fotogénico
/fotoˈxeniko/
The English word "photogenic" is translated into Spanish as fotogénico.
fotogénico is used to describe someone who looks good when photographed. While you can use the adjective directly, you can also use phrases such as Sale bien en las fotografías to describe someone who looks good in photographs.
Meaning: looking good when photographed (adj)
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term Fotogénico(a) is used in many Spanish-speaking regions to mean photogenic.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, fotogénico must agree in gender and number with the person or people being described. Use fotogénica for a woman, fotogénicos for a group of men or a mixed-gender group and fotogénicas for a group consisting only of women.
How do you pronounce it?
/fotoˈxeniko/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, if you want to compliment someone's appearance in a photo without using an adjective, you might say Tienes mucha luz, which literally means 'You have a lot of light'.
- While fotogénico describes the quality of the person, the common phrase salir bien used for photos literally means 'to leave well'.
- Although fotogénico is used across the Spanish-speaking world, it was actually borrowed into Spanish from the French word photogénique, which had been borrowed from English.
Examples in context
- Tom es bastante fotogénico.Tom is quite photogenic.This sentence uses fotogénico to describe Tom.Tatoeba #2199098 by hayastan, translation #1868170 by CK
- Eres fotogénico.You're photogenic.This sentence uses fotogénico to describe you.Tatoeba #5723701 by arh, translation #2203186 by CK
- Es muy fotogénico.He's very photogenic.This sentence uses fotogénico to describe him.Tatoeba #2270729 by Shishir, translation #10868477 by ddnktr
- La actriz siempre sale bien en las fotografías, es muy fotogénica.The actress always looks good in photographs, she is very photogenic.
- Juan siempre se ve bien en fotos, es muy fotogénico.Juan always looks good in photos, he is very photogenic.
- Mi amiga es muy guapa en fotografías, siempre luce espectacular.My friend is very beautiful in photographs, she always looks spectacular.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are looking at a photo album.
- Lucía¡Mira esta foto de Alejandro!Look at this photo of Alejandro!
- AlejandroGracias, pero no soy tan fotogénico.Thanks, but I am not that photogenic.
- Lucía¡Al contrario, sales muy bien!On the contrary, you look great!
- AlejandroEres muy amable, Lucía.You are very kind, Lucía.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “photogenic” translations and entries fotogénico, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fotogénico, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
