sordo
/ˈsoɾdo/
The Spanish word for deaf is sordo.
The word sordo can be used literally as an adjective to describe someone with a hearing impairment. It can also be used figuratively as an insult to imply that a person is not listening or is being thick-headed.
Meaning: unable to hear (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective sordo must agree in gender with the person being described, changing to sorda for females. The plural form sordos is used for a group of deaf men or a mixed group of men and women. The plural form sordas is used when referring exclusively to a group of deaf women.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsoɾdo/
Did you know?
- The word sordo shares a common ancestor with the English mathematical term 'surd', which describes an irrational number.
- The term 'sordo' can be used to describe a sound that is 'muffled' or 'dull', such as a 'golpe sordo' (a dull thud).
- The term sordomudo is often used to describe someone who is both deaf and mute, reflecting a historical assumption that deafness always led to muteness.
Examples in context
- Él finge ser sordo.He pretends to be deaf.This sentence shows how to use sordo to describe someone pretending to be deaf.Tatoeba #1131500 by cueyayotl, translation #1130434 by Sibelius
- Él también era sordo.He was also deaf.This sentence uses sordo to describe someone's state in the past.Tatoeba #3443375 by cueyayotl, translation #3444802 by macaboy
- ¿Sos sordo o estúpido?Are you deaf or stupid?This sentence uses sordo as a figurative insult.Tatoeba #2968807 by hayastan, translation #2968640 by Hybrid
- La institución ofrece apoyo especializado para personas con discapacidad auditiva.The institution provides specialized support for people with hearing impairment.
- La chica es sorda, por lo que utiliza un implante coclear.The girl is deaf, so she uses a cochlear implant.
- Mi amigo es sordo desde nacimiento, pero se comunica muy bien en lenguaje de señas.My friend has been deaf since birth, but he communicates very well in sign language.
- 54 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a neighbor's hearing loss.
- LucíaMi vecino es sordo.My neighbor is deaf.
- Daniel¿Es sordo de nacimiento?Is he deaf from birth?
- LucíaNo, se quedó sordo hace poco.No, he became deaf recently.
- DanielQué mal que el hombre sea sordo.It is too bad that the man is deaf.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “deaf” translations and entries sordo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sordo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
