photo

The word “photo” means a picture taken with a camera or phone. In plain terms, the everyday, shortened word for "photograph.".

“Photo” is pronounced FOH-toh (/ˈfəʊ̯.təʊ̯/ in IPA).

Here is “photo” used in a sentence: “She took a photo of the sunset over the bay.”

Depending on how it is used, “photo” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “photo” comes from Greek. A clipped form of "photograph," itself from Greek photo- ("light") plus -graph ("writing" or "recording").

“Photo” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Photo” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a picture taken with a camera or phone.

There is no real difference in meaning: photo is simply the everyday, shortened form of photograph. Both refer to a picture captured with a camera or phone. Photo sounds more casual and is far more common in conversation, while photograph feels slightly more formal or technical.

A photo is always made with a camera or phone, capturing a real scene as light hits a sensor or film. A picture is broader: it covers photos but also drawings, paintings, and digital images. So every photo is a picture, but not every picture is a photo.

Photos are often grouped by subject or style: portraits of people, landscapes of scenery, still lifes of objects, and candid shots taken without posing. Others include close-up or macro photos, action shots, and selfies taken at arm's length. The type usually reflects what is pictured and how it is framed.