{"id":4489,"date":"2026-06-15T14:30:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T14:30:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/?p=4489"},"modified":"2026-06-15T14:30:58","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T14:30:58","slug":"adventures-in-etymology-befuddled-confusion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/?p=4489","title":{"rendered":"Adventures in Etymology &#8211; Befuddled Confusion"},"content":{"rendered":"<div itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/AudioObject\"><meta itemprop=\"name\" content=\"Adventures in Etymology &amp;#8211; Befuddled Confusion\" \/><meta itemprop=\"uploadDate\" content=\"2026-06-15T14:30:58+00:00\" \/><meta itemprop=\"encodingFormat\" content=\"audio\/mpeg\" \/><meta itemprop=\"duration\" content=\"PT2M30S\" \/><meta itemprop=\"description\" content=\"In this Adventure in Etymology we untangle the befuddling roots of the word confusion.\n\n\n\nConfusion [k\u0259n\u02c8fju\u02d0\u0292\u0259n] can mean a lack of clarity or order; the state of being confused; a misunderstanding; the act of mistaking one thing for another, or a l...\" \/><meta itemprop=\"contentUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/befuddledconfusion.mp3\" \/><meta itemprop=\"contentSize\" content=\"2.4\" \/><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_209\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-4489-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/befuddledconfusion.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/befuddledconfusion.mp3\">https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/befuddledconfusion.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><\/div><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_links_mp3\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1px !important;\">Podcast: <a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/befuddledconfusion.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_pinw\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Play in new window\" onclick=\"return powerpress_pinw('https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/?powerpress_pinw=4489-podcast');\" rel=\"nofollow\">Play in new window<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/befuddledconfusion.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_d\" title=\"Download\" rel=\"nofollow\" download=\"befuddledconfusion.mp3\">Download<\/a><\/p><p>In this Adventure in Etymology we untangle the befuddling roots of the word <strong>confusion<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/muszka\/13919413669\/in\/photolist-nd1CJR-4DKJNP-61Hpo3-66M1mT-emQ7ku-7T7H5P-U3F4Gu-8qm9P9-ieF3mM-qCNbn-6TxKRM-2hBXt8-6hksDo-5VtLvY-9SKbyy-jNdk6-nwMKAf-idgMLY-b8CDTB-9AKdVh-hJoGE-6LQo2E-UeJ7dd-qa2MsQ-mxx6bh-Qg1BvX-pNfmTA-ajhkjK-PwE1Wh-97Ra2D-sipgZt-2m8dT6N-5E8e8f-5HhpZC-dTnTht-dNHHtJ-RuT2g-3i8NT-3iNeJC-3ny4sd-aBQF85-7SYEkm-4QD7sP-6G3ozA-5xfkJ-3eQtzD-2Rh7iA-3eURgy-7EjeP9-4RUGt2\" title=\"Confusion\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/5471\/13919413669_9e91306a91_z.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"452\" alt=\"Confusion\"\/><\/a><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>Confusion<\/strong> [k\u0259n\u02c8fju\u02d0\u0292\u0259n] can mean a lack of clarity or order; the state of being confused; a misunderstanding; the act of mistaking one thing for another, or a lack of understanding due to dementia. It is also the collective noun for a group of wildebeest(s) (a.k.a. gnu).<\/p>\n<p><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/rainbirder\/5582890429\/in\/photolist-9vkLPx-8JnhGo-S7Cp8b-2nRsgn3-VBAE47-2yJcM6-SLA9s5-YU3xUd-Xk9dab-WFYm2X-2nA7txF-2yJcR2-6qdnkt-2nA2oE3-2nA9WTF-YU3xWY-Y8YzzB-8wEgCt-afodsr-buKbSw-SWwFmd-2iDW3n2-Z7m3Us-bHDUtx-afr1LL-Z7kZ39-8Qz6JJ-Y8YzDz-25k7Jn6-mjmVd-xxBnkr-2nxuRGy-C43hsY-S7Cpgh-WQ8aPm-2nxA2iS-2yJcPK-XX1NQB-mjhMV-Za7gGR-Z7m8FG-2jyAy5f-XTzyKw-Z7kYTw-WGvW9e-xybbtr-YU3xNw-Sb9cnR-5z2nW5-8wHj35\" title=\"Wildebeest herd\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/5140\/5582890429_bcb48219fd_z.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"435\" alt=\"Wildebeest herd\"\/><\/a><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<em>A confusion of wildebeest(s) \/ gnus<\/em><\/p>\n<p>It comes from Middle English <em>confusioun<\/em> (destruction, disgrace, disorder), from Old French <em>confusion<\/em> (spread), from Latin <em>c\u014dnf\u016bsi\u014d <\/em> (mixing, confounding, trouble), from <em>c\u014dnfund\u014d<\/em> (to pour, stir up, diffuse, combine, confuse), from <em>con-<\/em> (with, together) and <em>fund\u014d<\/em> (to pour out, overthrow, spread out) [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/confusion#English\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>Other words from the Latin word <em>c\u014dnfund\u014d<\/em> include <strong>confondere<\/strong> (to mix up, confuse, embarrass) in Italian, <strong>confondre<\/strong> (to confuse, mix up) in French, <strong>confundir<\/strong> (to confuse, mistake, confound) in Spanish, <strong>konfus<\/strong> (confused) in German [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/confundo#Latin\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>Other words from the Latin word <em>fund\u014d<\/em> (to pour out, etc) include <strong>confound<\/strong>, <strong>foundation<\/strong>, <strong>foundry<\/strong>, <strong>fuse<\/strong> and <strong>fusion<\/strong> in English, <strong>fondre<\/strong> (to melt, smelt) in French, <strong>hundir<\/strong> (to sink, ruin, collapse) in Spanish, and <strong>ffynnu<\/strong> (to prosper) in Welsh [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/fundo#Latin\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re both <strong>confused<\/strong> and <strong>befuddled<\/strong>, you could say that you&#8217;re <strong>confuddled<\/strong>, but that might be <strong>confusing<\/strong>, <strong>befuddling<\/strong>,  <strong>confuddling<\/strong> and maybe even <strong>fuddlesome<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Incidentally, <strong>befuddle<\/strong> comes from  <strong>be-<\/strong> (to become, to cause to be) and  <strong>fuddle<\/strong> (to confuse, intoxicate, get drunk), the origins of which are not known [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/befuddle#English\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>Some related words include <strong>fuddlement<\/strong> (the state of being befuddled), <strong>fuddlesome<\/strong> (confusing, marked by fuddling), <strong>fuddle-duddle<\/strong> (to depart, be off), and <strong>fuddling<\/strong> (drunkenness).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Note<\/strong>: normally I publish these Adventures in Etymology on Saturdays, but I didn&#8217;t get round to doing so last week as I was away in London for a few days. So this is either the delayed Adventure from last week, or an early Adventure for this week. If I have time, I will do another Adventure this week as well. I hope that&#8217;s not too confusing, befuddling or confuddling.<\/p>\n<p>If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/uk\/cgi-bin\/webscr?cmd=_flow&amp;SESSION=aLjPfXL-vP_1gQ_U23Iz8_hSWLlhzLHPMFZrt32dIEfG8htoNFLYaPoWkv8&amp;dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8def8934b92a630e40b7fef61ab7e9fe63\">PayPal<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/omniglot\">Patreon<\/a>, or <a href=\"http:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/donations.htm\">contribute to Omniglot in other ways<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with <a href=\"https:\/\/blubrry.com\/services\/podcast-hosting\/?code=omniglot\">Blubrry Podcast Hosting<\/a>, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code <strong>omniglot<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.japanesepod101.com\/member\/go.php?r=759259&amp;i=b0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/images\/banners\/banner_japanesepod.jpg\" alt=\"The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com\" width=\"630\" height=\"83\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/bloggle\/\">Omniglot Blog<\/a>, and I explore etymological connections between Celtic languages on the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/\">Celtiadur<\/a> blog.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-5001128073855040\"\n   crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<!-- Blog horizontal --><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n   style=\"display:block\"\n   data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-5001128073855040\"\n   data-ad-slot=\"1685480124\"\n   data-ad-format=\"auto\"\n   data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n   (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/AudioObject\"><meta itemprop=\"name\" content=\"Adventures in Etymology &amp;#8211; Befuddled Confusion\" \/><meta itemprop=\"uploadDate\" content=\"2026-06-15T14:30:58+00:00\" \/><meta itemprop=\"encodingFormat\" content=\"audio\/mpeg\" \/><meta itemprop=\"duration\" content=\"PT2M30S\" \/><meta itemprop=\"description\" content=\"In this Adventure in Etymology we untangle the befuddling roots of the word confusion.\n\n\n\nConfusion [k\u0259n\u02c8fju\u02d0\u0292\u0259n] can mean a lack of clarity or order; the state of being confused; a misunderstanding; the act of mistaking one thing for another, or a l...\" \/><meta itemprop=\"contentUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/befuddledconfusion.mp3\" \/><meta itemprop=\"contentSize\" content=\"2.4\" \/><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_210\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-4489-2\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/befuddledconfusion.mp3?_=2\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/befuddledconfusion.mp3\">https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/befuddledconfusion.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><\/div><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_links_mp3\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1px !important;\">Podcast: <a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/befuddledconfusion.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_pinw\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Play in new window\" onclick=\"return powerpress_pinw('https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/?powerpress_pinw=4489-podcast');\" rel=\"nofollow\">Play in new window<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/befuddledconfusion.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_d\" title=\"Download\" rel=\"nofollow\" download=\"befuddledconfusion.mp3\">Download<\/a><\/p><p>In this Adventure in Etymology we untangle the befuddling roots of the word confusion. Confusion [k\u0259n\u02c8fju\u02d0\u0292\u0259n] can mean a lack of clarity or order; the state of being confused; a misunderstanding; the act of mistaking one thing for another, or a lack of understanding due to dementia. It is also the collective noun for a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[98,20,56,23,24,12,4,50,58,11,109,1,28,7],"tags":[443,419,90,9,167,88,8,103],"class_list":["post-4489","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adventures-in-etymology","category-english","category-etymology","category-french","category-german","category-italian","category-language","category-latin","category-middle-english","category-music","category-old-french-franceis","category-podcast","category-spanish","category-welsh","tag-befuddlement","tag-confusion","tag-etymology","tag-language","tag-linguistics","tag-omniglot","tag-podcast","tag-words"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4489","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4489"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4489\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4490,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4489\/revisions\/4490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4489"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4489"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4489"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}