saldo, siempre usaba la llamada perdida para que me llamaran.
  💸 When I was out of credit, I always used missed calls so people would call me back.

Llamada perdida in context

In the Spanish-speaking world, llamada perdida is more than just a notification on your phone-it’s a clever, practical tool for communication. People use it to send signals: “I’m here,” “Call me back,” or even “I’m thinking of you.” It’s especially common among friends, couples, and family members who have agreed on what a missed call means in their relationship. Before messaging apps became popular, this was a go-to trick for saving money on calls, since you’re not charged if the other person doesn’t answer.

You might still see this practice today, especially among teenagers or anyone looking to avoid phone charges. Sometimes, a llamada perdida is just a gentle nudge or a way to let someone know you tried to reach them. However, be careful: returning missed calls from unknown numbers, especially with foreign prefixes, can be risky due to scams that try to get you to call back expensive lines.