Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Blind in Spanish: Ciego and Persiana
Ciego · adjective · SYEH-goh
The Spanish word for blind (unable to see) is 'ciego' (adjective/noun). For window blinds (the home fixture), use 'persiana.' In formal or sensitive contexts, 'invidente' (literally 'non-seeing') or 'persona con discapacidad visual' is preferred over 'ciego' when referring to people.
Ciego is pronounced SYEH-goh (in Latin America) or THYEH-goh (in Spain). The 'ie' is a diphthong spoken as one syllable. Persiana is pehr-SYAH-nah.
Mi abuelo quedó ciego a los setenta años por el glaucoma.
My grandfather went blind at seventy due to glaucoma.
Blind in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for blind, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| ciego | blind | SYEH-goh | Default, widely understood |
| persiana | blind | window blind | |
| invidente | blind | formal/respectful term for blind person |
How Native Speakers Use Ciego
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Medical condition
La organización ayuda a personas invidentes a encontrar empleo.
The organization helps blind people find employment.
Using the formal, respectful term 'invidente' in an institutional context.
Window covering
Cierra las persianas para que no entre el sol.
Close the blinds so the sun doesn't come in.
Persiana refers to the window covering, completely unrelated to visual impairment.
Figurative use
El amor es ciego, como dice el refrán.
Love is blind, as the saying goes.
Ciego used figuratively in the well-known proverb.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Ciego
Confusing blind meanings
Incorrect: Compré ciegos nuevos para la ventana.
Correct: Compré persianas nuevas para la ventana.
Window blinds are 'persianas' in Spanish, not 'ciegos'. The word 'ciego' only refers to the inability to see, never to window coverings.
Insensitive usage in formal contexts
Incorrect: El ciego que trabaja aquí es muy amable.
Correct: La persona invidente que trabaja aquí es muy amable.
While 'ciego' is not offensive in everyday Spanish, formal and respectful contexts prefer 'invidente' or 'persona con discapacidad visual' when identifying someone by their condition.
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Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Ciego used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Blind in Spanish
- Is the word 'ciego' offensive in Spanish?
- In everyday conversation, 'ciego' is not considered offensive and is commonly used, but in formal, institutional, or sensitive contexts, 'invidente' or 'persona con discapacidad visual' is preferred—similar to how English now prefers 'visually impaired' in formal settings.
- How do you say 'window blinds' in Spanish?
- Window blinds are called 'persianas' in Spanish (from the French 'persienne'), and there is no connection to the word 'ciego'—this is a common source of confusion for English speakers learning Spanish.
- What does 'a ciegas' mean?
- The expression 'a ciegas' means 'blindly' or 'blind' (as in without being able to see), used in phrases like 'caminar a ciegas' (to walk blindly) or 'confiar a ciegas' (to trust blindly), expressing doing something without visual guidance or without full information.