Photographer in Different Languages
Discover 'Photographer' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
Photographer
Photographer in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | fotograaf | ||
| The Afrikaans word "fotograaf" derives from the Greek "φῶς" (phôs, "light") and "γράφω" (gráphō, "to write"). | |||
| Amharic | ፎቶግራፍ አንሺ | ||
| "ፎቶግራፍ አንሺ" is derived from the Greek word "φωτογραφία" (phōtographía), from "φῶς" (phôs) "light" and "γράφειν" (graphein) "to draw". | |||
| Hausa | mai daukar hoto | ||
| The Hausa word 'mai daukar hoto' literally translates to 'the one who takes pictures'. It is derived from the verb 'dauka', meaning 'to take', and the noun 'hoto', meaning 'picture'. | |||
| Igbo | foto | ||
| The word "foto" in Igbo can also mean "camera", or "taken by a camera". | |||
| Malagasy | mpaka sary | ||
| Despite the fact that the term literally translates to "to mark paper", the word is most commonly used to mean "photographer". | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | wojambula zithunzi | ||
| The Nyanja word "wojambula zithunzi" literally translates to "one who captures images," highlighting the role of capturing and preserving moments through photography. | |||
| Shona | mutori wemifananidzo | ||
| Somali | sawir qaade | ||
| The word "sawir qaade" is derived from the Arabic word "sawira" meaning "to draw" and "qaade" meaning "one who does". | |||
| Sesotho | motsayaditshwantshô | ||
| The Sesotho word "motsayaditshwantshô" can also mean "one who writes with light." | |||
| Swahili | mpiga picha | ||
| The word 'mpiga picha' in Swahili translates literally to 'picture striker', capturing the physical act of taking a photograph by striking the shutter release. | |||
| Xhosa | umfoti | ||
| "Umfoti", meaning "photographer" in isiXhosa, literally translates to "one who captures light". | |||
| Yoruba | oluyaworan | ||
| "Oluyaworan" (photographer) derives from "Oluwa" (owner, master) of "Iwo" (cloth) and "Oran" (fabric). | |||
| Zulu | umthwebuli zithombe | ||
| "Umthwebuli zithombe" is a compound word in Zulu meaning "picture taker" or "one who captures images". | |||
| Bambara | fototalan dɔ | ||
| Ewe | fotoɖela | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umufotozi | ||
| Lingala | mokangami ya bafɔtɔ | ||
| Luganda | omukubi w’ebifaananyi | ||
| Sepedi | motsea diswantšho | ||
| Twi (Akan) | mfoninitwafo | ||
Photographer in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | مصور فوتوغرافي | ||
| The term "مصوّر فوتوغرافي" originally meant "light painter" in Arabic, reflecting the early photographic process that used light to create images on film. | |||
| Hebrew | צַלָם | ||
| The Hebrew word "צַלָם" initially meant an idol or an image rather than a photographer. | |||
| Pashto | عکس اخيستونکی | ||
| Arabic | مصور فوتوغرافي | ||
| The term "مصوّر فوتوغرافي" originally meant "light painter" in Arabic, reflecting the early photographic process that used light to create images on film. | |||
Photographer in Western European Languages
| Albanian | fotograf | ||
| "Fotograf" is an Albanian word that comes from the Greek words "φως" (light) and "γράφω" (write). | |||
| Basque | argazkilaria | ||
| The word “argazkilaria” comes from Greek, where “argaz” (bright light) and “kilari” (writer) combine. | |||
| Catalan | fotògraf | ||
| The term "fotògraf" is derived from the Greek words "fōtos" (light) and "graphein" (to write), reflecting the essence of photography as capturing light to create an image. | |||
| Croatian | fotograf | ||
| The term "fotograf" originates from the Greek words "photos" (light) and "graphein" (to write), and can also mean "photocopy" in Croatian. | |||
| Danish | fotograf | ||
| The Danish word "fotograf" is a loanword from French, which in turn derived it from Greek. | |||
| Dutch | fotograaf | ||
| It likely derives from the Greek term "φῶς" (phôs) meaning light | |||
| English | photographer | ||
| The word 'photographer' derives from the Greek 'phos' (light) and 'graphein' (to write), suggesting the art of capturing light to create an image. | |||
| French | photographe | ||
| The French word "photographe" is derived from the Greek words "phos" (light) and "graphein" (to write), reflecting the photographer's role in capturing light and creating an image. | |||
| Frisian | fotograaf | ||
| The Frisian word "fotograaf" shares its etymology with the English word "photograph," both derived from the Greek "phōs" (light) and "graphein" (to write). | |||
| Galician | fotógrafo | ||
| In Galician, the word "fotógrafo" comes from the Ancient Greek "φῶς" (light) and "γραφίς" (pencil), and it can also mean "camera operator" in the film industry. | |||
| German | fotograf | ||
| Fotograf in German derives from the Greek words "photo" (light) and "graphein" (to write), meaning literally "one who writes with light." | |||
| Icelandic | ljósmyndari | ||
| The word "ljósmyndari" can also be used to refer to someone who studies or is an expert in photography. | |||
| Irish | grianghrafadóir | ||
| The Irish word "grianghrafadóir" literally translates to "sun-writer" or "one who writes with the sun". | |||
| Italian | fotografo | ||
| "Fotografo" can mean not only photographer but also photography, in Italian. | |||
| Luxembourgish | fotograf | ||
| The word "Fotograf" in Luxembourgish is derived from the Greek word "φῶς" (fôs) meaning "light" and the Latin word "scribere" meaning "to write." | |||
| Maltese | fotografu | ||
| The Maltese word "fotografu" is cognate with "fotograf" in Romanian and comes from Ancient Greek.} | |||
| Norwegian | fotograf | ||
| The word "fotograf" (photographer) derives from the Greek "photos" (light) and "graphein" (to write), signifying the art of capturing light to create images. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | fotógrafo | ||
| "Fotógrafo" derives from the Greek "phōs" (light) and "graphein" (to write), ultimately meaning "one who writes with light." | |||
| Scots Gaelic | dealbhadair | ||
| Dealbhad (photo) is thought to derive directly from the Latin "de" (from), "albus" (white) and "habere" (to have), in reference to the early photographic process known as the Daguerrotype, where silver halides are reduced to metallic silver "from white". | |||
| Spanish | fotógrafo | ||
| Photographer in Spanish, "fotógrafo", comes from the Greek words "phos" (light) and "graphein" (to write), meaning "one who writes with light." | |||
| Swedish | fotograf | ||
| The Swedish word "fotograf" originally referred to the device used to take photographs, not the person who used it. | |||
| Welsh | ffotograffydd | ||
| The Welsh word "ffotograffydd" is derived from the Greek words "phos" (light), "graphein" (to write), and "phylax" (guard), reflecting the role of a photographer in capturing light and preserving it through photographs. | |||
Photographer in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | фатограф | ||
| In Belarusian, "фатограф" comes from the word "фатаграфія" which is derived from the Greek "phos" (light) and "graphein" (to write), meaning "to write with light" | |||
| Bosnian | fotograf | ||
| In some contexts, "fotograf" can also mean "picture" in Bosnian, depending on the context. | |||
| Bulgarian | фотограф | ||
| The word "фотограф" comes from the Greek words "φῶς" (light) and "γράφω" (to write), and originally referred to someone who made drawings using light. | |||
| Czech | fotograf | ||
| The word "fotograf" is also used colloquially in Czech to describe a person who likes to take photographs. | |||
| Estonian | fotograaf | ||
| The word "fotograaf" means "photographer" in Estonian. It is derived from the Greek words "phos" (light) and "graphein" (to write). | |||
| Finnish | valokuvaaja | ||
| The Finnish word “valokuvaaja” comes from “valo” (light) and “kuvaaja” (drawer or painter), originally referring to a machine that drew light. | |||
| Hungarian | fotós | ||
| "Fotós" comes from the Greek "phos" meaning light and "graphos" meaning to write, thus describing the essence of photography. | |||
| Latvian | fotogrāfs | ||
| The word "fotogrāfs" originates from the Greek "phos" (light) and "graphein" (to write), and also has the alternate meaning of "photographer" in Latvian. | |||
| Lithuanian | fotografas | ||
| The word "Fotografas" is derived from the Greek words "φῶς" (phos) meaning "light" and "γραφειν" (graphein) meaning "to write." | |||
| Macedonian | фотограф | ||
| The word "фотограф" in Macedonian cognate with the English word "photograph", ultimately deriving from the Greek word "φῶς" (phôs, "light") and "γράφω" (graphō, "to write"). | |||
| Polish | fotograf | ||
| In Polish, "fotograf" also means "photographic print". | |||
| Romanian | fotograf | ||
| A "fotograf" este și o unitate de măsură fotografică, egală cu luminozitatea unui lumânar pe metru pătrat la un metru distanță. | |||
| Russian | фотограф | ||
| The root of the word "фотограф" is Greek and means "light" or "drawing with light." | |||
| Serbian | фотограф | ||
| The word "фотограф" is a loanword from French "photographe" and German "Fotograf". | |||
| Slovak | fotograf | ||
| The word "fotograf" in Slovak comes from the Greek words "phos" (light) and "graphein" (to write), and it originally meant "one who draws with light". | |||
| Slovenian | fotograf | ||
| The word "fotograf" in Slovenian means "cameraman" as well. | |||
| Ukrainian | фотограф | ||
| The word "фотограф" in Ukrainian comes from the Greek word "φῶς" (phôs), meaning "light", and "γράφω" (gráphō), meaning "to write". | |||
Photographer in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | ফটোগ্রাফার | ||
| ফটোগ্রাফার (Photographer) শব্দটি গ্রিক শব্দ 'ফটোস' (আলো) এবং 'গ্রাফি' (লিখন) থেকে এসেছে। | |||
| Gujarati | ફોટોગ્રાફર | ||
| The word "ફોટોગ્રાફર" in Gujarati is derived from the Greek words "φωτός" (phōs), meaning "light", and "γραφειν" (graphein), meaning "to write", thus literally meaning "one who writes with light". | |||
| Hindi | फोटोग्राफर | ||
| The word "फोटोग्राफर" (photographer) is derived from the Greek words "φως" (phos), meaning "light", and "γραφειν" (graphein), meaning "to write", thus referring to the process of drawing with light. | |||
| Kannada | ಛಾಯಾಗ್ರಾಹಕ | ||
| The term originated from the Greek words "phos" (light) and "graphein" (to draw). | |||
| Malayalam | ഫോട്ടോഗ്രാഫർ | ||
| The word 'ഫോട്ടോഗ്രാഫർ' ('photographer') is derived from the Greek word 'φωτογραφία' (meaning 'drawing with light'). | |||
| Marathi | छायाचित्रकार | ||
| The Marathi word "छायाचित्रकार" comes from "छाया" (shadow) and "चित्र" (picture), and originally meant "one who makes pictures of shadows". It later came to mean "photographer". | |||
| Nepali | फोटोग्राफर | ||
| The word "फोटोग्राफर" (photographer) is derived from Greek and literally means "light-writer" or "one who writes with light." | |||
| Punjabi | ਫੋਟੋਗ੍ਰਾਫਰ | ||
| ਫੋਟੋਗ੍ਰਾਫਰ, जिसे फोटोग्राफर भी कहते हैं, एक ऐसा व्यक्ति है जो तस्वीरें लेता है। | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ඡායාරූප ශිල්පී | ||
| Tamil | புகைப்படக்காரர் | ||
| Telugu | ఫోటోగ్రాఫర్ | ||
| Also used for the term 'cameraman' or 'videographer' | |||
| Urdu | فوٹو گرافر | ||
| The word "photographer" comes from the Greek words "phos" (light) and "graphein" (to write), thus "one who writes with light". | |||
Photographer in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 摄影家 | ||
| 摄影家 can also mean "photographer". | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 攝影家 | ||
| 「攝影家」一詞源自希臘語，由phos（光）和graph（寫作）構成，意為「以光繪畫」。 | |||
| Japanese | 写真家 | ||
| "写真家" can be understood in two ways in Japanese, as either a noun or a compound verb, with slightly different interpretations. | |||
| Korean | 사진사 | ||
| The word "사진사" in Korean is composed of the Sino-Korean words "사진" (picture) and "사" (person), and can also mean "photo studio". | |||
| Mongolian | гэрэл зурагчин | ||
| "Гэрэл" means light in Mongolian, like "photo" does from ancient Greek, while "зурaгчин" is a derived form of the verb "зураха," to draw. So a photographer is a light-drawer in both Mongolian and Greek. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ဓာတ်ပုံဆရာ | ||
| The word ဓာတ်ပုံဆရာ can also mean “photographer,” though this usage is more common in the context of a traditional photographer who uses chemical processes to create photographs. | |||
Photographer in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | juru potret | ||
| The Indonesian word "juru potret" is derived from the Javanese root words "juru" (person) and "potret" (painting), indicating the historical connection between photography and art. | |||
| Javanese | tukang foto | ||
| "Tukang foto" can also be used for someone who develops or prints photos | |||
| Khmer | អ្នកថតរូប | ||
| Lao | ຊ່າງຖ່າຍຮູບ | ||
| The word ช่างถ่ายรูป is originally a loanword from Khmer, the language of Cambodia. | |||
| Malay | juru gambar | ||
| 'Juru gambar' literally means 'drawer of pictures'. In the past, both painters and photographers were referred to as photographers. | |||
| Thai | ช่างภาพ | ||
| Although ช่างภาพ is the most common word for "photographer" in Thai, it can also refer to other skilled workers. | |||
| Vietnamese | nhiếp ảnh gia | ||
| Nhiếp ảnh gia, originally a sino-Vietnamese word meaning "person who captures shadows," later borrowed from the English word "photographer" to mean "person who takes pictures." | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | photographer | ||
Photographer in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | fotoqraf | ||
| "Fotoqraf", which means "photographer" in Azerbaijani, is also used to describe someone who is responsible for documentation of an event. | |||
| Kazakh | фотограф | ||
| The Kazakh word "фотограф" derives from the Russian word "фотограф" and the Greek word "γράφω" (to write). | |||
| Kyrgyz | фотограф | ||
| The Kyrgyz word "фотограф" (photographer) is derived from the Russian word "фотограф" (photographer). | |||
| Tajik | суратгир | ||
| The word "суратгир" (photographer) is derived from the Persian word "suratgar" meaning "painter" or "artist". | |||
| Turkmen | suratçy | ||
| Uzbek | fotograf | ||
| In Uzbek, "fotograf" can also refer to the process of photography or a collection of photographs. | |||
| Uyghur | فوتوگراف | ||
Photographer in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | mea paʻi kiʻi | ||
| Kiʻi is 'image, likeness, or picture', paʻi is 'to print or hit', and mea means 'thing or object'. | |||
| Maori | kaitango whakaahua | ||
| The term "kaitango whakaahua" is a compound word in Maori that literally translates to "one who captures the image". | |||
| Samoan | pueata puʻeata | ||
| "Pueata puʻeata" (photographer) in Samoan derives from "puʻe," meaning "to paint" or "capture an image." | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | litratista | ||
| "Litratista" derives from the Spanish word "literato," meaning "learned person," due to photography's association with literacy and education in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era. | |||
Photographer in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | foto apsuri | ||
| Guarani | fotógrafo rehegua | ||
Photographer in International Languages
| Esperanto | fotisto | ||
| "Fotisto" derives from the Esperanto root "fot-" meaning "photo" but is also a play on the Greek root "fōt-," meaning "light," which can be found in the English words "photo" and "photography". | |||
| Latin | pretium | ||
| The Latin word "pretium" meant "price", "value", or "worth" | |||
Photographer in Others Languages
| Greek | φωτογράφος | ||
| The word "φωτογράφος" in Greek literally means "one who draws with light". | |||
| Hmong | tus tub yees duab | ||
| "Tus tub yees duab" literally means "person who writes pictures". | |||
| Kurdish | wênegir | ||
| The Kurdish word “wênegir,” derived from “wêne” (picture) and the Persian suffix “-gir” (taker), also carries the sense of “painter” or “illustrator”. | |||
| Turkish | fotoğrafçı | ||
| The word "fotoğrafçı" also means "photograph" in Turkish. | |||
| Xhosa | umfoti | ||
| "Umfoti", meaning "photographer" in isiXhosa, literally translates to "one who captures light". | |||
| Yiddish | פאָטאָגראַף | ||
| The Yiddish word "פאָטאָגראַף" (photographer) is derived from the Greek words "φωτός" (light) and "γράφειν" (to write). | |||
| Zulu | umthwebuli zithombe | ||
| "Umthwebuli zithombe" is a compound word in Zulu meaning "picture taker" or "one who captures images". | |||
| Assamese | ফটোগ্ৰাফাৰ | ||
| Aymara | foto apsuri | ||
| Bhojpuri | फोटोग्राफर के ह | ||
| Dhivehi | ފޮޓޯގްރާފަރެވެ | ||
| Dogri | फोटोग्राफर दा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | photographer | ||
| Guarani | fotógrafo rehegua | ||
| Ilocano | retratista | ||
| Krio | pɔsin we de tek pikchɔ | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | فۆتۆگرافەر | ||
| Maithili | फोटोग्राफर | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯐꯣꯇꯣꯒ꯭ꯔꯥꯐꯔ ꯑꯣꯏꯅꯥ ꯊꯕꯛ ꯇꯧꯈꯤ꯫ | ||
| Mizo | thlalak thiam a ni | ||
| Oromo | ogeessa suuraa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଫଟୋଗ୍ରାଫର | ||
| Quechua | fotografo nisqa | ||
| Sanskrit | छायाचित्रकारः | ||
| Tatar | фотограф | ||
| Tigrinya | ሰኣላይ | ||
| Tsonga | muteki wa swifaniso | ||