farragoso

Farragoso is a Spanish adjective used to describe something that is messy, tangled, or incoherent. It is often applied to prose, explanations, or mixtures that are excessively detailed, digressive, or poorly organized, making them difficult to follow. In literary and critical contexts, a farragoso text is one that blends disparate elements in a way that obscures its main point.

Etymology and meaning. The term derives from the noun farrago, meaning a hodgepodge or medley of various things. The suffix -oso turns the noun into an adjective indicating quality or characteristic, yielding “farragoso” as “full of farrago” or “resembling a farrago.” The word carries a negative or pejorative nuance, signaling a lack of clarity or coherence.

Usage and regional note. Farragoso is most common in written and formal Spanish, including journalism, literary criticism, and academic prose. It can describe texts, but also situations, processes, or arguments that appear disorganized or needlessly convoluted. While widely understood, it is more typical in Spain and some Latin American regions, and may sound pedantic or witty depending on context.

Examples. A reviewer might call a long report “farragoso” for its rambling sections and irrelevant data. A manual could be described as farragoso if it presents instructions in a tangled, hard-to-follow order.

See also. Farrago (a mixed pile or medley) and farragoso parallels like confuso or desordenado.