Inklingo

How to Say "hazy" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “hazy” is “borroso” — use 'borroso' when referring to something that is unclear or indistinct due to atmospheric conditions, distance, or poor vision.

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borroso

bo-RRO-soboˈroso

adjectiveA2general
Use 'borroso' when referring to something that is unclear or indistinct due to atmospheric conditions, distance, or poor vision.
A colorful garden scene where the flowers and trees are soft and out of focus, appearing hazy and indistinct.

Examples

El paisaje era borroso por la niebla.

The landscape was hazy due to the fog.

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.

vago

VAH-goˈba.ɣo

adjectiveB2general
Use 'vago' to describe memories, ideas, or sensations that are indistinct, unclear, or not fully formed.
A scene where a thick, gray fog obscures the view of a large, indistinct object on the horizon, making its shape difficult to determine.

Examples

Solo tengo una idea vaga de lo que pasó.

I only have a hazy idea of what happened.

Tengo un recuerdo muy vago de mi infancia.

I have a very vague memory of my childhood.

La respuesta del político fue demasiado vaga e imprecisa.

The politician's answer was too vague and imprecise.

Siento un dolor vago en el estómago, no puedo señalarlo.

I feel a vague pain in my stomach; I can't pinpoint it.

Describing Ideas

When 'vago' describes an abstract noun (like 'idea,' 'recuerdo,' or 'sentimiento'), it means the idea is unclear, not that the idea itself is lazy.

Visual vs. Mental Haze

Learners often confuse 'borroso' and 'vago' by using 'borroso' for unclear memories. Remember that 'borroso' primarily describes physical or visual haziness, while 'vago' is for indistinct thoughts or recollections.

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