Chiamare vs. chiamarsi
The Italian verbs chiamare and chiamarsi both revolve around the concept of calling or naming, but they are used in fundamentally different ways. The main distinction lies in whether the action is directed at someone else (chiamare) or refers back to the subject's own name (chiamarsi).
Chiamare
A1The verb chiamare is a standard, non-reflexive verb that means to call. It describes an action that a subject performs on a different person or object. You use it to talk about calling someone on the phone, calling out to someone to get their attention, or summoning someone.
Devo chiamare il mio capo subito.
(I have to call my boss right away.)
L'insegnante ha chiamato lo studente alla lavagna.
(The teacher called the student to the blackboard.)
Chiama un taxi, per favore.
(Call a taxi, please.)
Ho sentito qualcuno chiamare il mio nome.
(I heard someone call my name.)
Hanno deciso di chiamare il loro gatto 'Fulmine'.
(They decided to call their cat Lightning.)
Chiamarsi
A1The verb chiamarsi is a reflexive verb, indicated by the -si ending. This means the action reflects back onto the subject. Its specific and most common meaning is to be named or to be called. You use it exclusively to state what someone's or something's name is.
Io mi chiamo Giulia.
(My name is Giulia.)
Come ti chiami?
(What is your name?)
Mio fratello si chiama Alessandro.
(My brother's name is Alessandro.)
Come si chiama questo paese?
(What is this town called?)
Loro si chiamano Marco e Lucia.
(Their names are Marco and Lucia.)
Summary
In essence, the difference is simple: use chiamare when you are actively calling someone or something (an outward action), like on the phone or across a room. Use chiamarsi when you are stating what a person's or a place's name is (a reflexive state). For example, Io chiamo mia madre means I call my mother, whereas Io mi chiamo Maria means My name is Maria.