Inklingo

How to Say "sight" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “sight” is “vista” — use 'vista' when referring to the general sense of seeing or eyesight, or a view from a particular place.

vista🔊A2

Use 'vista' when referring to the general sense of seeing or eyesight, or a view from a particular place.

Learn more →
ojo🔊A1

Use 'ojo' when referring to the physical eye as an organ of sight.

Learn more →
visiónA1

Use 'visión' to specifically refer to the physiological sense of sight or the ability to see.

Learn more →
espectáculoB1

Use 'espectáculo' for a dramatic or chaotic event that draws attention, often in a public place, translating to 'scene' or 'show' in this context.

Learn more →
perspectiva🔊B2

Use 'perspectiva' when discussing the visual field from a specific viewpoint or in art, referring to depth and spatial arrangement.

Learn more →
mira🔊B2

Use 'mira' exclusively for the sighting device on a firearm, used for aiming.

Learn more →
fenómenoB1

Use 'fenómeno' for an extraordinary or remarkable event or thing that is worth seeing, often on a larger scale.

Learn more →
feto🔊C1

Use 'feto' colloquially and informally to describe someone who looks unattractive or disheveled, akin to 'a sight for sore eyes' in reverse.

Learn more →
English → Spanish

vista

BEES-tahˈbista

NounA2general
Use 'vista' when referring to the general sense of seeing or eyesight, or a view from a particular place.
A detailed illustration of a human eye clearly focused on a small, brightly colored butterfly flying nearby, symbolizing the sense of sight.

Examples

Mi abuela tiene muy buena vista para su edad.

My grandmother has very good eyesight for her age.

El sentido de la vista es uno de los más importantes.

The sense of sight is one of the most important.

Después de la operación, recuperó la vista por completo.

After the operation, he completely recovered his sight.

Confusing 'vista' and 'visión'

Mistake: “Me gusta la visión desde mi balcón.”

Correction: Me gusta la vista desde mi balcón. Use 'vista' for a physical view. 'Visión' is more for an idea, a dream, or the general concept of sight.

ojo

OH-hohˈoxo

NounA1general
Use 'ojo' when referring to the physical eye as an organ of sight.
A close-up illustration of a single human eye with a brown iris, long eyelashes, and a bright white sclera.

Examples

Tienes un ojo verde y el otro azul. ¡Qué peculiar!

You have one green eye and the other blue. How peculiar!

Me duele el ojo izquierdo después de leer tanto.

My left eye hurts after reading so much.

Masculine Noun

Even though many body parts are feminine (like 'la mano' or 'la cabeza'), 'ojo' is always masculine: 'el ojo' (the eye).

Using the definite article

Mistake: “Me duele mi ojo.”

Correction: Me duele el ojo. (Spanish often uses 'el' or 'la' instead of 'mi' or 'tu' when talking about body parts, especially with verbs like 'doler'.)

visión

NounA1general
Use 'visión' to specifically refer to the physiological sense of sight or the ability to see.

Examples

Necesita un examen para comprobar su visión.

She needs an exam to check her sight.

espectáculo

NounB1general
Use 'espectáculo' for a dramatic or chaotic event that draws attention, often in a public place, translating to 'scene' or 'show' in this context.

Examples

¡No me hables así! No hagas un espectáculo en medio del restaurante.

Don't speak to me like that! Don't make a scene in the middle of the restaurant.

perspectiva

per-spek-TEE-vahpeɾspekˈtiβa

NounB2general
Use 'perspectiva' when discussing the visual field from a specific viewpoint or in art, referring to depth and spatial arrangement.
A simple illustration of a long, straight railroad track running through a sunny field. The tracks and telegraph poles clearly converge toward a single vanishing point on the distant horizon, creating visual depth.

Examples

El dibujo carece de perspectiva; parece plano.

The drawing lacks perspective; it looks flat.

La perspectiva de la calle desde la colina es impresionante.

The view of the street from the hill is stunning.

Technical Use

When talking about drawing or painting, this word refers to the technique used to make flat objects look three-dimensional (the way parallel lines appear to meet).

mira

MEE-rahˈmi.ɾa

NounB2technical
Use 'mira' exclusively for the sighting device on a firearm, used for aiming.
The sights on a rifle used for aiming at a distant target.

Examples

El cazador ajustó la mira de su rifle.

The hunter adjusted the sight of his rifle.

Tiene la mira puesta en ganar el campeonato.

He has his sights set on winning the championship.

Always Feminine: 'la mira'

When used as a noun, 'mira' is always a feminine word. You'll always see it with 'la' or 'una', like 'la mira' (the sight) or 'una mira telescópica' (a telescopic sight).

fenómeno

NounB1general
Use 'fenómeno' for an extraordinary or remarkable event or thing that is worth seeing, often on a larger scale.

Examples

El fenómeno de El Niño afecta el clima global.

The El Niño phenomenon affects the global climate.

feto

FEH-tohˈfeto

NounC1informal
Use 'feto' colloquially and informally to describe someone who looks unattractive or disheveled, akin to 'a sight for sore eyes' in reverse.
A person with very messy hair, mismatched clothes, and a silly, exaggerated facial expression.

Examples

Ese chico es un feto, pero es muy gracioso.

That guy is really ugly, but he's very funny.

¡Qué feto eres con ese peinado!

You look like a mess with that hairstyle!

Fixed Gender in Slang

When calling someone an 'ugly person' using this word, you almost always use the masculine 'un feto,' even if the person is female.

Use with Caution

Mistake: “Using this word in polite company.”

Correction: This is a very strong insult. Only use it with very close friends as a joke, or avoid it entirely to stay polite.

Sight vs. Vision vs. View

Learners often confuse 'vista', 'visión', and 'perspectiva'. Remember that 'vista' can mean eyesight or a view, 'visión' is specifically the sense of sight, and 'perspectiva' refers to the artistic or literal viewpoint.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.