Definition
Professional operators of cameras, especially for television, film, or news broadcasting. The plural form of cameraman.
Etymology
From camera (Latin 'camera' meaning vaulted chamber) + man. The compound emerged in early 20th century with development of motion picture industry. Modern usage increasingly uses 'camera operator' as gender-neutral alternative.
Kelly Says
The term cameraman is becoming antiquated as the industry embraces gender-neutral language, with 'camera operator' or 'cinematographer' preferred. Early cameramen were often also the directors and producers, making them true Renaissance artists of the emerging film medium.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ካሜራማን
kah-meh-rah-MAHN
ARالعربية
مصورون
mu-SAW-roon
BNবাংলা
ক্যামেরাম্যান
kyah-meh-rah-MAHN
CACatalà
càmeres
kah-MEH-rehs
CSČeština
kameramani
kah-meh-rah-MAH-nee
DADansk
kameramænd
kah-meh-rah-MAHN-d
DEDeutsch
Kameramänner
kah-meh-rah-MAH-ner
ELΕλληνικά
κινηματογραφιστές
kee-neh-mah-toh-grah-FEE-stehs
ESEspañol
cámaras
KAH-mah-rah-s
FAفارسی
عکاسان
ah-kah-SAHN
FISuomi
kuvaajat
koo-vah-yat
FRFrançais
caméraman
kah-meh-rah-MAHN
GUGU
કેમેરામેન
keh-meh-rah-MAHN
HAHA
masu kamera
mah-soo kah-MEH-rah
HEעברית
צלמים
tseh-LEE-meem
HIहिन्दी
कैमरामैन
kah-meh-rah-MAHN
HUMagyar
kameramanok
kah-meh-rah-MAH-nok
IDBahasa Indonesia
kameramen
kah-meh-rah-MAHN
IGIG
ndi kamera
n-dee kah-MEH-rah
ITItaliano
operatori di camera
oh-peh-rah-TOH-ree dee kah-MEH-rah
JA日本語
カメラマン
kah-meh-rah-MAHN
KKKK
камерамен
kah-meh-rah-MAHN
KMKM
ជាងថតរូប
chee-ung toh roob
KO한국어
카메라맨
kah-meh-rah-MAHN
MRMR
कॅमेरामेन
keh-meh-rah-MAHN
MSBahasa Melayu
kameramen
kah-meh-rah-MAHN
MYမြန်မာ
ဓာတ်ပုံဆရာ
dahht pone hsa yah
NLNederlands
cameramannen
kah-meh-rah-MAH-nen
NONorsk
kameramenn
kah-meh-rah-MAHN-n
PAPA
ਕੈਮਰਾਮੈਨ
kah-meh-rah-MAHN
PLPolski
operatorzy kamery
oh-peh-rah-TOH-zee kah-MEH-ry
PTPortuguês
câmeras
KAH-meh-rah-s
RORomână
operatori de cameră
oh-peh-rah-TOH-ree dee kah-MEH-rah
RUРусский
кинорежиссёры
kee-noh-reh-zhee-SYOHR-y
SVSvenska
kameramän
kah-meh-rah-MAHN
SWKiswahili
wachoraji
wah-choh-RAH-jee
TAதமிழ்
ஒளிப்படக் கருவியாளர்
oh-lih-pah-dahk kar-oo-vee-yahl-ar
TEతెలుగు
కెమేరామెన్
keh-meh-rah-MAHN
THไทย
ช่างกล้อง
chang kloong
TLTL
kameraman
kah-meh-rah-MAHN
TRTürkçe
kameraman
kah-meh-rah-MAHN
UKУкраїнська
кінорежисери
kee-noh-reh-zhee-SYE-ree
URاردو
کیمرہ مین
kah-meh-rah-MAHN
VITiếng Việt
nhân viên quay phim
nhan vien kwah-y feem
YOYO
awọn olọra kamera
ah-wohn oh-LOH-rah kah-MEH-rah
ZUZU
abacwazi kamera
ah-bah-CHWAH-zee kah-MEH-rah
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Cameraman defaults to male; cinema professions were male-dominated and language encoded this hierarchy. Women cinematographers were erased by gendered job titles.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'camera operator,' 'cinematographer,' or 'camera technician' to include women already in the role.
Inclusive Alternatives
["cinematographer","camera operator","camera technician"]
Empowerment Note
Women like Hedy Lamarr and Lotte Reiniger pioneered cinematography; modern practitioners like Rachel Morrison (first female DP nominated for Best Cinematography Oscar) continue this work.