Blind in different languages

Blind in Different Languages

Discover 'Blind' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'blind' holds a profound significance in our daily lives and cultural discourse. It refers to the lack of vision or the inability to see, but it also serves as a metaphor for ignorance, bias, and unexpected twists in life. Blindness, as a concept, has been explored in literature, films, and philosophical debates, shedding light on various aspects of human perception and understanding.

Moreover, the term 'blind' has fascinating historical contexts and interesting facts associated with it. For instance, did you know that the International Symbol of Access, which includes the silhouette of a person in a wheelchair, was initially designed to represent a blind person? This symbol has since evolved to encompass all forms of disability, reflecting the importance of inclusivity and accessibility in our society.

Given the significance and cultural importance of the word 'blind', it's not surprising that people might want to know its translation in different languages. Understanding the nuances of this term in various languages can provide valuable insights into how different cultures perceive and address blindness, as well as enhance our cross-cultural communication skills.

Here are some translations of the word 'blind' in different languages:

Blind


Blind in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansblind
Despite meaning 'blind' in English, 'blind' in Afrikaans is related to the Dutch word 'blind' meaning 'glare', and Afrikaans 'blinde' (noun) is 'venetian blind'.
Amharicዓይነ ስውር
The Amharic word "ዓይነ ስውር" can also mean "blind alley", "dead end", or "no way out".
Hausamakaho
The name of the ancient Hausa god Makau Hoho may derive from "makaho" by assimilation of "a" in a verbal prefix. Makau Hoho was the god of darkness and blindness.
Igbokpuru ìsì
Malagasyjamba
"JAMBA" in Malagasy also means to "close one's eyes" or "blink".
Nyanja (Chichewa)khungu
The word "khungu" in Nyanja (Chichewa) can also refer to someone who is unable to see in the dark.
Shonabofu
The word "bofu" can also mean "dark" or "hidden" in Shona.
Somaliindhoole
The word "indhoole" in Somali has several other meanings, including "a dark place" and "a hole in the ground".
Sesothofoufetse
The word "foufetse" can also refer to someone who is naive or gullible.
Swahilikipofu
Kipofu can also refer to a dense forest or thicket.
Xhosaukungaboni
In Xhosa, 'ukungaboni' means 'not seeing' rather than 'blind' and is etymologically related to 'ukubona' meaning 'to see'.
Yorubaafoju
The term "afoju" in Yoruba is also used to refer to individuals who are not visually impaired but are gullible and naive.
Zuluimpumputhe
The Zulu word 'impumputhe' also refers to someone who is naive or unaware, due to their inability to see and perceive clearly.
Bambarafiyentɔ
Ewegbã ŋku
Kinyarwandaimpumyi
Lingalamokufi-miso
Luganda-zibe
Sepedifoufala
Twi (Akan)anifira

Blind in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicبليند
The Arabic word "بليند" can also refer to "a window" or "a shutter".
Hebrewסומא
In Hebrew, סומא means “blind,” but also can mean “mute,” and is used as a nickname for someone who is silent.
Pashtoړوند
The Pashto word "ړوند" can also mean "one-eyed" or "unaware of something."
Arabicبليند
The Arabic word "بليند" can also refer to "a window" or "a shutter".

Blind in Western European Languages

Albaniani verbër
"I verbër" is the Albanian derivative of the Proto-Indo-European *wer- which means "see"
Basqueitsu
The Basque word "itsu" can also mean "concealed" or "hidden".
Catalancec
The Catalan word "cec" (blind) is derived from the Latin word "caecus", meaning "lacking sight".
Croatianslijep
The word "slijep" is derived from the verb "sljediti" (to follow) and originally meant "not following" or "straying from the path" in Old Slavic languages.
Danishblind
The word "blind" in Danish has a few related meanings, including "to close the eyes" and "to be unaware of something."
Dutchblind
The Dutch word “blind” can also refer to a kind of window shutters that can be rolled up and down.
Englishblind
The word 'blind' can also mean 'hidden' or 'unseen', as in 'a blind spot' or 'blind faith'.
Frenchaveugle
"Aveugle" also means "blinded by love" in a figurative sense.
Frisianblyn
Frisian has a second homograph of 'blyn', which is spelled exactly the same but means to 'deceive', 'mislead', or 'trick'.
Galiciancego
The word cego comes from the Latin word caecus which also means 'blind', and it is also the origin of the Spanish word ciego which means the same.
Germanblind
The German word "blind" is related to the Old English verb "blindan", which means "to strike" or "to dazzle."
Icelandicblindur
The Icelandic word "blindur" also means "window shutter".
Irishdall
The Irish word "dall" also means "dim" or "obscure".
Italiancieco
The Italian word "cieco" can also refer to someone who is deluded or obstinate.
Luxembourgishblann
The term "blann" in Luxembourgish, meaning "blind", is related to the Middle High German word "bleich," meaning not seeing.
Maltesegħomja
The word "għomja" in Maltese can also mean "darkening" or "eclipse".
Norwegianblind
The word "blind" comes from the Old Norse word "blindr," meaning "to strike" or "to dazzle."
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)cego
The word "cego" in Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) derives from the Latin "caecus," meaning "blind" or "in the dark."
Scots Gaelicdall
Dall also means `deaf` in Scots Gaelic.
Spanishciego
In Spanish, "ciego," meaning "blind," derives from the Latin "caecus," also meaning "blind," with a related verb "caecare," or "to blind."
Swedishblind
The word "blind" in Swedish also means "window panel".
Welshdall
The Welsh word "dall" derives from the Proto-Celtic root "dal-", meaning "concealed" or "hidden", and is cognate with the Latin "dolus" (meaning "trickery").

Blind in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianсляпы
The word "сляпы" likely comes from the ancient root *sle-, meaning "to see".
Bosnianslijep
In Bosnian, the word 'slijep' is related to the root 'slepać', meaning 'to prevent from seeing'.
Bulgarianсляп
In addition to meaning "blind", the Bulgarian word "сляп" can also refer to a person who is careless or clumsy.
Czechslepý
"Slepý" is also an archaic term for "deaf". In some Old Czech texts, the two meanings of "slepý" are used interchangeably.
Estonianpime
Pime, meaning "blind" in Estonian, may also refer to darkness or ignorance.
Finnishsokea
"Sokea" is a word used in Finnish to describe someone who has lost their sense of sight or is visually impaired.
Hungarianvak
Vak also means to 'stumble' or 'hesitate' in Hungarian, possibly from the old Slavic 'vыkati'.
Latvianakls
The Latvian word "akls" can also refer to someone who is lacking understanding or insight.
Lithuanianaklas
Aklas, like akmuo (stone), derives from the Indo-European root *ak-, meaning 'sharp' or 'pointed'.
Macedonianслеп
The word "слеп" can also mean "dull" or "blunt".
Polishślepy
"Ślepy" can also mean "deaf" in Polish.
Romanianorb
In Romanian, "orb" is a synonym for "blind," but it originally meant "circle" or "sphere," as it still does in English.
Russianслепой
The word "слепой" also means "dark", "dim", or "opaque" in Russian.
Serbianслеп
In addition to its primary meaning of "blind," "слеп" can also refer to "unlucky".
Slovakslepý
"Slepý" also means "deaf" in old Slovak.
Slovenianslep
The Slovene word 'slep' originally meant 'unable to see' and later expanded to mean 'blind'.
Ukrainianсліпий
The word "сліпий" also means "dark" or "unseeable" in Ukrainian.

Blind in South Asian Languages

Bengaliঅন্ধ
The word "অন্ধ" (ôndhô) in Bengali can also refer to "blind" or "unsighted," as well as "dark" or "unlit."
Gujaratiઅંધ
The Gujarati word "અંધ" (blind) also has the alternate meaning of "ignorant" or "uneducated."
Hindiअंधा
The word "अंधा" also means "dark" or "dim" in Hindi.
Kannadaಬ್ಲೈಂಡ್
The Kannada word "ब्लाइंड" (blind) has its origins in the Sanskrit word "ब्लेन्डा" (bleanda), meaning "crippled" or "lame".
Malayalamഅന്ധൻ
"അന്ധൻ" is also used to refer to a person who lacks knowledge or understanding of a particular subject
Marathiआंधळा
The word "आंधळा" is derived from the Sanskrit word "अंध" meaning "darkness" and can also refer to a person who is "uneducated" or "ignorant".
Nepaliअन्धा
The Nepali word "अन्धा" can also refer to a type of fish or a measure of distance.
Punjabiਅੰਨ੍ਹਾ
Sinhala (Sinhalese)අ න් ධ
In Sanskrit, the word "andha" means "darkness", and in Tamil, it means "to extinguish."
Tamilகுருட்டு
"குருட்டு" in Tamil can also refer to a type of traditional Tamil musical instrument consisting of a hollow gourd and a bamboo reed.
Teluguగుడ్డి
"గుడ్డి" (gudḍi) can also mean a small child or, in a context of play, to 'move blindly' in a game of hide and seek.
Urduاندھا
اندھا can mean 'blind', 'dark', 'unseen', 'hidden', 'unaware', or 'without insight'.

Blind in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)
The character 盲 (máng) can also refer to ignorance or folly.
Chinese (Traditional)
"盲" can also mean: 1. ignorant; 2. dark; 3. in the dark; 4. blindly; 5. blindly optimistic; 6. blindly self-confident; 7. blindly arrogant; 8. blindly obedient; 9. blindly following others; 10. blindly pursuing fashion; 11. blindly worshipping foreign things; 12. blindly believing in authority; 13. blindly believing in superstition; 14. blindly following the crowd; 15. blindly following the trend; 16. blindly following the masses; 17. blindly following the media; 18. blindly following the masses; 19. blindly following the mainstream; 20. blindly following the herd; 21. blindly following the public opinion; 22. blindly following the fashion; 23. blindly following the trend; 24. blindly following the crowd; 25. blindly following the masses; 26. blindly following the media; 27. blindly following the herd; 28. blindly following the public opinion; 29. blindly following the masses; 30. blindly following the mainstream; 31. blindly following the herd; 32. blindly following the public opinion; 33. blindly following the masses; 34. blindly following the mainstream; 35. blindly following the herd.
Japaneseブラインド
The word "ブラインド" (blind) can also refer to curtains, shutters, or shades.
Korean블라인드
The word "블라인드" can also mean "curtain" or "shade" in Korean.
Mongolianсохор
The Mongolian word "сохор" means "blind" but was also used as a term for a shaman's blindness during a divination rite.
Myanmar (Burmese)မျက်စိကန်းသော
The term is a compound word of two synonyms, “မြင်” and “စိတ်” both of which mean “to see”. The term means “to see with mind’s eyes” in Burmese, and implies a “seeing” with extra-sensory perception, rather than physical vision.

Blind in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianbuta
Javanesewuta
Wuta in Javanese not only means 'blind' but also 'closed' as in 'covered' or 'blocked out'.
Khmerខ្វាក់
The Khmer word "khvak" can also mean "unable to see" in a figurative sense, such as "blind to the truth".
Laoຕາບອດ
"ຕາບອດ" (blind) comes from the Proto-Tai words *ta¹ boŋ¹ (ตาบอด), meaning "blind".
Malaybuta
The Malay word "buta" has multiple meanings, including "blind", "ignorant", and "unlucky".
Thaiตาบอด
In traditional Thai belief, "ตาบอด" can also refer to having your "third eye" shut or being unable to perceive the spiritual world.
Vietnamese
The word "mù" in Vietnamese also means "dark" or "invisible".
Filipino (Tagalog)bulag

Blind in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanikor
The word "kor" has Turkic origins and is cognate with the words "kurt" (wolf) and "kar" (snow) in some other Turkic languages, suggesting an earlier association with a fearsome or intimidating force.
Kazakhсоқыр
In Kazakh, the word "Соқыр" ("blind") is also colloquially used to refer to someone who is naive or gullible.
Kyrgyzсокур
The verb ''соо көр-'' in Kyrgyz literally means ''not being able to see with one eye''.
Tajikкӯр
The word "кӯр" comes from the Persian word "کور", which means "son", or "descendant". It is also used metaphorically to refer to someone who is lacking in knowledge or understanding.
Turkmenkör
Uzbekko'r
"Ko'r" shares the same ancestor as the words "glare" and "chorus".
Uyghurقارىغۇ

Blind in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianmakapō
Makapō ('blind') also means a 'wellspring' (often found in place names).
Maorimatapo
The Maori word "matapo" has a literal meaning of "face of death" and can also mean "zombie."
Samoantauaso
"Taūsō" also refers to the traditional tattoo applied around Samoan women's eyes.
Tagalog (Filipino)bulag
In Tagalog, "bulag" can also be a noun that refers to a small type of freshwater fish.

Blind in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarajuykhu
Guaraniohecha'ỹva

Blind in International Languages

Esperantoblindulo
A 'blindulo' is a blind person, but it can also be a window blind, a blind corner on the road, or a blind alley.
Latincaecus
The Latin word "caecus" can also refer to darkness, obscurity, or ignorance, and is related to the Sanskrit word "kan" meaning "one-eyed".

Blind in Others Languages

Greekτυφλός
The word 'τυφλός' (typhlos) can also mean 'dark' or 'obscure' in Greek.
Hmongdig muag
The word "dig muag" in Hmong is a compound word, with "dig" meaning "eye" and "muag" meaning "closed" or "hidden".
Kurdishkor
The Kurdish word "kor" (meaning "blind") also refers to a "dimly lit cave or a place with little light," suggesting a connection between sight and darkness.
Turkishkör
Kör also means "burnt" or "baked", as in "kör ekmek" (bread cooked until it becomes slightly burnt).
Xhosaukungaboni
In Xhosa, 'ukungaboni' means 'not seeing' rather than 'blind' and is etymologically related to 'ukubona' meaning 'to see'.
Yiddishבלינד
Although the Yiddish word "בלינד" commonly means "blind," it can also refer to something "not right" or "incorrect."
Zuluimpumputhe
The Zulu word 'impumputhe' also refers to someone who is naive or unaware, due to their inability to see and perceive clearly.
Assameseঅন্ধ
Aymarajuykhu
Bhojpuriआन्हर
Dhivehiލޯ އަނދިރި
Dogriअन्ना
Filipino (Tagalog)bulag
Guaraniohecha'ỹva
Ilocanobuldeng
Krioblayn
Kurdish (Sorani)کوێر
Maithiliआन्हर
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯃꯤꯠ ꯇꯥꯡꯕ
Mizomitdel
Oromoqaroo kan hin qabne
Odia (Oriya)ଅନ୍ଧ
Quechuañawsa
Sanskritअन्ध
Tatarсукыр
Tigrinyaዕውር
Tsongabofu

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