Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| фотогра́фия | fotográfija | feminine |
| фо́то | fóto | neuter |
| фотока́рточка | fotokártočka | feminine |
| сни́мок | snímok | masculine |
| фотосни́мок | fotosnímok | masculine |
| фо́тка | fótka | feminine |
While фотогра́фия refers to photography or a photograph, фотока́рточка specifically refers to a small, physical photograph, such as a printed ID photo or a small snapshot.
Which one should you use?
While фотогра́фия is the formal noun for photography or a photograph, фо́то is a very common, slightly more casual way to refer to a single photo. фо́тка is a highly colloquial, slangy term for a photograph, similar to saying 'pic' or 'photo' in a very casual text message.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
фотогра́фия is the formal noun for photography or a photograph. фо́то is a very common, slightly more casual way to refer to a single photo. фо́тка is a highly colloquial, slangy term for a photograph.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word фо́то is indeclinable, meaning its form does not change regardless of its grammatical role in a sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
fotográfija
Did you know?
- If you ask a Russian speaker for a 'picture' using the word карти́на, they will likely show you a painting or a framed work of art rather than a photograph.
- The word сни́мок is used for more than just photography. It is the standard term used when referring to a medical X-ray image.
- If you want to describe a single, captured moment, you might use сни́мок, which carries a slightly more professional or technical nuance than the everyday фо́то.
Examples in context
- Скажите, пожалуйста, где находятся снимки прошлогодней выставки?Excuse me, could you please tell me where the pictures from last year's exhibition are?
- Художник создал изумительное изображение заката на море.The artist created a stunning picture of a sunset at the sea.
- У тебя есть какие-нибудь интересные картины дома?Do you have any interesting pictures at home?
- Вчера сделала несколько прекрасных фотографий в парке.Yesterday, I took some beautiful pictures at the park.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “picture” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
