fotografía
/foh-toh-grah-FEE-ah/
photograph
This image shows a physical object, a photograph print, which is one meaning of fotografía.
fotografía(noun)
photograph
?the physical or digital image
,photo
?shortened, common usage
picture
?general term for an image
📝 In Action
Esta fotografía de la montaña es preciosa.
A1This photograph of the mountain is beautiful.
¿Puedes mandarme la fotografía que tomamos ayer?
A2Can you send me the picture we took yesterday?
Encontré una vieja fotografía de mis abuelos.
A1I found an old photograph of my grandparents.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Alert
Even though this word ends in '-a', remember that its common short form, 'foto', is also feminine: 'La foto'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Taking vs. Making
Mistake: "Hacer una fotografía (to make a photograph)"
Correction: Usar 'tomar una fotografía' (to take a photograph) or 'sacar una fotografía' (to pull out/take a photograph) is much more natural.
Fotografía also refers to the art and practice of photography, represented here by someone using a camera.
📝 In Action
Estudió fotografía en la universidad.
B1She studied photography at the university.
La fotografía requiere mucha paciencia y buena luz.
B2Photography requires a lot of patience and good light.
💡 Grammar Points
Profession/Hobby
When talking about 'photography' as a field of study or a hobby, you usually just use the noun without an article, or the definite article 'la': 'Me gusta la fotografía' (I like photography).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: fotografía
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'fotografía' to mean the profession or hobby?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'foto' the same as 'fotografía'?
Yes, 'foto' is simply the common, shortened version of 'fotografía.' They mean exactly the same thing (the picture itself). Just remember that both are feminine words (la fotografía, la foto).
How do I say 'to take a picture'?
The most common way is 'tomar una fotografía' or 'sacar una fotografía.' You would use the verb 'fotografiar' if you mean 'to photograph' something specific, like 'El artista fotografió la escena' (The artist photographed the scene).