# what do other countries say when taking pictures? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 9, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-countries-say-when-taking-pictures/488862 "2009-03-09T19:17:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-countries-say-when-taking-pictures/488862/1 "2009-03-09T19:17:17Z")
I mean, what do you ask the person to say to guarantee a smile? _Cheeeeeese_ makes sense, but \*“queso” \* somehow doesn’t have the same desired effect! ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-countries-say-when-taking-pictures/488862/2 "2009-03-09T19:23:23Z")
When I grew up in a french-speaking country, you were asked just to smile. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-countries-say-when-taking-pictures/488862/3 "2009-03-09T19:27:49Z")
In Argentina: Normally Whiskey, sometimes you use the more effective but scatological “Sifilis!”. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-countries-say-when-taking-pictures/488862/4 "2009-03-09T19:34:21Z")
In China, Mandarin speakers say “qie zi,” which means, “eggplant!” ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-countries-say-when-taking-pictures/488862/5 "2009-03-09T19:41:23Z")
In Esperanto, we say ‘ĝis!’ which is pronounced ‘jeess’ and means ‘bye!’. The choice of word is all about making the ‘eee’ sound, which pretty much forces something resembling a smile. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2009, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-countries-say-when-taking-pictures/488862/6 "2009-03-10T04:33:28Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > In Argentina: Normally Whiskey, It’s usually whiskey in Panama too. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2009, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-countries-say-when-taking-pictures/488862/7 "2009-03-10T07:27:53Z")
In Norway, sometimes “iiiiiiiis” (_is,_ ice cream) or “smiiiiiiiiiil” (_smil,_ meaning smile). I’ve even heard the English word “cheese” being used, since ‘everybody knows’ from American and British movies and TV shows that that’s what you’re supposed to say in English. ---
**Author:** ![seodoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@seodoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seodoa)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2009, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-countries-say-when-taking-pictures/488862/8 "2009-03-10T07:44:06Z")
In Japanese there are a bunch of them. “_Chiizu!_” ‘Cheese!’ has become pretty popular but it has the problem of ending in a /u/ sound which creates strangely puckered lips amongst the smiles. “_san, ni, ichi_” is also popular, just a ‘3, 2, 1’ countdown. It has the advantage of consisting of vowel sounds that all, more or less, create smiles. “_Wiisu_” a slangish salutation used by a lot of younger folk, is sometimes used as well. My personal favorite, even though it makes me sound older than I am when I say it, is to have the cameraman say “_Ichi tasu ichi wa?_” ‘One plus one is?’ to which everyone answers “_NI!_” ‘Two!’ ETA: It is also common for the cameraman to simply say “_Hai, chiizu!_” for ‘OK, cheese!’ And those getting their picture taken reply only by smiling and posing, without any verbal response. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2009, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-countries-say-when-taking-pictures/488862/9 "2009-03-10T08:47:36Z")
In Holland, we say cheese. Or something to the effect of ‘smile, bastards’. ---
**Author:** ![footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9f8e36/32.png) [@footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/footballisplayedwithyourfeet)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2009, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-countries-say-when-taking-pictures/488862/10 "2009-03-10T09:00:20Z")
In Holland it has also happens that people say : say _kaas_ which is the translation of cheese but hasn’t got the same effect. I guess it refers to the english (people don’t actually say _kaas_, because it would leave them open mouthed…) ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2009, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-countries-say-when-taking-pictures/488862/11 "2009-03-10T10:28:34Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > In Esperanto, we say “In Esperanto, we say”? I’ve never heard those words uttered before. Where do people actually _speak_ Esperanto, besides the dinner tables of the people who “invented” it? ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2009, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-countries-say-when-taking-pictures/488862/12 "2009-03-10T10:38:14Z")
In india, it is **smile please** in various languages ! ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2009, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-countries-say-when-taking-pictures/488862/13 "2009-03-10T11:21:10Z")
In Sweden it is “omelette”. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-countries-say-when-taking-pictures/488862/14 "2009-03-10T13:20:33Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > “In Esperanto, we say”? I’ve never heard those words uttered before. Where do people actually _speak_ Esperanto, besides the dinner tables of the people who “invented” it? There are Esperantists all over the world. In response to the OP’s query: In South Korea, 치즈 (chee-juh/‘cheese’) or 김치 (kimchi) are quite popular. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2009, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-countries-say-when-taking-pictures/488862/15 "2009-03-10T13:25:18Z")
Is “cheese” a corruption of “cheers”? ---
**Author:** ![apollonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2bfe46/32.png) [@apollonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/apollonia)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2009, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-countries-say-when-taking-pictures/488862/16 "2009-03-10T13:43:29Z")
In Russian, usually people are just asked to smile. There is a Soviet joke, though, that goes “Never say ‘cheese’ when you’re taking a photograph, or else everyone will come running!” I didn’t say it was a very funny joke. ---
**Author:** ![Bluffcityguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ebca7d/32.png) [@Bluffcityguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bluffcityguy)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-countries-say-when-taking-pictures/488862/17 "2009-03-10T13:47:32Z")
> [@apollonia](#): > > In Russian, usually people are just asked to smile. > > There is a Soviet joke, though, that goes “Never say ‘cheese’ when you’re taking a photograph, or else everyone will come running!” > > I didn’t say it was a very funny joke. Well, you had to be there. 😉 Cheers, bcg ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2009, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-countries-say-when-taking-pictures/488862/18 "2009-03-10T13:53:11Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > There are Esperantists all over the world. 'Luton! ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2009, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-countries-say-when-taking-pictures/488862/19 "2009-03-10T15:17:17Z")
In Bulgarian, people say “zele!”, which means cabbage. I don’t think it really has the desired effect, personally. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-countries-say-when-taking-pictures/488862/20 "2009-03-10T17:12:22Z")
It should come as no surprise that there is a Wikipedia [article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Say_cheese) on this subject. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-other-countries-say-when-taking-pictures/488862.md?page=2)