Definition
A state in which you cannot think clearly or understand what is happening, or a situation that is messy and disorganized.
Etymology
From Latin *confusio*, from *confundere* "to pour together, to mix." It described things being thrown together without order.
Kelly Says
Confusion feels like chaos, but it’s often your brain actively trying to sort new information. Teachers sometimes deliberately create a bit of confusion, because struggling through it leads to deeper understanding.
Translations
ARالعربية
الارتباك
al-ir-tibahk
BNবাংলা
বিভ্রান্তি
bee-bhrahntee
CACatalà
confusió
kohn-foo-see-oh
CSČeština
zmatení
zma-teh-nee
DADansk
forvirring
fohr-vee-ring
DEDeutsch
Verwirrung
fayr-veer-roong
ELΕλληνικά
συγχύση
see-ghoo-see
ESEspañol
confusión
kohn-foo-see-ohn
FAفارسی
اشتباه
ash-tah-bah
FISuomi
sekasus
seh-kah-soos
FRFrançais
confusion
kohn-foo-see-ohn
GUGU
ગુંચવણ
goo-nch-vah-n
HAHA
rashin fahimta
rah-sheen fah-heem-tah
HUMagyar
zűrzavar
zoor-zah-vahr
IDBahasa Indonesia
kebingungan
keh-bee-ngung-gan
IGIG
agwagwu
ah-gwah-gwoo
ITItaliano
confusione
kohn-foo-see-oh-neh
KKKK
қатты қалыпсыз
qah-tee kah-leh-pees
MSBahasa Melayu
kekeliruan
keh-keh-lee-roo-an
MYမြန်မာ
မရိုးမယ်
mah-yee
NLNederlands
verwarring
vayr-vah-ring
NONorsk
forvirring
fohr-vee-ring
PAPA
ਗੁੰਝਲਦਾਰੀ
gool-jal-dah-ree
PLPolski
zamieszanie
zah-mee-eh-nee-eh
PTPortuguês
confusão
kohn-foo-zah-oo
RORomână
confuzie
kohn-foo-zee-eh
RUРусский
замешательство
zah-mee-shah-tehl-stvoh
SVSvenska
förvirring
fohr-vee-ring
SWKiswahili
utata
oo-tah-tah
TAதமிழ்
குழப்பம்
koolah-bahm
TEతెలుగు
గందరగోళం
gandhara-go-lam
THไทย
ความสับสน
kwahm sahpsahn
TLTL
kaguluhan
kah-goo-loh-han
TRTürkçe
karışıklık
kah-ruh-shik-lik
UKУкраїнська
замішання
zah-mee-shah-nyah
VITiếng Việt
sự nhầm lẫn
soo nahm lahng
ZUZU
ukwethula
oo-kweh-thoo-lah
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Like ‘confused,’ ‘confusion’ has been used to delegitimize women’s perspectives, framing disagreement or lack of deference as mental muddle. In some eras, women’s legal and medical complaints were pathologized as emotional confusion.
Inclusive Usage
Frame confusion as a normal response to complexity, not as a defect tied to gender or identity. Focus on what is confusing rather than implying who is at fault.
Inclusive Alternatives
["lack of clarity","ambiguity","complexity","uncertainty"]