complicada
“complicada” means “complicated” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
complicated, difficult
Also: intricate, complex
📝 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.
worsened, involved
Also: deteriorated
📝 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.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: complicada
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'complicada'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin verb *complicāre*, meaning 'to fold together' or 'to roll up.' Over time, this idea of folding things together came to mean something tangled, intricate, or difficult to unfold or solve.
First recorded: 15th century (as a derivative of complicar)
Cognates (Related words)
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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.'