Inklingo

How to Say "pictures" in Spanish

English → Spanish

fotos

/foh-tohs//'fo.tos/

nounA1informal
Use 'fotos' for everyday, informal photographs, like those you take with your phone or share with friends.
A small stack of colorful, rectangular printed photographs resting on a flat surface. The visible photos show simple, recognizable images like a flower and the sky.

Examples

Me encanta tomar fotos de paisajes.

I love taking photos of landscapes.

¿Viste las fotos de la fiesta de anoche?

Did you see the pictures from last night's party?

Por favor, envíame las fotos por correo electrónico.

Please, send me the photos by email.

It's Always Feminine!

Even though 'foto' ends in '-o', it's a feminine word. This is a very common exception you should memorize. Always say 'la foto' for one and 'las fotos' for more than one.

Short for 'Fotografía'

'Foto' is the short, and much more common, version of the word 'fotografía'. You can use 'foto' and 'fotos' in almost any situation, from casual chat to a formal presentation.

Using 'el' or 'los'

Mistake: “Me gustan *los* fotos que tomaste.”

Correction: Me gustan *las* fotos que tomaste. Because 'foto' is feminine, any words describing it (like 'the' or 'some') also need to be feminine.

fotografías

nounA1
Use 'fotografías' as the general, slightly more formal term for photographs, encompassing all types of still photographic images.

Examples

Encontré unas fotografías antiguas en la caja de mi abuela.

I found some old photographs in my grandmother's box.

imágenes

nounA1
Use 'imágenes' for a broad category that includes digital pictures, graphics, illustrations, and photographs, especially when referring to them online or in media.

Examples

Necesito descargar las imágenes del viaje para subirlas a la web.

I need to download the images from the trip to upload them to the website.

cuadros

KWAH-dros/ˈkwaðɾos/

nounA1
Use 'cuadros' specifically for framed pictures, paintings, or artworks that are typically displayed on walls.
A simple, brightly colored wall featuring three distinct framed paintings hanging evenly.

Examples

Compramos unos cuadros muy bonitos para decorar la sala.

We bought some very beautiful paintings to decorate the living room.

El museo exhibe cuadros del siglo dieciocho.

The museum exhibits pictures from the eighteenth century.

Masculine Plural

Remember that 'cuadros' is the plural of 'el cuadro,' so it is always masculine and requires masculine articles ('los') and adjectives ('bonitos').

Fotos vs. Imágenes

The most common confusion is between 'fotos'/'fotografías' and 'imágenes'. While 'imágenes' can include photographs, it's a broader term for any visual representation. Use 'fotos' or 'fotografías' when you specifically mean a photograph, and 'imágenes' for digital graphics or a general collection of visuals.

Related Translations

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