Confundem

Confundem is a Portuguese verb form meaning “they confuse” or “they mix up.” It is the present indicative third-person plural form of the verb confundir, used with subject eles, elas, or with vocês in many dialects.

Etymology and form: Confundir comes from Latin confundere, formed from con- “together” and fundere “to pour,” with the sense shift to “to blend” or “to mix up,” and later to “to confuse.” In standard present indicative conjugation, the forms include eu confundo, tu confundes, ele confunde, nós confundimos, vós confundis, eles/elas confundem. The form confundem specifically corresponds to the third-person plural “they confuse” (and to the form you all confuse when using vocês).

Usage: Confundem appears in everyday Portuguese to describe causing confusion or mixing things up. Example: Eles confundem as informações com as instruções. Reflexive usage is less common but possible in the sense of becoming confused: Eles se confundem means they get confused themselves.

Regional notes: In both Brazilian and European Portuguese, the form confundem is standard for third-person plural present tense, including contexts with vocês. The verb confundir is regular in the present indicative, with stress typically on the penultimate syllable.

See also: Confundir, Confusão, Confusão mental.