confusión

Confusión is a state or situation in which a person or group is bewildered, unclear, or lacking a coherent understanding of something. The term is used across languages to describe both a cognitive state and a lack of clarity in information, communication, or perception. In everyday language, confusion can be temporary and benign, as when instructions are complex or a situation is novel, or it can indicate a more persistent difficulty in processing or interpreting events.

The word etymology traces to Latin confusio, from confundere, meaning to pour together or mix up. In English and Spanish, the concept encompasses both mental disorientation and the ambiguities that arise when ideas, signals, or translations are not aligned. In linguistics and communication studies, confusion often arises from ambiguity, polysemy, conflicting cues, or cross-cultural misunderstandings, and it can be intentional or incidental.

In medicine and psychology, confusion is used to describe an acute or chronic cognitive state that includes reduced attention, disorientation, impaired memory, and disturbances in perception or orientation. Acute confusional states, or delirium, are common in older adults and can result from illness, medication effects, dehydration, or metabolic imbalances. They require prompt medical evaluation to identify and treat underlying causes and to ensure patient safety. Chronic confusion may be associated with dementia or other neurocognitive disorders and typically requires ongoing assessment and care planning.

In everyday use, strategies to reduce confusion include clear communication, simple explanations, repetition, checking for understanding, and providing structured information. Clarity and consistency help prevent misinterpretation and facilitate decision-making. See also: delirium, cognitive impairment, ambiguity, misunderstanding.