capture d'écran
/kap.tyʁ d‿e.kʁɑ̃/feminine
The English phrase 'screenshot' is translated into French as capture d'écran.
capture d'écran refers to an image of computer screen output. When you want to say 'to take a screenshot', the common way to express this is to use the verb faire, resulting in the phrase faire une capture d'écran.
Meaning: image of computer screen output (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase capture d'écran is composed of capture (capture) and d'écran (of screen).
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is feminine, so when using the indefinite article 'a', you use une capture d'écran.
Did you know?
- The word capture is derived from the Latin word captūra, meaning 'catching' or 'seizing', which shares the same root as the English word 'captive'.
- In a more casual or technical setting, many French speakers simply use the English word 'screenshot' instead of the official capture d'écran.
- The verb faire used in faire une capture d'écran literally means 'to do' or 'to make', rather than 'to take' as used in English.
Examples in context
- Peux-tu m'envoyer une capture d'écran ?Can you send me a screenshot?This sentence is useful for asking someone to send a capture d'écran.Tatoeba #12621729 by lbdx, translation #2763237 by CM
- Je vais faire une capture d'écran et te l'envoyer.I'll take a screenshot and send it to you.This sentence is useful for describing the action of taking a capture d'écran and sending it.Tatoeba #12969767 by lbdx, translation #12204889 by CK
- Comment fais-tu une capture d'écran sur ton téléphone?How do you take a screenshot on your phone?
- Peux-tu me montrer la capture d'écran que tu as prise hier?Can you show me the screenshot you took yesterday?
- La capture d'écran est très claire.The screenshot is very clear.
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are working together on a project on a laptop.
- HugoLéa, peux-tu faire une capture d'écran de ce message ?Léa, can you take a screenshot of this message?
- LéaOui, je m'en occupe tout de suite.Yes, I'll take care of it right away.
- HugoMerci, c'est utile pour le dossier.Thanks, it is useful for the file.
- LéaJe te l'envoie par mail, Hugo.I'll send it to you by email, Hugo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “screenshot” translations and entries capture d'écran, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries capture, capture d'écran, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
