confunden

Confunden is the third-person plural present indicative form of the Spanish verb confundir. It means “they confuse” and is also used as “you (plural) confuse” in regions where the vosotros form is not common and ustedes is used for second-person plural. Confundir, the verb it derives from, means to confuse, mix up, or mistake. The form confunden appears in everyday Spanish whenever a plural subject performs the action of confusing something or someone.

Etymology and meanings. Confundir comes from Latin confundere, from con- “together” and fundere “to pour.” The original sense was to pour together or mix, which evolved to the figurative sense of confusing ideas, people, or objects. In addition to the general transitive sense “to confuse,” the verb can express mixing up identities, misinterpreting information, or causing misunderstanding. The reflexive form confun dense indicates a person becoming confused or mixing themselves up with something else.

Usage notes. Confundir requires a direct object: confunden a los lectores, confunden dos historias, etc. It is common to use phrases such as confundir con (to confuse with) or confundir a alguien (to confuse someone). The related noun is confusión (confusion). The reflexive confundirse (to get confused or to mix oneself up) often appears with a different nuance, as in confundirse con alguien o con una historia.

Forms and examples. Present: confundo, confundes, confunde, confundimos, confundís, confunden. Imperfect: confundía, confundías, confundía, confundíamos, confundíais, confundían. Example: “Ellos confunden las dos historias; no saben cuál es real.” “Ustedes confunden al público si no aclaran los hechos.”

In sum, confunden is a common present-tense form of confundir used to describe plural subjects causing confusion, whether about ideas, objects, or people.