Keep photography Spanish in one group
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Spanish photography vocabulary
Quick answer: useful photography Spanish
Use la cámara for “the camera”, el objetivo for “the lens”, and el enfoque for “focus”.
To ask someone to take your picture, say ¿Me haces una foto? To see the result, ask ¿Puedo ver la foto?
Four distinctions to remember
El objetivo means a camera lens in this context; objetivo can also mean “objective” in other contexts.
Use hacer una foto or tomar una foto for “take a photo”. Preference varies by region; both are widely understood.
Nítido describes a sharp, clear result; borroso or desenfocado describes a blurry or out-of-focus one.
The adjective agrees in gender with the image: La foto sale nítida, while El retrato sale nítido.
El fondo is behind the subject. El primer plano is the foreground or a close foreground element.
24 Spanish photography words and phrases
The examples focus on equipment, adjustments, composition and asking to take or review a photo.
| Spanish | Translation | Usage note |
|---|---|---|
| la cámara | camera | Use with the camera or its accessories. |
| el objetivo | lens | Use with the camera or its accessories. |
| el trípode | tripod | Use with the camera or its accessories. |
| el flash | flash | Use with the camera or its accessories. |
| la tarjeta de memoria | memory card | Use with the camera or its accessories. |
| la batería | battery | Use with the camera or its accessories. |
| el botón | button | Use with the camera or its accessories. |
| la pantalla | screen | Use with the camera or its accessories. |
| el enfoque | focus | Use when describing a camera adjustment or lighting. |
| el zoom | zoom | Use when describing a camera adjustment or lighting. |
| la exposición | exposure | Use when describing a camera adjustment or lighting. |
| la luz natural | natural light | Use when describing a camera adjustment or lighting. |
| la sombra | shadow | Use when describing a camera adjustment or lighting. |
| el encuadre | framing | Use to describe where elements appear in the image. |
| el primer plano | foreground | Use to describe where elements appear in the image. |
| el fondo | background | Use to describe where elements appear in the image. |
| la foto | photo | Use to describe where elements appear in the image. |
| la fotografía | photography | Use to describe where elements appear in the image. |
| hacer una foto | to take a photo | Use when taking a picture or checking its result. |
| enfocar | to focus | Use when taking a picture or checking its result. |
| salir nítido | to come out sharp | Use when taking a picture or checking its result. |
| salir borroso | to come out blurry | Use when taking a picture or checking its result. |
| ¿Me haces una foto? | Could you take a photo of me? | Use when taking a picture or checking its result. |
| ¿Puedo ver la foto? | Can I see the photo? | Use when taking a picture or checking its result. |
Learn the words in four useful groups
Keep equipment, camera settings, composition and actions together as you practise.
Camera equipment
Name the camera, lens, card and controls.
la cámara · el objetivo · el trípode · el flash · la tarjeta de memoria · la batería · el botón · la pantalla
Settings and light
Talk about focus, zoom, exposure and natural light.
el enfoque · el zoom · la exposición · la luz natural · la sombra
Build the frame
Place the subject against a background or foreground.
el encuadre · el primer plano · el fondo · la foto · la fotografía
Take and review a photo
Ask, focus, describe the result and look again.
hacer una foto · enfocar · salir nítido · salir borroso · ¿Me haces una foto? · ¿Puedo ver la foto?
Two short photography exchanges
Visitor: ¿Me haces una foto? Friend: Claro. ¿Quieres que use el trípode?
Learner: La foto sale borrosa. Friend: Prueba a enfocar el objeto antes de hacerla.
Connect camera words with technology, visual descriptions and everyday questions.
Spanish technology vocabulary Spanish colors Spanish question words
A five-minute photography vocabulary drill
- Name four camera items without looking at the translations.
- Point to the light, shadow, foreground and background in a picture.
- Practise asking someone to take a photo and asking to see it.
- Contrast nítido with borroso using two sample images.
- Import the list and review a few terms at a time.
Spanish dictionary references
Core nouns and verbs were checked against the RAE dictionary. The original examples and explanations were written for this guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “camera” in Spanish?
La cámara means “the camera”. The word is feminine: una cámara, la cámara.
What does objetivo mean in photography?
El objetivo means a camera lens. Elsewhere, objetivo can mean a goal or objective, so context matters.
How can I ask someone to take my picture?
Say ¿Me haces una foto? for an informal request. A more formal option is ¿Me puede hacer una foto?
How do you say “focus” in Spanish?
El enfoque is focus; enfocar is the verb “to focus”. You can ask ¿Puedes enfocar aquí?
Does Hola Cards teach camera settings or photography technique?
No. Hola Cards helps you import and practise fixed Spanish vocabulary and phrases; it does not teach photography or assess images.
Copy the 24 photography words and phrases
Paste this Spanish–English list into a custom group in the Hola Cards mobile app.
**Spanish photography: 24 words and phrases**
la cámara - camera
el objetivo - lens
el trípode - tripod
el flash - flash
la tarjeta de memoria - memory card
la batería - battery
el botón - button
la pantalla - screen
el enfoque - focus
el zoom - zoom
la exposición - exposure
la luz natural - natural light
la sombra - shadow
el encuadre - framing
el primer plano - foreground
el fondo - background
la foto - photo
la fotografía - photography
hacer una foto - to take a photo
enfocar - to focus
salir nítido - to come out sharp
salir borroso - to come out blurry
¿Me haces una foto? - Could you take a photo of me?
¿Puedo ver la foto? - Can I see the photo?
Practise photography Spanish in Hola Cards
Review the fixed word list with Spanish audio, writing and spaced practice on iOS or Android.
