Cieco

Cieco is an Italian adjective meaning blind, unable to see. It can describe a person, a condition, or a thing associated with blindness. The word agrees in gender and number: cieco (masc. sing.), cieca (fem. sing.), ciechi (masc. plur.), cieche (fem. plur.). As a noun, it denotes a blind person: un cieco, una cieca.

Etymology and usage. Cieco derives from the Latin caecus, through the development of Italian. In modern Italian it is used primarily for medical or literal blindness, but it also appears in figurative expressions to indicate a lack of perception or awareness, though such usage should be chosen carefully to avoid ableist connotations. In formal writing and disability discourse, alternative terms such as non vedente or persona con ipovedenza are often preferred, depending on context and sensitivity toward people with disabilities.

Terminology and nuance. In everyday language, cieco remains common and widely understood. In professional or inclusive contexts, speakers may opt for person-first or neutral phrasing, such as “una persona cieca” to emphasize personhood rather than condition. The term is less common in clinical descriptions, where specific medical terms or standardized classifications are used.

See also. Related concepts include non vedente, ipovedente, and accessibility, which pertain to vision impairment and accommodations for individuals with visual disabilities. The word cieco also appears in literature and everyday expressions as part of descriptive language about perception and awareness.