Spanish Conversation · Level 73
59 words
Spanish word
retrato
Pronunciation
IPA/reˈtɾato/
Meaning
- masculine nounportrait
Example
Ella tiene un retrato de su familia.
She has a portrait of her family.
More examples
En el museo hay un retrato del siglo XVIII.
In the museum there is an 18th-century portrait.
Core concept
A likeness of a person created by painting, sketching, or photography that captures facial expression.
Common phrases
sacar un retrato
take a portrait photograph
un retrato de estudio
a studio portrait
retrato profesional
professional portrait
Similar words
fotografía: Still image produced by a camera, typically a deliberately made photographic shot.
foto: Casual snapshot taken quickly with a phone or camera, informal and spontaneous.
Definition in Spanish
Imagen de una persona, sobre todo del rostro y la expresión, hecha por pintura, dibujo o fotografía para mostrar cómo es.
Word origin
From Spanish retratar and Italian ritratto, tracing back to Latin re- + trahere 'to draw', so retrato denotes a produced likeness of someone.
Usage tips
- In writing and speech retrato can also mean a verbal or literary depiction of a person (a character sketch), so context decides whether it is visual or descriptive.