fotografiar
“fotografiar” means “to photograph” in Spanish (to take a picture of someone or something).
to photograph
Also: to capture
📝 In Action
Quiero fotografiar el amanecer mañana.
A2I want to photograph the sunrise tomorrow.
Él fotografió a los pájaros en el parque.
B1He photographed the birds in the park.
La cámara es capaz de fotografiar objetos a larga distancia.
B2The camera is capable of photographing objects at a long distance.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Vocabulary Collections
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: fotografiar
Question 1 of 3
Which is the correct way to say 'I photograph' in the present tense?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Greek words 'phos' (light) and 'graphein' (to write or draw). It literally means 'writing with light'.
First recorded: 19th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'fotografiar' regular?
Mostly! It follows the standard -ar verb rules, but it adds an accent to the 'i' in many present-tense forms (like 'yo fotografío') so the 'i' stays strong and doesn't blend into the next vowel.
Can I use 'fotografiar' for people and objects?
Yes, you can use it for anything you take a picture of. Just remember to add 'a' before a specific person's name!
What's the difference between 'fotografiar' and 'retratar'?
'Fotografiar' is the general word for taking a photo. 'Retratar' often implies taking a portrait or specifically capturing someone's likeness.