photo album

Meaning

A 'photo album' is a book or binder used to hold and display printed photographs. In modern times, it can also refer to a digital folder on a phone, computer, or social media platform where photos are grouped together. It is a warm, nostalgic term used in everyday family and social contexts.

Examples

• My grandmother showed us an old photo album from her childhood.

  My grandmother showed us an old photo album from her childhood.

• I created a digital photo album on my phone to share pictures of my vacation.

  I created a digital photo album on my phone to share pictures of my vacation.

• We spent the afternoon looking through our wedding photo album.

  We spent the afternoon looking through our wedding photo album.

• She keeps all her childhood pictures in a dusty photo album in the attic.

  She keeps all her childhood pictures in a dusty photo album in the attic.

• I need to buy a new photo album to store these printed family pictures.

  I need to buy a new photo album to store these printed family pictures.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I put the pictures in a photo book.

  ✓ I put the pictures in a photo album.

  While 'photo book' exists (usually referring to a professionally printed book of photos), 'photo album' is the standard term for a traditional book where you insert individual photos.

• ✗ She showed me her album of photos.

  ✓ She showed me her photo album.

  'Album of photos' is grammatically correct but sounds stilted and unnatural compared to the standard compound noun 'photo album'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• We sat on the couch and looked through the family ___.

  💡 A book used to store and display pictures.

  Show answer

  photo album

• I created a new ___ on my phone for our trip to Paris.

  💡 Two words, starting with 'p'.

  Show answer

  photo album