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fotógrafo

foh-TOH-grah-foh/foˈto.ɣɾa.fo/

“fotógrafo” means “photographer” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

photographer

Also: cameraman
NounmA1
A man wearing a vest and hat, holding a large camera up to his eye, ready to take a picture outdoors.

📝 In Action

El fotógrafo tomó unas fotos increíbles de la boda.

A2

The photographer took some incredible pictures of the wedding.

Mi tío es fotógrafo de la naturaleza.

A1

My uncle is a nature photographer.

Necesitamos un buen fotógrafo para el catálogo.

A2

We need a good photographer for the catalog.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • retratista (portrait artist/photographer)

Common Collocations

  • fotógrafo profesional – professional photographer
  • fotógrafo de prensa – press photographer (photojournalist)

photographic

A simple drawing of an old-fashioned camera resting on a table next to a square, printed photograph showing a bright flower.

📝 In Action

El equipo fotógrafo es muy caro.

B1

The photographic equipment is very expensive.

Tiene una memoria fotógrafa, recuerda todo.

B2

He has a photographic memory; he remembers everything.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • óptico (optical)

Vocabulary Collections

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "fotógrafo" in Spanish:

cameraman→photographer→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: fotógrafo

Question 1 of 2

If you are describing a woman who takes pictures, which word should you use?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
fotografía(photography/photograph) — Noun
fotógrafa(photographer (female)) — Noun
fotográfico(photographic) — Adjective
foto(photo (short form)) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
telégrafogeógrafo
📚 Etymology▼

This word comes from the Greek roots 'phōs' (meaning 'light') and 'graphos' (meaning 'writing' or 'drawing'). So, a 'fotógrafo' is literally someone who 'draws with light.'

First recorded: 19th century (coinciding with the invention of photography)

Cognates (Related words)

English: photographerFrench: photographe

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I specify if a photographer is professional?

You simply add the adjective 'profesional': 'un fotógrafo profesional' or 'una fotógrafa profesional.' This is a very common pairing.

Can I use 'cámara' instead of 'fotógrafo'?

No, 'cámara' means the actual device (camera). While some industries use 'cameraman' (camarógrafo), 'fotógrafo' specifically refers to the person taking still images.