foto
/ˈfɔ.tu/feminine
The Portuguese word for picture (as a photograph) is foto. Wiktionary also lists fotografia.
Meaning: photograph (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| foto | /ˈfɔ.tu/ (Brazil) /ˈfɔ.tɔ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
| fotografia | /fo.to.ɡɾaˈfi.ɐ/ (Brazil) /fu.tu.ɡɾɐˈfi.ɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
Which one should you use?
While fotografia is the full, standard word for a photograph, foto is the common, shortened version used in everyday conversation. If you are looking for a more formal way to say 'image', you may use imagem.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both foto and fotografia are feminine nouns. The plural of foto is fotos.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈfɔ.tu/
Did you know?
- In Brazil, people often use tirar uma foto to say 'take a photo', which literally means 'to pull' or 'to remove' a photo.
- The first part of fotografia comes from the Ancient Greek word phōs, which means 'light'.
- The word fotografia entered the Portuguese language as a loanword from the French 'photographie'.
Examples in context
- É o Tom na foto?Is Tom in the picture?This sentence uses foto to ask if a person is in the picture.Tatoeba #4925494 by bill, translation #3308380 by CK
- Ela tem uma foto.She has a picture.This sentence uses foto to state that someone possesses a picture.Tatoeba #1799734 by alexmarcelo, translation #314801 by CK
- Quem tirou a foto?Who took the picture?This sentence uses foto to ask who captured the picture.Tatoeba #4842675 by bill, translation #1566111 by CM
- A imagem que ilustra esta apresentação mostra a beleza natural do Brasil.The picture that illustrates this presentation displays the natural beauty of Brazil.
- A exposição está repleta de belas fotografias da vida urbana.The exhibition is filled with beautiful pictures of urban life.
- Olha essa foto que tirei na praia hoje.Look at this picture I took at the beach today.
- Vou postar essa foto linda no Instagram.I'm going to post this beautiful picture on Instagram.
- Vamos imprimir esta fotografia para o álbum de família.Let's print this picture for the family album.
- 274 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Rodrigo and Camila are looking at a phone.
- RodrigoQue foto linda, Camila!What a beautiful photo, Camila!
- CamilaObrigada! Foi tirada na praia.Thank you! It was taken at the beach.
- RodrigoVocê pode me mandar essa foto?Can you send me this photo?
- CamilaClaro, eu mando agora mesmo.Sure, I'll send it right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “picture” translations and entries foto, fotografia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries foto, fotografia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
