Confus vs. déroutant

The French words 'confus' and 'déroutant' both refer to the idea of confusion or lack of clarity. Although they have a similar general usage, they can imply different degrees of confusion and are used in slightly different contexts.

Confus

Refers to something that is unclear or mixed up to the point of not being able to understand it well. It can describe a situation, statement, or someone's thoughts or feelings.
Les explications du professeur étaient confuses.
(The professor's explanations were confusing.)
Je suis confus de toutes ces règles compliquées.
(I am confused by all these complicated rules.)
Après la collision, les témoignages des gens étaient assez confus.
(After the collision, people's testimonies were quite confused.)

Déroutant

Usually describes something that is disorienting or baffling, often because it goes against expectations or is hard to follow. It can apply to complex situations, puzzles, or anything that causes one to feel mentally turned around or lost.
Le montage du film était si déroutant que les spectateurs ne pouvaient pas suivre l'intrigue.
(The editing of the movie was so disorienting that viewers couldn't follow the plot.)
Cette illusion d'optique est vraiment déroutante!
(This optical illusion is really baffling!)
Son comportement était déroutant ; il a agi contrairement à ce qu'il avait promis.
(His behavior was puzzling; he acted contrary to what he had promised.)

Summary

In summary, 'confus' often describes a state of general muddled thinking or unclear communication, whereas 'déroutant' points more toward something that is perplexing or disorientating due to its complexity or unexpected nature. Both words express different facets of confusion but can sometimes be used interchangeably depending on the context and nuance intended by the speaker. Understanding their specific connotations helps convey precise meanings and effectively capture the essence of a confusing situation in French discourse.