complicada
/kom-pli-KAH-dah/
complicated
Showing how difficulty or intricacy can make something complicada (complicated).
complicada(Adjective)
complicated
?General difficulty or intricacy
,difficult
?Referring to a task or problem
intricate
?Used for detailed design or structure
,complex
?Having many parts
📝 In Action
La decisión que tuvo que tomar fue muy complicada.
B1The decision she had to make was very complicated.
Mi hermana es una persona un poco complicada, le gusta todo perfecto.
B2My sister is a slightly complicated person; she likes everything perfect.
Esta receta de panadería es demasiado complicada para principiantes.
B1This baking recipe is too difficult/complicated for beginners.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Ending
Since 'complicada' ends in '-a', it is used to describe feminine nouns, like 'la casa complicada' (the complicated house). For masculine nouns, you must change it to 'complicado'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong gender
Mistake: "El problema es complicada."
Correction: El problema es complicado. (Problem is masculine, so use -o.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing People
When describing a person (especially a woman) as 'complicada,' it often suggests she is demanding, hard to please, or has many issues.
Illustrating a health condition that has become complicada (worsened).
complicada(Adjective)
worsened
?Referring to a health condition
,involved
?Referring to a legal case or dispute
deteriorated
?Medical context
📝 In Action
La herida se ha complicado y ahora requiere cirugía urgente.
C1The wound has worsened/become complicated and now requires urgent surgery.
La paciente fue trasladada porque su situación era muy complicada.
B2The patient was transferred because her situation was very serious/worsened.
💡 Grammar Points
As a Past Participle
When used after a form of 'haber' or 'estar,' 'complicada' acts like the past participle of the verb 'complicar' (to complicate), meaning something has been made difficult or worsened by an action.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'Estar'
Use 'estar complicada' (e.g., 'La situación está complicada') to talk about a temporary state or a condition that has recently changed for the worse.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: complicada
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'complicada'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'complicada' and 'complicado'?
'Complicada' is used only when describing a feminine person or thing (like 'la tarea' or 'la vida'). 'Complicado' is used when describing a masculine person or thing (like 'el trabajo' or 'el coche'). They mean the exact same thing.
Can 'complicada' be used as a noun?
Yes, but rarely. You might hear 'Ella es una complicada,' meaning 'She is a difficult woman,' but it's much more common and natural to use it as an adjective: 'Ella es una mujer complicada.'