complejo
/kom-PLE-ho/
complex
This intricate, tangled yarn visualizes the 'complex' nature of something difficult to understand.
complejo(Adjective)
complex
?difficult to understand
,complicated
?having many interconnected parts
intricate
?design or system
📝 In Action
Resolver este problema matemático es muy complejo.
A2Solving this math problem is very complex.
La situación política se ha vuelto más compleja en las últimas semanas.
B1The political situation has become more complicated in recent weeks.
Ella tiene una personalidad compleja, nunca sabes lo que piensa.
B2She has a complex personality, you never know what she's thinking.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
As an adjective, 'complejo' must match the thing it describes. If the thing is feminine (like 'situación'), it becomes 'compleja'. If it's plural (like 'problemas'), it becomes 'complejos'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Complexity and Difficulty
Mistake: "Using 'difícil' when you really mean 'complejo'."
Correction: 'Difícil' just means 'hard to do'. 'Complejo' means 'made of many parts'. While complex things are often difficult, use 'complejo' when you want to emphasize the structure.
⭐ Usage Tips
Common Intensity Adverbs
Use adverbs like 'muy' (very) or 'bastante' (quite) before 'complejo' to show how complicated something is: 'Es muy complejo'.
The cluster of buildings illustrates a physical 'complex,' meaning a group of facilities.
complejo(Noun)
complex
?a group of buildings or facilities
,compound
?industrial or residential area
center
?sports or commercial center
📝 In Action
El complejo deportivo tiene una piscina olímpica y varias canchas de tenis.
B1The sports complex has an Olympic pool and several tennis courts.
Vamos a construir un complejo residencial cerca del río.
B2We are going to build a residential complex near the river.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Masculine
When used as a noun meaning a group of buildings, 'complejo' is always masculine, so you always use 'el' or 'un' before it.
The image of a person weighed down by a heavy object symbolizes a psychological 'complex' or insecurity.
📝 In Action
Tiene un complejo de inferioridad porque siempre se compara con su hermano.
B2He has an inferiority complex because he always compares himself to his brother.
Ella no quiere cantar porque tiene complejo con su voz.
C1She doesn't want to sing because she has a hang-up about her voice.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Tener'
To express that someone has a psychological complex, you use the verb 'tener' (to have): 'Tengo un complejo' (I have a complex).
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing the Complex
Often, the type of complex is specified after 'de': 'complejo de superioridad' (superiority complex) or 'complejo de Edipo' (Oedipus complex).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: complejo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'complejo' to describe a psychological issue?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'complejo' always negative?
Not necessarily! While it often describes a difficult problem or a psychological hang-up, it can also be used neutrally to describe something intricate or well-developed, like 'un diseño complejo' (a complex design).
How is the noun 'complejo' (complex of buildings) different from the noun 'complejidad' (complexity)?
'El complejo' refers to a physical place or a psychological issue (a thing). 'La complejidad' is the abstract quality of being complex—the state of having many difficult parts.