Ingewikkeld

Ingewikkeld is a Dutch adjective meaning that something is complex, intricate, or tangled. It is used for both physical entanglements and figurative complexities. For example, a tangle of cables can be described as ingewikkeld, and a plan or situation can be called ingewikkelde or ingewikkeld depending on the context.

Etymology and form: Ingewikkeld is the past participle form of the verb inwikkelen (to wrap in). The word is commonly used in its base form to describe current states, and its attributive form ingewikkelde is used with feminine or plural nouns (een ingewikkelde situatie, ingewikkelde kabels). The word is closely related to gecompliceerd and ingewikkeld, which are often preferred in formal or literary contexts to express complexity.

Usage: In everyday Dutch, ingewikkeld covers both literal entanglement and figurative complexity. It appears in journalism, academics, and common speech. For literal use, you might say: De snoeren zitten ingewikkeld op het bureau. For figurative use: Dit is een ingewikkelde kwestie die zorgvuldige afweging vereist. In many cases synonyms like ingewikkeld or complex are used, depending on formality and nuance.

See also: ingewikkeld, complex, verwikkelen, inwikkelen.

Overall, inge wikkeld functions as a versatile descriptor for anything that is not straightforward, whether it concerns physical tangles or abstract complications.