Spanish word

perplejidad

Pronunciation

IPA/peɾplexiˈðað/

Meaning

  • feminine nounconfusion

Example

Sentí perplejidad cuando no supe qué decir.

I felt confusion when I didn't know what to say.

Illustration for perplejidad (confusion)

More examples

La broma dejó a muchos con perplejidad.

The joke left many with confusion.

Core concept

A short, surprised bewilderment that interrupts an immediate response.

Common phrases

  • llenar de perplejidad

    fill with confusion

  • sentir perplejidad

    feel confusion

Similar words

confusión: Confused difficulty understanding what is happening or how the pieces fit together.
desconcierto: Restless inability to decide how to respond, producing visible hesitation.
sorpresa: Immediate feeling of surprise and shock when confronted with the unexpected.
desorientación: Lost sense of orientation or context, unable to find bearings in a situation.

Definition in Spanish

Noción de desconcierto breve ante algo inesperado que dificulta encontrar una respuesta.

Word origin

Derived from adjective perplejo + suffix -idad; perplejo comes from Latin perplexus (per- 'thoroughly' + plectere 'to entwine') and shifts in sense from 'entangled' to 'bewildered'.

Usage tips

  • Although close to English perplexity in meaning, perplejidad is less frequent in speech and often sounds more formal than using perplejo.

Other meanings

  • perplexitynoun
  • bewildermentnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word