Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| مُعَقَّد | muʕaqqad |
| مُرَكَّب | murakkab |
| صَعْب | ṣaʕb |
| عَوِيص | ʕawīṣ |
مُعَقَّد is used to describe something that is difficult or convoluted to understand. While it specifically implies difficulty arising from complexity or many interconnected parts, other words can also be used to express a similar sense of difficulty.
What does it mean word for word?
The word مُعَقَّد is derived from the root ع–ق–د (ʿ-q-d), which relates to tying knots, implying that something is 'knotted' or tangled.
Which one should you use?
مُعَقَّد means 'complicated' in the sense of being difficult to understand. In contrast, مُرَكَّب is often used to mean 'compound' or 'complex' in a structural or chemical sense. Additionally, while صَعْب is a more general term for 'difficult' or 'hard,' مُعَقَّد specifically points to the difficulty caused by complexity.
How do you pronounce it?
muʕaqqad
Did you know?
- The word مُرَكَّب comes from the root meaning 'to ride' or 'to mount'. It suggests that a complex object is something that has been 'mounted' or assembled from different parts.
- The root of مُعَقَّد is used in legal and traditional contexts to describe a 'contract', because a contract is seen as something that 'binds' or 'ties' parties together.
- An Arabic speaker might use the phrase قضية شائكة (qaḍiyya šā'ika) to describe a complicated issue, which literally translates to a 'thorny case'.
Examples in context
- هذا الموضوع مُعَقَّد.This topic is complicated.
- هذه المسألة صَعْبَةٌ.This issue is complicated/difficult.
- هذا الأمر مُرَبَّكٌ.This matter is complicated/bewildering.
- هاد الموضوع مَشْوَش.This topic is complicated/confusing.
- هذا النظام مُعَقَّد جِدًّا.hadha al-nizam mu'aqqad jiddan.This system is very complicated.
- الخطة مُعَقَّدَة وَتَحتاجُ لِوَقتٍ.al-khitta mu'aqqada wa tahtaju li waqt.The plan is complicated and needs time.
- لَدَيَّ مَشْكِلَةٌ مُعَقَّدَةٌ هُنَا.ladayya mushkila mu'aqqada huna.I have a complicated problem here.
Example conversation
Omar and Maryam are discussing a technical problem at work.
- عمر Omarهَلْ فَهِمْتِ هَذَا المَوْضُوعَ؟hal fahimti hadha al-mawdu'?Did you understand this subject?
- مريم Maryamلَا، إِنَّهُ مُعَقَّدٌ جِدًّا.la, innahu mu'aqqad jiddan.No, it is very complicated.
- عمر Omarسَأُحَاوِلُ شَرْحَهُ لَكِ يَا مَرْيَمُ.sa-uhawilu sharhahu laki ya Maryam.I will try to explain it to you, Maryam.
- مريم Maryamشُكْرًا لَكَ يَا عُمَرُ.shukran laka ya Omar.Thank you, Omar.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “complicated” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
