Etymologically
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photo

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 18 October 2026 at 14:03. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /fɔ.to/[1]
  • IPA: /fo.to/[1]

Forms

photo f (plural photos)[1]

Etymology

It is a clipping of photographie (“photography; photograph”).[2][1][3] “Photographie” is built on Ancient Greek φῶς (phôs, “light”) (genitive “phōtós”).[4] The Petit Robert also takes it as a clipping of the adjective photographique, in “appareil photo”.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLFi's first record is in an article by J. Rousseau in Le Figaro of 19 June 1864; the GLLF and the Grand Robert date it from Larchey's slang dictionary of 1878.[2][3][6][7]

Semantic evolution

It began as a familiar abbreviation and became the ordinary word for a photograph, for photography as a technique and an art (faire de la photo), and, invariable after a noun, for “photographic” (appareil photo).[3][5][2] A masculine photo, short for photographe “photographer”, is found in slang in 1869.[7] The phrase il n'y a pas photo “there's no contest” comes from the photo finish used to decide very close races.[5]

Timeline

  • 1864 – First record, in Le Figaro.[2]
  • 1869 – Un photo “a photographer”, in a police agent's notes.[7]
  • 1878 – Recorded in Larchey's dictionary.[3][6]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A photograph, picture: prendre une photo.[1][5]
  2. Photography, the technique or art: aimer la photo.[5]
  3. Il n'y a pas photo: there is no doubt, no contest.[5]

Adjective

  1. (invariable) Photographic: un appareil photo.[5][8]
  • photographie
  • photographe
  • photographier

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  4. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 8, 398b
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ a b c Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  8. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)