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retrato

reh-TRAH-tohreˈtɾato

“retrato” means “portrait” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

portrait

Also: likeness, picture
NounmA2
A simple, colorful painting depicting the head and shoulders of a smiling young woman against a plain background.

📝 In Action

Mi abuela tiene un retrato antiguo de su padre en la sala.

A2

My grandmother has an old portrait of her father in the living room.

El fotógrafo hizo un retrato en blanco y negro muy dramático.

B1

The photographer took a very dramatic black and white portrait.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • hacer un retrato – to take/make a portrait
  • retrato al óleo – oil portrait

portrayal

Also: profile, snapshot
NounmB2
A friendly chef wearing a tall white hat stands proudly next to a table laden with various fresh baked goods, clearly portraying their profession.

📝 In Action

La película es un retrato honesto de la juventud de los años noventa.

B2

The film is an honest portrayal of youth in the nineties.

El biógrafo ofreció un retrato psicológico muy profundo del artista.

C1

The biographer offered a very deep psychological profile of the artist.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • descripción (description)
  • perfil (profile)

Common Collocations

  • retrato fiel – faithful/accurate portrayal
  • retrato social – social portrait

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "retrato" in Spanish:

likeness→picture→portrait→portrayal→profile→snapshot→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: retrato

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'retrato' in its figurative, descriptive sense?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
retratar(to portray, to depict) — Verb
retratista(portraitist, portrait painter/photographer) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the verb 'retratar,' which traces back to the Latin *retractare*, meaning 'to redraw' or 'to retrace.' This captures the idea of carefully drawing out the features of a person to capture their likeness.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: retratoItalian: ritratto

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'retrato' and 'cuadro'?

'Retrato' specifically means a picture (painting or photo) of a person. 'Cuadro' is a much more general term for 'painting' or 'picture' and can refer to landscapes, abstract art, or anything else framed on a wall.