Formal:
* Être confus/confuse: This is the most literal translation and is suitable for formal situations.
* Example: "Je suis confus/confuse par cette situation." (I am confused by this situation.)
Informal:
* Être perdu: This means "to be lost," and can be used to express confusion about something.
* Example: "Je suis perdu dans cette explication." (I am lost in this explanation.)
* Être déconcerté/déconcertée: This means "to be disconcerted" and implies a feeling of being thrown off balance by something.
* Example: "Je suis déconcerté/déconcertée par sa réaction." (I am disconcerted by their reaction.)
* Ne pas comprendre: This means "not to understand" and is a simple way to express confusion.
* Example: "Je ne comprends pas ce qu'il veut dire." (I don't understand what he means.)
More colloquial:
* Être dans le brouillard: This means "to be in the fog" and implies a feeling of being unclear or uncertain.
* Example: "Je suis dans le brouillard, je n'arrive pas à y voir clair." (I am in the fog, I can't see clearly.)
The best way to say "are confused" in French will depend on the specific situation and the level of formality.