फ़ोटो (foto)

noun A borrowed word from English 'photo', used exactly as in English for a photograph or picture; it also appears in the common compound verb phrase फ़ोटो खींचना (foto khiinchnaa) meaning 'to take a photo'.
Sense 1 : photograph
noun, feminine
Synonyms: तस्वीर (tasviir), चित्र (chitr, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In everyday Delhi-NCR speech, फ़ोटो (foto) has fully replaced more formal words like चित्र (chitr) or तस्वीर (tasviir) in casual contexts, especially with the rise of phone cameras -- you will hear "फ़ोटो खींचो!" (foto khiincho, 'take a photo!') shouted at family gatherings and weddings constantly.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often try to use खाना (khaanaa) verbs of 'making' with फ़ोटो; native speakers say फ़ोटो खींचना (foto khiinchnaa, 'to take a photo', literally 'to pull a photo') or फ़ोटो लेना (foto lenaa, 'to take a photo'), not फ़ोटो बनाना (foto banaanaa) in casual speech, though the latter is understood. 2) In spoken Hindi फ़ोटो is often treated as invariant/feminine regardless of number, so learners should listen for phrases like दो फ़ोटो (do foto, 'two photos') without a plural marker.
Sample Sentences:
फ़ोटो खींचो! Take a photo!
(foto khiincho!)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
यह मेरे बचपन की फ़ोटो है। This is a photo from my childhood.
(yah mere bachpan kii foto hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
हम हर शादी में ढेर सारी फ़ोटो खींचते हैं। We take tons of photos at every wedding.
(ham har shaadii men dher saarii foto khiinchte hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह अभी अपनी फ़ोटो इंस्टाग्राम पर डाल रही है। She is uploading her photo on Instagram right now.
(vah abhii apnii foto instaagraam par daal rahii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मैंने वो फ़ोटो कल ही डिलीट कर दी थी। I had already deleted that photo just yesterday.
(mainne vo foto kal hii diliit kar dii thii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम मेरी फ़ोटो भेज सकते हो? Can you send me my photo?
(kyaa tum merii foto bhej sakte ho?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
काश मेरे पास उस दिन की कोई फ़ोटो होती। I wish I had a photo from that day.
(kaash mere paas us din kii koii foto hotii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
अगर तुमने फ़ोटो पहले भेजी होती, तो हम प्रिंट करा लेते। If you had sent the photo earlier, we would have gotten it printed.
(agar tumne foto pahle bhejii hotii, to ham print karaa lete।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
समारोह में सभी मेहमानों की फ़ोटो एक पेशेवर फ़ोटोग्राफ़र द्वारा खींची गई। Photos of all the guests at the ceremony were taken by a professional photographer.
(samaaroh men sabhii mehmaanon kii foto ek peshevar fotograafar dvaaraa khiinchii gaii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
फ़ोटो भेज देना, भूलना मत। Send the photo, don't forget.
(foto bhej denaa, bhoolnaa mat।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगली बार जब हम मिलें, तो एक फ़ोटो ज़रूर खिंचवाएँगे। Next time we meet, we'll definitely get a photo taken.
(aglii baar jab ham milen, to ek foto zaroor khinchvaaenge।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): फ़ोटो (foto)
(sg.f.oblique): फ़ोटो (foto)
(pl.f.direct): फ़ोटोएँ (fotoen)
(pl.f.oblique): फ़ोटोओं (fotoon)