¿puedo tomar una foto?
To say "can I take a picture?" in Spanish, use ¿puedo tomar una foto?
This phrase is a polite request used to ask for permission to take a photograph. If you want to ask "Do you mind if I take a picture?", you can use ¿Te importa si tomo una foto? In very casual settings where it is already obvious that you are talking about a camera, you might simply ask ¿Puedo? to seek permission.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ¿puedo tomar una foto? breaks down into puedo (I can), tomar (to take), una (a) and foto (photo).
Which one should you use?
While ¿puedo tomar una foto? is a standard way to express this, it is very common to use the verb sacar instead of tomar when referring to photography, resulting in the alternative ¿Puedo sacar una foto?
Did you know?
- While tomar means 'to take', it is also the standard verb for 'to drink' in many Spanish speaking countries. This means the same verb used for a photo is often used for a glass of water.
- If you are in Spain, you might hear people use the verb 'hacer' (to make/do) instead of 'tomar' or 'sacar' to say hacer una foto. It sounds strange to English ears to 'make' a photo, but it is a standard expression in many regions.
- In Spain, asking ¿Puedo? is common, but the response Adelante is often used. While it literally means 'forward', in this context it functions as 'go ahead'.
Examples in context
- ¿Puedo tomar una foto, por favor?Can I take a picture, please?
- ¿Puedo tomar una foto de este cuadro?Can I take a picture of this painting?
- Disculpe, ¿puedo tomar una foto de la danzante?Excuse me, can I take a picture of the dancer?
- Oye, ¿puedo sacar una foto de estos hermosos productos?Hey, can I take a picture of these beautiful products?
- Es un cuadro hermoso, ¿puedo tomar una foto?It is a beautiful painting, can I take a photo?
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are visiting a museum.
- AlejandroMira este paisaje, ¿puedo tomar una foto?Look at this landscape, can I take a picture?
- LucíaNo, Alejandro, no se permiten fotos aquí.No, Alejandro, photos are not allowed here.
- AlejandroOh, no sabía. Lo siento mucho.Oh, I didn't know. I'm very sorry.
- LucíaNo te preocupes, Lucía lo entiende.Don't worry, Lucía understands.
