llama
nounCEFR B2
What does “llama” mean in English?
flame — the visible gaseous part of a fire; figuratively, the flame of passion or conflict
flame — the visible gaseous part of a fire; figuratively, the flame of passion or conflict (en llamas; avivar las llamas; la llama del conflicto)
Example sentences
La llama del conflicto, aparentemente extinguida tras el acuerdo, volvió a avivarse por las tensiones territoriales.
The flame of the conflict, apparently extinguished after the agreement, was reignited by territorial tensions.
El técnico apagó la llama del soplete antes de abandonar el taller como medida de seguridad.
The technician extinguished the blowtorch flame before leaving the workshop as a safety measure.
Las imágenes mostraban el edificio completamente en llamas mientras los bomberos luchaban por controlar el incendio.
The images showed the building completely in flames while firefighters struggled to bring the fire under control.
How to use it
La llama (noun, feminine) means 'flame' — the visible gaseous part of a fire. At B2 it is used both concretely (the flame of a candle/fire) and figuratively (the flame of passion/conflict). Core collocations: la llama de una vela/del fuego; las llamas (the flames — when things are on fire: el edificio estaba en llamas); avivar/apagar las llamas; la llama del amor/del conflicto (figurative). The plural en llamas is a fixed phrase meaning 'in flames'. Note: la llama is also the South American camelid — context disambiguates. Related: el fuego (fire), la fogata (bonfire), la hoguera (pyre/bonfire).
Common mistake
En llamas (in flames) is a fixed phrase — don't say *en fuego for this meaning. La llama (flame) and las llamas (the flames) are standard; la llamarada is a single flash/flare-up. Note the homonym la llama (the animal) — context always disambiguates.