foto
/ˈfoto/feminine
In Spanish, the English phrase "picture" is translated as foto. Wiktionary also lists fotografía.
Meaning: photograph (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| foto | /ˈfoto/ | feminine |
| fotografía | /fotoɡɾaˈfia/ | feminine |
Both foto and fotografía refer to a photograph. While foto is the common term for a picture, you may also encounter imagen, which is a formal term that can refer to photographs, paintings or illustrations.
Which one should you use?
foto is a shortened, everyday version of the full word fotografía. While they both refer to a photograph, fotografía is more specific to printed or digital images.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the feminine noun foto plural, add an s to get fotos. To make the feminine noun fotografía plural, change the a to as to get fotografías.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈfoto/
Did you know?
- The term foto is used in the common slang expression salir mal en la foto, which means to be the one blamed or disadvantaged in a situation.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, if you want to say 'take a picture', you use the verb sacar, which literally means 'to take out' or 'to extract'.
- The word fotografía shares the same Greek roots as the English 'photography', with foto meaning 'light' and grafía meaning 'writing'.
Examples in context
- ¿Es esta tu foto?Is this your picture?This sentence uses foto to ask about ownership of a picture.Tatoeba #941389 by hayastan, translation #1401041 by CK
- Él sacó una foto.He took a picture.This sentence uses foto to describe the act of taking a picture.Tatoeba #2344165 by marcelostockle, translation #298984 by CK
- Le mandé mi foto.I sent him my picture.This sentence uses foto to describe sending a picture.Tatoeba #2454398 by hayastan, translation #2451867 by Hybrid
- 223 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are looking at a digital album on a phone.
- AlejandroMira esta foto de tu viaje, Sofía.Look at this photo from your trip, Sofía.
- Sofía¡Qué buena es esa foto!That is such a good photo!
- AlejandroSaliste muy bien en la foto.You look great in the photo.
- SofíaGracias, Alejandro, me encanta.Thanks, Alejandro, I love it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “picture” translations and entries foto, fotografía, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries foto, fotografía, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
