Inklingo

How to Say "photo" in Spanish

English → Spanish

foto

/foh-toh//ˈfo.to/

nounA1informal
Use 'foto' for everyday contexts when referring to a picture, like in casual conversation or for snapshots.
A high quality storybook illustration showing a single, square, printed photograph. The image captured within the photo is a brightly colored, smiling sun against a blue sky.

Examples

¡Mira qué linda foto de tu perro!

Look what a cute photo of your dog!

¡Sonríe para la foto!

Smile for the picture!

¿Me puedes sacar una foto con la estatua?

Can you take a photo of me with the statue?

He subido una nueva foto de perfil a mis redes sociales.

I've uploaded a new profile picture to my social media.

A Tricky Gender

Even though 'foto' ends in an '-o', it's a feminine word. This means you always say 'la foto' (the photo) and 'una foto' (a photo).

Using the Wrong Gender

Mistake: “Me gusta mucho el foto que tomaste.”

Correction: Me gusta mucho **la** foto que tomaste. Remember, 'foto' is short for 'fotografía', which is feminine, so 'foto' keeps that gender.

fotografía

nounA1formal
Use 'fotografía' when you want to sound more formal or when referring to the art or practice of photography itself.

Examples

La exposición de fotografía se inauguró ayer.

The photography exhibition opened yesterday.

Foto vs. Fotografía

The main confusion arises from formality. Learners might overuse 'fotografía' in casual settings, sounding overly formal. Stick to 'foto' for everyday pictures unless you're discussing the art form or need a more polished tone.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.