Inklingo

How to Say "pose" in Spanish

English → Spanish

pose

POH-sehˈpose

nounA2general
Use this word when referring to a specific, often temporary, physical position someone adopts for a photograph, painting, or similar visual recording.
A woman standing with one hand on her hip and a slight smile, posing for a portrait.

Examples

Mantén esa pose para la foto, ¡te ves genial!

Keep that pose for the photo, you look great!

El modelo cambió de pose después de unos minutos.

The model changed his pose after a few minutes.

Ella siempre sale bien porque conoce sus mejores poses.

She always looks good because she knows her best poses.

Gender Alert

Even though it ends in 'e', this word is feminine. Always use 'la' or 'una' with it, like 'la pose'.

Countable Poses

You can count poses just like in English. Use 'una pose' for one and 'las poses' for many.

The 'El' Trap

Mistake:El pose es muy elegante.

Correction: La pose es muy elegante. Even though it doesn't end in 'a', it is a feminine word.

postura

pos-TOO-rahposˈtuɾa

nounA2general
Choose this word to describe a person's habitual way of holding their body, especially when sitting or standing, often related to health or formality.
A person sitting with a very straight back on a simple wooden chair.

Examples

Tienes que mantener una buena postura al sentarte.

You have to maintain good posture when sitting down.

El yoga tiene muchas posturas diferentes para estirar los músculos.

Yoga has many different positions to stretch the muscles.

La fotógrafa le pidió que cambiara de postura para la siguiente foto.

The photographer asked them to change their pose for the next photo.

It's a feminine word

Since it ends in 'a', it uses feminine markers like 'la', 'una', or 'nuestra'. Always say 'la postura', never 'el postura'.

Describing posture

When you want to say someone is in a certain position, you usually use the verb 'tener' (to have) or 'mantener' (to maintain) followed by 'una postura'.

Confusing with 'posición'

Mistake:Using 'posición' to describe a slouching back.

Correction: Use 'postura' for the way a body is held; use 'posición' for the location of something in space.

actitud

ak-tee-TOODak.tiˈtuð

nounB1general
Use this term when referring to the specific, often artistic or dramatic, way a person or figure is positioned to convey a certain feeling or character.
A person standing perfectly straight and upright with their hands relaxed at their sides, demonstrating good physical stance.

Examples

El escultor capturó la actitud de un guerrero en la estatua.

The sculptor captured the posture/stance of a warrior in the statue.

Mantuvo una actitud firme, con los hombros hacia atrás y la cabeza alta.

He maintained a firm stance, with his shoulders back and head held high.

Physical vs. Mental

While 'actitud' is primarily mental, it can describe how someone holds their body. When referring strictly to physical alignment (like sitting up straight), 'postura' is usually the better choice.

Pose vs. Postura

Learners often confuse 'pose' and 'postura'. Remember that 'pose' is typically for a temporary position for a photo, while 'postura' refers to your general way of standing or sitting.

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.