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lío

LEE-ohˈli.o

mess, tangle

Also: clutter, jumble
NounmA2
A large pile of clothes, books, and toys haphazardly dumped on a wooden floor, illustrating extreme physical clutter and disorganization.

📝 In Action

Tienes que ordenar este lío antes de que lleguen los invitados.

A2

You have to tidy up this mess before the guests arrive.

¡Qué lío con los cables de la televisión!

B1

What a tangle with the TV cables!

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • hacer un lío – to make a mess
  • ser un lío – to be a mess

trouble, complication

Also: predicament
NounmB1informal
Spain
A cartoon character completely tangled from head to toe in a long, thick red rope, looking slightly frustrated but unable to move, symbolizing a difficult situation.

📝 In Action

Si no pagas la multa a tiempo, te meterás en un lío legal.

B1

If you don't pay the fine on time, you will get into legal trouble.

El proyecto se convirtió en un lío de papeleo.

B2

The project turned into a complication involving a lot of paperwork.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • problema (problem)
  • complicación (complication)

Common Collocations

  • meterse en un lío – to get into trouble
  • sacar a alguien de un lío – to get someone out of trouble

Idioms & Expressions

  • armar un lío – to cause a scene or a big fuss

affair, fling

Also: entanglement
NounmB2informal
Two figures standing close together, whispering conspiratorially behind a large, decorative curtain, suggesting a secret romantic meeting.

📝 In Action

Se descubrió el lío que tenía con su secretaria.

B2

The affair he was having with his secretary was discovered.

Ese lío terminó de forma muy dramática.

C1

That fling ended in a very dramatic way.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • tener un lío – to be having an affair/fling

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "lío" in Spanish:

entanglement→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: lío

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'lío' to mean a 'romantic entanglement'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
liar(to tie up, to bundle, to mess up) — Verb
liarse(to get complicated, to get confused, to get involved (romantically)) —
lía(rope, binding, vine) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
fríovacío
📚 Etymology▼

The word 'lío' comes from the Spanish verb 'liar', which means 'to tie' or 'to bundle.' The noun 'lío' originally referred to a bundle that was poorly tied, leading to the figurative meanings of a 'tangle,' and eventually, 'mess' and 'trouble.'

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

Latin: ligare

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'lío' a serious problem or just a minor inconvenience?

'Lío' usually refers to a significant hassle, mess, or complication. While it can mean a small physical mess, when used figuratively (e.g., 'meterse en un lío'), it implies serious trouble or a complicated, stressful situation.

How is 'lío' related to the verb 'liar'?

They are directly related! The verb 'liar' means 'to tie' or 'to bundle up.' When you 'liar' something badly, it creates a 'lío' (a tangle or a mess). The figurative meanings (trouble, affair) grew from this core concept of something being 'tangled up.'