complejavscomplicaWhat's the difference?

Quick tell: compleja is a adjective, complica is a verb, so they fill different roles in a sentence.

Which to use

“compleja” is an adjective and “complica” is a verb - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.

#6,498
“compleja” frequency rank
#13,412
“complica” frequency rank
19910
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature compleja complica
Definition Forma del femenino de complejo. Tercera persona del singular (él, ella, ello; usted, 2.ª persona) del presente de indicativo de complicar.

Where the spellings diverge

Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set compleja and complica apart are highlighted. They share 6 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.

8 ch
compleja
8 ch
complica

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: compleja is [kõmˈplexa] while complica is [kõmˈplika]. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they share most of their letters but differ in 2 positions, and the parts of speech differ too (adjective vs verb), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 19910, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

compleja is recorded at frequency rank #6,498, classified as anadj, pronounced [kõmˈplexa]. complica is at rank #13,412, tagged as averb, pronounced [kõmˈplika].

Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.

With a confusion score of 19910, this pair ranks #261,676 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.

Orthographic DNA of compleja vs complica

Shared letters: aclmop. Private to "compleja": ej. Private to "complica": i.

"compleja" · 8 letters · shape CVCCCVCV  ·  "complica" · 8 letters · shape CVCCCVCV

Known mistypes of this pair

  • complejaccompleja · cmopleja · comlpeja · commpleja · compelja · compleaj · complejja · compljea
  • complicaccomplica · cmoplica · comlpica · commplica · compilca · complcia · compliac · complicca

Frequency comparison

compleja#6,498
complica#13,412

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "compleja" and "complica" be used interchangeably?
No - they are not even the same part of speech. "compleja" is an adjective and "complica" a verb, so a sentence built for one is usually ungrammatical with the other.
Which is more common, "compleja" or "complica"?
"compleja" is the more common of the two: it sits at frequency rank #6,498 in our Spanish list, against #13,412 for "complica". The two are close in frequency, so neither is a safe default; check the meaning rather than guessing.

Remembering compleja vs complica

The fastest way to pick the right one every time.

  • Check the role first: if you need an adjective, it's “compleja”; for a verb, it's “complica”.
  • See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “compleja” entry
  • Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list