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How to Say "blank" in Spanish

English → Spanish

blanco

/BLAHN-ko//ˈblaŋko/

adjectiveA1general
Use 'blanco' as an adjective when describing something that is the color white, or a page/screen that is empty of content.
A fluffy white sheep standing in a green field under a blue sky, illustrating the color white.

Examples

Mi camisa favorita es blanca.

My favorite shirt is white.

Las nubes son blancas y esponjosas.

The clouds are white and fluffy.

Se puso blanco del susto.

He turned pale with fright.

Por favor, escribe tu nombre en el blanco.

Please, write your name in the blank.

Making Adjectives Agree

'Blanco' is a describing word, so it changes to match the thing it describes. If the thing is feminine, use 'blanca'. If it's plural, add an 's': 'blancos' or 'blancas'. For example: el coche blanco (the white car), la casa blanca (the white house), los coches blancos (the white cars).

Forgetting to Match

Mistake: “La pared es blanco.”

Correction: Say 'La pared es blanca.' because 'pared' (wall) is a feminine word, so the describing word needs to match it.

espacio

/es-PA-syo//esˈpa.sjo/

nounA2general
Use 'espacio' to refer to an empty field or gap that needs to be filled in, often in a form or document.
A sheet of white paper lying on a wooden desk with a large, empty rectangular section clearly marked as a blank space.

Examples

Escribe tu nombre en el espacio en blanco.

Write your name in the blank space.

Deja un espacio de dos centímetros en el margen.

Leave a two-centimeter space in the margin.

blanco

/BLAHN-ko//ˈblaŋko/

nounB1general
Use 'blanco' as a noun when you specifically mean an empty space on a document or test that requires an answer.
A fluffy white sheep standing in a green field under a blue sky, illustrating the color white.

Examples

Por favor, escribe tu nombre en el blanco.

Please, write your name in the blank.

Mi camisa favorita es blanca.

My favorite shirt is white.

Las nubes son blancas y esponjosas.

The clouds are white and fluffy.

Se puso blanco del susto.

He turned pale with fright.

Making Adjectives Agree

'Blanco' is a describing word, so it changes to match the thing it describes. If the thing is feminine, use 'blanca'. If it's plural, add an 's': 'blancos' or 'blancas'. For example: el coche blanco (the white car), la casa blanca (the white house), los coches blancos (the white cars).

Forgetting to Match

Mistake: “La pared es blanco.”

Correction: Say 'La pared es blanca.' because 'pared' (wall) is a feminine word, so the describing word needs to match it.

bloqueado

/blo-kay-AH-tho//blo.keˈa.ðo/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'bloqueado' when your mind suddenly stops working or you can't remember something, especially during a stressful situation like an exam.
A person sitting at a desk with a blank expression, looking at a single empty piece of paper with a pencil in hand.

Examples

Me quedé bloqueado en el examen y no recordaba nada.

My mind went blank during the exam and I didn't remember anything.

El escritor se siente bloqueado y no puede terminar su novela.

The writer feels stuck and cannot finish his novel.

The verb 'quedarse'

We often use 'quedarse' (to stay/become) with bloqueado to describe the moment your mind suddenly stops working.

virgen

/BEE-rhen//'biɾxen/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'virgen' to describe a surface or area that is untouched, pristine, or completely new, like an unexplored territory or a new record.
A perfectly still, clear blue lake reflecting a snow-capped mountain peak and dense green forest, representing untouched nature.

Examples

Exploramos una selva virgen donde nunca había estado nadie.

We explored a pristine jungle where no one had ever been.

El disco duro está virgen, no tiene archivos.

The hard drive is blank; it has no files.

Agreement

As an adjective, 'virgen' must match the noun it describes in number and gender: 'una playa virgen' (a pristine beach) or 'territorios vírgenes' (pristine territories).

Confusing 'blanco' and 'espacio'

Learners often confuse 'blanco' and 'espacio' when referring to empty spaces. Remember that 'espacio' is more general for any empty area, while 'blanco' (as a noun) specifically refers to a blank space on a form or test to be filled in.

Related Translations

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