Inklingo

How to Say "blurry" in Spanish

English → Spanish

borroso

bo-RRO-soboˈroso

adjectiveA2general
Use 'borroso' when an image, text, or your vision is not sharp or clear due to a general lack of focus or a visual impairment.
A colorful garden scene where the flowers and trees are soft and out of focus, appearing hazy and indistinct.

Examples

No puedo leer el cartel porque mi vista está borrosa.

I can't read the sign because my vision is blurry.

La foto salió borrosa porque moviste la cámara.

The photo came out blurry because you moved the camera.

Tengo un recuerdo borroso de mi primer día de escuela.

I have a fuzzy memory of my first day of school.

Matching the word it describes

Since this is a describing word (adjective), it must change to match what you are talking about. Use 'borroso' for masculine words (un dibujo borroso) and 'borrosa' for feminine words (una foto borrosa).

Placement with 'estar'

When talking about temporary states—like a camera that is currently out of focus—we use the verb 'estar' (está borroso).

Don't confuse with 'borracho'

Mistake: “Estoy borroso.”

Correction: Estoy borracho.

movido

moh-VEE-dohmoˈβi.ðo

adjectiveB1general
Use 'movido' specifically when a photograph or video appears blurry because the subject or camera moved during the recording.
A simplified illustration of a person running quickly across a field, rendered with horizontal streaks of motion blur, making the figure look indistinct and blurry.

Examples

La foto de mi perro salió movida porque no se quedó quieto.

The photo of my dog came out blurry because he wouldn't stay still.

Necesitas un trípode; el video se ve muy movido.

You need a tripod; the video looks very shaky.

General Blur vs. Movement Blur

Learners often use 'borroso' for all types of blur. Remember that 'movido' is the specific term for blur caused by motion in photos or videos, while 'borroso' covers general lack of clarity.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.