Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Camera in Spanish
Cámara · noun · KAH-mah-rah
The Spanish word for camera is 'cámara,' a feminine noun that covers all types of cameras — from phone cameras to professional DSLRs to security cameras. The word also has other meanings in Spanish, including 'chamber' (as in a legislative chamber) and the inner tube of a tire.
Cámara is pronounced KAH-mah-rah. The accent on the first syllable makes it an esdrújula word, and all three syllables are clearly articulated.
Traje mi cámara para tomar fotos del paisaje.
I brought my camera to take photos of the landscape.
How Native Speakers Use Cámara
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Photography
La cámara de tu teléfono tiene mejor resolución que la mía.
Your phone camera has better resolution than mine.
Comparing phone cameras.
Security
Hay cámaras de seguridad en todas las entradas del edificio.
There are security cameras at all the building entrances.
Cámaras de seguridad for surveillance cameras.
Video recording
Vamos a grabar el evento con una cámara de video profesional.
We're going to record the event with a professional video camera.
Specifying a video camera type.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Cámara
Missing accent mark
Incorrect: La camara no funciona bien.
Correct: La cámara no funciona bien.
Cámara is an esdrújula word and always requires a written accent on the first 'a' to mark the correct stress.
Multiple meanings confusion
Incorrect: La cámara aprobó la ley. (thinking this means camera)
Correct: La cámara aprobó la ley. (Here cámara means legislative chamber.)
Cámara also means 'chamber' in political contexts — 'Cámara de Diputados' is the Chamber of Deputies, not a camera.
Lock in camera Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Cámara used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using cámara in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Traje mi cámara para tomar fotos del paisaje. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About camera in Spanish
- Does cámara only mean camera?
- Cámara has multiple meanings in Spanish — beyond camera (photography device), it can mean a chamber (legislative body), an inner tube (bicycle tire), or even a cold storage room (cámara frigorífica).
- How do you say 'to take a photo' in Spanish?
- The common phrases are 'tomar una foto' (Latin America) and 'hacer una foto' or 'sacar una foto' (Spain), all meaning to take a photograph.
- What is the plural of cámara?
- The plural is 'cámaras,' adding an 's' and maintaining the accent mark, as in 'las cámaras de seguridad' (the security cameras).