01
das Foto
photo
An image produced by photography; a photograph taken with a camera.
example
Sollen wir ein Foto zur Erinnerung machen?
Shall we take a photo as a keepsake?
das Foto
photo
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Meanings
Usage tips
Short form of Fotografie
'Foto' is a short form of the word 'die Fotografie' (photography). In everyday language, the short form 'das Foto' (the photo) is almost always used.
EXAMPLE
Sie studiert Fotografie, macht aber privat nur selten Fotos.
She studies photography, but privately she rarely takes photos.
Typical verbs
The most common verb with 'Foto' (photo) is 'machen' (to take/make). Colloquially, you also hear 'ein Foto schießen' (to snap a photo). These expressions are very common.
EXAMPLE
Können Sie bitte ein Foto von uns machen?
Could you please take a photo of us?
Preposition 'auf'
To describe what or who can be seen in a picture, you use the preposition 'auf' with the dative. So you say 'auf dem Foto' (in/on the photo).
EXAMPLE
Wer ist die Frau da hinten auf dem Foto?
Who is the woman back there in the photo?
Compare with
Foto vs Bild
picture / image
'das Bild' and 'das Foto' can both show something visual. However, 'das Foto' is always taken with a camera. 'das Bild' is more general: it can be a photo, but also a painting, a drawing, or something on a screen. Learners often confuse the words because every photo is also a picture. But not every picture is a photo. If you want to emphasize that it was made with a camera, 'Foto' is more precise.
Foto
Meine Nachbarin zeigt mir ein Foto von ihrem neuen Hund.
My neighbor shows me a photo of her new dog.
Bild
Im Wohnzimmer hängt ein großes Bild von den Bergen.
There is a large picture of the mountains hanging in the living room.
In real life
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