תְּמוּנָה
tmunáfeminine
In Hebrew, the word for picture is תְּמוּנָה (tmuná). Wiktionary also lists תַּצְלוּם (tatslúm).
Meaning: photograph (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| תְּמוּנָה | tmuná | feminine |
| תַּצְלוּם | tatslúm | masculine |
The term תְּמוּנָה is the most common way to say picture in Hebrew and serves as a general term for any image, drawing or representation.
What does it mean word for word?
The word תַּצְלוּם (tatslúm) is derived from the root צ–ל–ם, which relates to casting a shadow or creating an image/representation.
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between the general and the technical. תְּמוּנָה is a general term used for paintings, drawings or digital images. In contrast, תַּצְלוּם specifically refers to a photograph or a shot taken by a photographer. For more formal contexts, you may also use the word דימוי to refer to a picture or image.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
תְּמוּנָה is a feminine noun, and its plural form is תְּמוּנוֹת. תַּצְלוּם is a masculine noun, and its plural form is תַּצְלומים.
How do you pronounce it?
tmuná
Did you know?
- In literary analysis, the word דימוי, which means 'image' or 'picture', is also the standard Hebrew term for a 'metaphor'.
- The root of the word תַּצְלוּם is shared with words for 'shadows', suggesting that a photograph is viewed as a captured shadow.
- The masculine noun תַּצְלּוּם is used when discussing the professional quality or the act of a photo shoot, rather than just the object itself.
Examples in context
- אנא תשלח לי את התמונה של הנוף היפה שצילמת.Please send me the picture of the beautiful landscape you took.
- יש לי דימוי מרהיב מהטיול שלי בארץ ישראל.I have a magnificent picture in my mind from my trip to Israel.
- אבי מתמחה בצילום ציפורים.Avi specializes in bird photography.
- הַתְּמוּנָה הַזֹּאת מַדְהִימָה.ha't'muna hazot madhima.This picture is amazing.
- הַתְּמוּנָה שֶׁלָּנוּ עַל הַשֻּׁלְחָן.ha't'muna shelanu al ha'shulchan.Our picture is on the table.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “picture” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
