sembrouiller

Sembrouiller is a French verb in its reflexive form, and it denotes getting into a muddle or becoming confused or entangled, whether mentally (confused thoughts, unclear explanations) or practically (a situation that is hard to untangle). It covers situations where things are mixed up or difficult to follow.

In standard spelling, the verb is written s'embrouiller. The form sembrouiller without the apostrophe is regarded as nonstandard or regional in many contexts. The word comes from embrouiller, meaning to muddle or confuse, with the reflexive se- added to indicate the subject is involved in the confusion.

Usage and expressions are predominantly informal or colloquial. Common expressions include s'embrouiller les pinceaux, meaning to bungle one’s explanations or to get one’s details wrong, and s'embrouiller dans les détails, meaning to get bogged down in details. The verb can describe being confused in a discussion, losing track of steps, or finding oneself caught up in a complicated situation.

Alternative wording in more formal contexts would be se perdre, être confus, or se tromper, depending on the precise sense intended. As a general note, s'embrouiller remains the standard form in writing; sembrouiller is treated as a variant that may appear in informal speech or regional usage.