complicar

Complicar is a verb in both Spanish and Portuguese with the core meaning of making something more complex, difficult, or tangled. It can describe actions, processes, or situations, and is used both transitively (to complicate something) and reflexively in some contexts (to become more complicated).

Etymology and related forms: the word comes from Latin complicare, meaning to fold together or entwine, with the semantic shift toward increasing complexity. Related nouns include Spanish complicación and Portuguese complicação (the state or act of being complicated), and adjectives such as Spanish complicado and Portuguese complicado.

Usage and meanings: in everyday use, complica a matter often translates to “to complicate the matter.” It can refer to complicating procedures, plans, or relationships. In many contexts, compilar distinct from “simplify” expresses a negative or unwanted increase in difficulty. Reflexive forms exist in both languages: complicarse or complicarse la vida in Spanish, complicar-se in Portuguese, typically meaning that a situation or life has become more complex.

Conjugation and grammar: complica is a regular -ar verb in Spanish, with typical endings such as complico, complicas, complica, complicamos, complicáis, complican in the present tense. In Portuguese, complica- is also regular, with forms such as eu complico, tu complicas, ele complica, nós complicamos, vocês complicam in the present tense. Both languages share standard conjugation patterns for -ar verbs, with variations across tenses and moods (preterite, imperfect, subjunctive, etc.).

See also: compicação/complicação, complicado, complicar-se.