Common mistakes
Confus or perdu? Saying you're confused in French
Je suis confus often means "I'm embarrassed, sorry", not "I'm confused". To say you don't follow, use je suis perdu, je ne comprends pas or je m'y perds.
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In short
For "I'm confused" (I don't understand), say Je suis perdu(e), Je ne comprends plus or Je m'y perds. Je suis confus(e) usually means "I'm so sorry / embarrassed": Je suis confuse pour ce retard.
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- confus(e)confused (not understanding)embarrassed, apologetic; also unclear (for an explanation)
Je suis vraiment confus, j'ai oublié notre rendez-vous.I'm really sorry, I forgot our appointment.
To say you don't follow, use je suis perdu(e).
- la confusiononly mental confusiona mix-up; also embarrassment
Il y a eu une confusion entre les deux dossiers.There was a mix-up between the two files.
"I'm confused" is je suis perdu(e) or je ne comprends pas bien.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je ne suis pas sûr d'avoir compris. | I'm not sure I understood. |
| Je ne comprends pas bien. | I don't quite understand. |
| Je suis un peu perdu(e). | I'm a bit lost / confused. |
| Je m'y perds. | I'm getting lost in it. |
| Je n'y comprends rien. | I don't understand a thing. |
Confus can describe an explanation: une explication confuse is a muddled one. In the apology examples on this page, it means embarrassed or apologetic. Other contexts can involve muddled thought: un esprit confus. Choose from the situation rather than translating every English use of confused the same way. If a French speaker says Je suis confuse ! after spilling coffee on you, they're apologising, not lost.
- Je suis confus, vous pouvez répéter ?Je suis perdu, vous pouvez répéter ?
Not understanding: perdu.
- Cette carte me confond.Je m'y perds avec cette carte.
For difficulty following this map, je m’y perds expresses the intended meaning. Confondre can mean mixing things up and has other senses, including astonishing or disconcerting someone.
- Je suis confusé.Je suis perdu.
Confusé doesn't exist.
- Manager
Donc, le budget A passe en B, et le B devient le budget C…
So, budget A moves to B, and B becomes budget C…
- Toi
Pardon, je suis un peu perdu. Vous pouvez reprendre ?
Sorry, I'm a bit lost. Could you go over it again?
- Manager
Oh, je suis confuse, j'ai été trop vite. Je reprends.
Oh, I'm sorry, I went too fast. I'll start again.