спу́тываться

rare #54813

verbreflexiveimperfective perfective is спу́таться

1.
to become entangled, to get tangled, to get twisted up
Во́лосы у неё ча́сто спу́тываются.
Her hair often gets tangled.
Of threads, hair, ropes and the like; the perfective is «спутаться».
2.
to get confused, to get muddled, to lose one's train of thought, to contradict oneself
Он всегда́ спу́тывается, когда́ волну́ется.
He always gets muddled when he is nervous.
Of thoughts, memory or speech.
3.
to get mixed up with (someone), to take up with (someone), to get involved with (someone)
Не спу́тывайся с таки́ми людьми́!
Don't get mixed up with people like that!
Colloquial and disapproving; often implies a sexual relationship.

Examples

Нить, рассучивающаяся на ветру, спутывалась снова.
The thread, coming untwisted in the wind, became tangled again.
Нитки в корзине легко спутывались друг с другом.
The threads in the basket easily became tangled with one another.
Провода спутывались каждый раз, когда я их доставал.
The wires got tangled every time I took them out.
Его мысли спутывались от усталости.
His thoughts became jumbled from exhaustion.
Она не хотела спутываться с сомнительными людьми.
She didn't want to get involved with dubious people.

Imperative
ты	спу́тывайся
вы	спу́тывайтесь

Active present	спу́тывающийся	tangling, getting tangled, tangle-prone, easily tangled
Active past	спу́тывавшийся	getting tangled, becoming entangled
Passive present	-
Passive past	-
Gerund present	спу́тываясь	while doing (present)
Gerund past	спутывавшись	while doing (past)

спу́татьto mix up; to tangle; to mess up
verbperfective
спу́татьсяto get tangled
verbperfective
спу́тыватьto tangle up; to mix up; to confuse (someone)
verbimperfective
спу́тыватьсяto become entangled; to get confused; to get mixed up with (someone)
verbimperfective