The difference between COMPLESSO, COMPLICATO and DIFFICILE

In this video I will explain the difference between the words "difficile", "complesso" and "complicato".

This video is for those who learned Italian as a foreign language and would like to better understand the difference between these 3 adjectives. That is, when it's better to say "difficile", when "complesso" and when "complicato".

I'm Luca and I welcome you to my channel!

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That being said, this video is my reply to a request I received not long ago from one of my subscribers. This individual specifically asked me to make a video about the difference between "difficile", "complesso" and "complicato".

Well, let me say right off the bat that these 3 adjectives have a similar meaning and some Italian native speakers tend to use them interchangeably, especially when it comes to "complesso" and "complicato".

In fact, each of these 3 adjectives has a specific nuance in meaning. Thus, based on each scenario, it would be better to use one or the other.

I say "it would be better" because in fact some Italians tend to use the words "complesso" and "complicato" as if they were equivalent synonyms.

Keep also in mind that it's often the case that the choice will depend on the word before the adjective. That is, with certain words it's more common to use the adjective "difficile", with other words "complesso", and with other words "complicato".

That being said, in this video I'll make a few remarks about the general meaning of each of these adjectives.

Let's start from the adjective "complesso"!

Oh, yes! Just a quick remark! When I say "complesso", I'm clearly referring to the 4 forms of this adjective, that is "complesso", "complessa", "complessi", "complesse".

Now I'm going to give you 4 examples so that you understand the typical meaning of the word "complesso".

The first example could be: "È un problema complesso. Non posso rispondere in tre frasi".

The second example could be: "Le preposizioni italiane sono un argomento complesso. Non posso spiegarle tutte in un video di cinque minuti".

The third example could be: "La natura è veramente complessa".

And the last example could be: "È un gioco troppo semplice. Preferisco i giochi un po' più complessi"

So, as we can see from these examples, "complesso" essentially means consisting of several parts, consisting of several levels, consisting of elements which are connected one to the other.

For instance, if I say that a problem is "complesso", I'm likely referring to the fact that this problem doesn't have a single cause, but several causes.

Similarly, if I say that Italian prepositions are "un argomento complesso", I want to say that there are several levels connected one to the other, there are several elements which are connected one to the other, there are many things to explain.

First of all, there are several prepositions. It's not that we have only one preposition, there are many prepositions.

Secondly, there are many things to say about each of them, because each can have several functions, it can be used in different ways, ecc.

So "complesso" highlights such variety and at the same time the fact that there are several levels. There isn't just one level, there are multiple levels. So, well, "complesso" means this. That is: consisting of several elements which are connected one to the other. This fact causes complexity.

At this point in time I'd like to make 2 remarks.

The first is that the word "complesso" refers to a feature of something, not to how we do something or to our relationship with something.

By contrast, the word "difficile", which I will discuss later, refers to the way of doing something or to our relationship with something. By contrast, "complesso" properly refers to a feature of something.

The other remark I wanted to make, before moving to "complicato", is this. The adjective "complesso" is the opposite of "semplice", it's not the opposite of "facile".

"Semplice" and "facile" are 2 words which have a similar meaning. "Complesso" is the opposite of "semplice", whereas "difficile" is the opposite of "facile".

"Semplice" and "complesso" refer to how something is. If something is "semplice", it means that it's linear, it's not a multilayered thing with multiple factors, multiple variables, whereas "complesso" refers to something which is multidimensional, with several variables, with several factors, with several interconnected elements, with several levels.

Let's move on to "complicato"!

Let me say right away that "complicato" mostly has a negative meaning. In this sense "complicato" has a nuance in meaning which is different from that of the word "complesso". "Complesso" has neutral meaning, so to speak. By contrast, "complicato" usually has a negative meaning.

"Complicato" refers to the fact that something could be simple, but pointless things have been added, and for this reason such thing isn't simple anymore.

Let's do some examples right away!

For example, I could say: "Quel gioco non mi piace, è troppo complicato".

What do I mean by this sentence? I mean that in my opinion in this game too many rules were added. Such rules are pointless and make the game "complicato". I for one think that these rules were not necessary and have only created problems.

Another example could be: "Quel professore non è troppo chiaro. Spiega le cose in modo complicato".

You see? In this sentence as well "complicato" has a negative meaning. It refers to the fact that this teacher doesn't explain clearly, quite the opposite: he explains poorly. Why? Quite possibly because he adds things that he shouldn't add. He adds way too many unhelpful details.

Another example with the word "complicato" could be: "Ho letto un articolo su questo argomento ma non ho capito niente. Era troppo complicato".

Again, here as well "complicato" indicates a negative opinion. In this case, "articolo complicato" should be understood as unclear article, and specifically as an article in which the author has added too much useless and poorly explained information. With this respect the word "complicato" is closer in meaning to "contorto" than to the word "complesso".

Another example could be: "All'inizio mi sembrava tutto troppo complicato, ma poi ho iniziato a capire".

What does it mean? That at first it seemed to me that there was too much information, too many unhelpful details; but then I started to gradually understand.

So now I think that you got the difference between "complesso" and "complicato".

Let's move on to our last adjective: "difficile"!

Let's consider a sentence that in my opinion clearly shows the difference between "difficile", "complesso" and "complicato".

For example, I could say: "È una situazione difficile". The word "difficile" in this case doesn't refer to the situation as such, but to my relationship to it, that is, how I feel in this situation.

By contrast, if I say "È una situazione complessa", I mean that it's a situation involving several factors, it's not a situation that I can explain in 3 minutes, because it's linear, simple and obvious; it's a situation involving several components, there are multiple interconnected levels.

By contrast, if I say that such situation is "complicata", I mean that in my opinion such situation could be simple, or rather is supposed to be simple, but some things have been added, some elements making it complicated, but the situation in itself could be simple.

I'll give you another example clearly showing the difference between difficile and complesso.

"Il professore mi ha fatto una domanda difficile". I could say that, or I could say: "Il professore mi ha fatto una domanda complessa".

What's the difference? In the first case, I focus on my reception of this question, that is, on my relationship to the question, whereas in the second case I highlight a feature of this question.

"Una domanda difficile" is question which I find difficult to answer, whereas "una domanda complessa" is a question requiring a complex answer, that is, a long answer, in all likelihood, Why long? Because there are many things to discuss.

By contrast "una domanda difficile" could as easily be a question to which I must answer just yes or no. But, if I don't find it easy to answer that, I can say that is "una domanda difficile".

Because the point is precisely this: that is, "difficile" is the opposite of "facile", whereas "complesso" is the opposite of "semplice".

"Difficile" and "facile" specifically refer to how we do something or to our relationship to something. "Una cosa facile" is something that you do without any problems, you easily do it.

I'll give you another example: "È stata una decisione difficile".

In this case, why do I say "difficile" and not "complessa"? Because I'm referring to my relationship to this decision, not as much to the fact that this decision required me to do many things, but to the fact that such decision wasn't easy for me. For instance, it has been a decision that made me suffer. But it could be that I just had to choose just yes or no.

Let's do another example!

For example, I could say: "Le preposizioni italiane sono complesse".

If I use the word "complesse", I make a point of the fact that there are many things to say, many things to know, many things to study, many things to learn.

By contrast, if I use the word "difficili", I highlight the fact that learning Italian prepositions requires effort and dedication. It's not an easy thing, or something you can do like this, without even trying.

One could also say, if they wanted: "Le preposizioni italiane sono complesse, ma non difficili". What does it mean? That there are many things to learn, but learning them comes easy.

In the comments below please let me know if you have found this video helpful!

If you have any queries about these 3 words, feel free to write them below!

In the top right corner I'm gonna add a card to another video that you might wanna watch, if you want to speak Italian well. Check it out!

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