Bushra Griffith
Say cheese is a quirky tradition that has been around for over a century. The phrase is used by photographers to encourage their subjects to smile. The first known use of cheese in this context was in a 1943 issue of the Oxford English Dictionary, although other terms such as \prunes\ and whiskey were used in the 1800s and 1920s, respectively, for the same purpose. The phrase has been adopted by various cultures and languages, sometimes with different words, to shape the mouth into a smile.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To make the subject of a photograph smile |
| First Known Use | 1943 |
| Origin | Coined by a photographer, possibly Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Variations in Other Languages | "whiskey" (Argentina, Colombia), "Digam 'X''" (Brazil), "一,二,三" ("yat yi saam", Hong Kong), "茄子" ("Qiézi", China), "Einmal für's Vögelchen lachen!" (Germany), "Confiture" and "marmellata" (Italy), "ispíní" (Ireland), "say prunes" (19th century), "say 'cheese and crackers'" (1930s) |
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What You'll Learn
Why do we say cheese when taking a photo?
The phrase “say cheese” is an English-language instruction used by photographers to make their subjects smile for the camera. The word "cheese" forces people to bring their teeth together, opening their lips and exposing their teeth, resulting in a grin. This theory is supported by the fact that there are many other words in the English language that cause the same facial expression, such as "yes", "money", and "ha ha ha".
In the 19th century, most people were expected to use a neutral facial expression when being photographed. The expensive and time-consuming nature of early photography reinforced this behavior. Smiling became normal while being photographed in the 20th century, as the availability of cameras made photography a more common occurrence. Saying particular words was seen to help subjects smile, with "cheese" being recorded in 1943 as a word that was said in English.
The phrase "say cheese" has also entered other languages, albeit with different words, to achieve the desired effect of shaping the mouth to form a smile. For example, in Argentina and Colombia, people say "whiskey", in Brazil, they say "Digam 'X''" (the name of the letter "X" in Portuguese sounds a lot like "cheese"), and in China, they say "茄子 (qiézi)", which means "eggplant". The phrase has also been adapted in other countries, like Germany, where people say either "cheese" or "Ameisenscheiße", which means "antshit", and Japan, where people say "一, 二, 三 (yat yi saam)", meaning "1, 2, 3".
There are also various other methods that photographers use to make their subjects smile. For example, some photographers tell their subjects to say "dead puppies" or "monkey" to force a smile, while others might say something funny or ridiculous, like "penis" or "patata".
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The history of say cheese
The history of "say cheese" dates back to the early days of photography when capturing an image was a serious and time-consuming affair. The first photograph, taken in 1826, required the subject to sit still for eight hours! As photography evolved, the lengthy exposure times remained, necessitating subjects to maintain a neutral expression or a small mouth to avoid blurring the image.
However, as cameras became more accessible in the 20th century, the attitude towards being photographed changed. People began to smile in photographs, and photographers sought ways to encourage natural, pleasant expressions. This led to the use of specific words to shape the mouth into a smile. In the 1800s, photographers used the word "prunes," and in the 1920s, they transitioned to "whiskey," believing the "'wh' sound helped create a smile."
The first recorded use of "cheese" as a photographic aid appeared in 1943 in the Oxford English Dictionary and a Texas newspaper article. The article, titled "Need To Put On A Smile? Here's How: Say 'Cheese'," credited former Ambassador Joseph E. Davies with the phrase, claiming it would make anyone look pleasant, regardless of their thoughts. The phrase was likely popularized by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, as listeners in 1940s America would have recognized.
The word "cheese" proved to be a perfect choice, as the "'ch' and 'ee' sounds require baring the teeth, resulting in a natural grin. The phrase quickly gained popularity, spreading across the globe, and even entering other languages with similar-sounding words, such as "Qiézi" (eggplant) in Chinese and "'whiskey' in Spanish-speaking countries. Today, "say cheese" remains a beloved tradition, bringing joy and smiles to people of all ages in front of the camera.
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Say cheese in different languages
The phrase "say cheese" is used by photographers to get their subjects to smile for a picture. The phrase is said to have originated in the 19th century when most people were expected to use a neutral facial expression when being photographed. However, in the 20th century, smiling became the norm as photography became more accessible. The phrase "say cheese" is specifically used to get people to smile with their lips apart and teeth showing, as saying the word "cheese" in an exaggerated way shapes the mouth to form a smile.
While the phrase "say cheese" is commonly used in English, other languages have adopted similar methods to achieve the desired effect. In Japan, for example, people say "Hai, cheezu", which is divided into two syllables and matches up with saying "one, two, three". In China, people say "茄子 (Qiézi)", which means "eggplant", and in Hong Kong, they say "一,二,三" ("yat yi saam"), meaning "1, 2, 3". Similarly, in Brazil, people say "Digam 'X'" ("Say 'X'"), as the name of the letter "X" in Portuguese sounds similar to the English word "cheese".
In some cultures, the focus is on the vowel sound 'ee' in 'cheese', which is hard to pronounce without smiling. For example, in Argentina and Colombia, people say "whiskey", pronounced with an 'ee' sound at the end. In other languages, such as French, people say "dites ouistiti", which means "say marmoset".
Additionally, some cultures use completely different words or phrases to make people smile. For instance, in Germany, people might say "Spaghetti" or "Ameisenscheiße", which means "ant shit". In Ireland, people might say "ispíní", which means "sausages", and in Denmark, they say "appelsin", which means "orange".
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Other phrases to make people smile for photos
Saying "cheese" is a well-known phrase used to make people smile for photos. However, it often leads to forced and unnatural smiles. To capture genuine smiles, photographers can try various techniques and phrases to make their subjects relax and express authentic joy.
One technique is to use words that end with an "uh" sound, such as "mocha" or "pizza." These words form the mouth into a more natural-looking smile, engaging the muscles around the eyes and creating a Duchenne smile. This type of smile is difficult to fake and adds warmth and sincerity to the expression.
Another approach is to evoke genuine laughter by using humour or surprise. Photographers can tell jokes, share funny stories, or use unexpected words like "pickle," "wigwam," or "yahoo." They can also try tongue twisters, trick questions, or ask subjects to perform actions like skipping, jumping, or playing an instrument. These methods create joyful moments that lead to spontaneous and sincere smiles.
Additionally, photographers can encourage subjects to relax their faces and think about happy memories. They can suggest closing their eyes and then opening them on the count of three, smiling as if they just saw an old friend. This technique, known as "smizing," involves smiling with the eyes, adding authenticity to the expression. Practicing in front of a mirror can also help subjects find their natural smile and build confidence.
Finally, photographers can create a comfortable and relaxed environment by using a tripod and standing away from the camera, making silly faces, or asking subjects to share secrets with each other. These techniques help ease tension and encourage genuine expressions, resulting in more natural and captivating photos.
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Why is cheese the chosen word for photographic prompts?
The phrase "say cheese" is an instruction used by photographers who want their subjects to smile with their lips apart and teeth showing. The phrase has been used for over a century, with the first known use of "cheese" as a photographic aid recorded in a 1943 issue of "The Oxford English Dictionary". The entry defined "cheese" as " [a word] used by photographers as an exclamation to make a person look pleasant, natural, and so on".
The reason "cheese" is so effective is that saying the word in an exaggerated way, with a long "ee" sound, naturally stretches your mouth into a grin, and the ch sound encourages you to bare your teeth. The wh sound in "whiskey", which was used by photographers in the 1920s for the same purpose, has a similar effect. Other words with similar sounds, like "each" and "seas", could also be used, but "cheese" has stood the test of time.
The phrase is so ubiquitous that it has entered the Japanese language, despite the strong influence of Western photography, and other languages have also adopted similar phrases to get the desired effect of shaping the mouth to form a smile. For example, in Brazil, photographers say "Digam 'X'" ("Say 'X'"), as the Portuguese "X" sounds similar to the English "sh" in "cheese". In China, the phrase is "茄子" ("Qiézi"), meaning "eggplant", which is pronounced similarly to "cheese".
While "cheese" is the most common phrase used to get people to smile, there are many other variations. In the 1800s, people would say "prunes", and in the 1930s, people said "cheese and crackers". In the US, photographers sometimes say "say, one, two, three", and in Germany, photographers might say "Ameisenscheiße", which means "antshit", or "Spaghetti".
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Frequently asked questions
"Say cheese" usually refers to the act of smiling for a photo. When someone says "cheese," they tend to stretch their mouth into a grin, often with their eyes scrunched closed and their teeth clenched together.
Saying "cheese" helps people smile and look happy in photos. The "ee" sound at the end of "cheese" puts people's mouths in a grinning position, making it a popular word to say when taking pictures.
Yes, photographers might ask their subjects to say other words or phrases that help create a natural smile, such as "chocolate," "peas," or "cheese and crackers." These phrases often result in a more relaxed and genuine-looking smile.
