One completes or enhances, the other praises.
Noun or verb. Something that completes, enhances, or goes perfectly with something else.
The wine was the perfect complement to the meal.
El vino fue el complemento perfecto para la comida.
These colors complement each other beautifully.
Estos colores se complementan de manera hermosa.
Her skills complement mine perfectly.
Sus habilidades se complementan perfectamente con las mías.
Noun or verb. A remark that expresses praise or admiration. Something nice you say to someone.
She received many compliments on her presentation.
Recibió muchos elogios por su presentación.
He complimented her on her new haircut.
Él la elogió por su nuevo corte de cabello.
That's a real compliment coming from you.
Eso es un verdadero cumplido viniendo de ti.
Common mistake
Mixing them up due to similar spelling. Wrong: "She complemented my dress." (if you meant she said something nice about it: complimented)
Trick to remember it
'ComplEment' contains 'E' — think 'complEte'. 'ComplIment' contains 'I' — think 'I said something nice'.
Quick rule
Does something complete or enhance another thing? Use 'complement'. Is someone saying something nice? Use 'compliment'.
Did you know?
'Compliments of the season' is a formal English phrase for holiday greetings. It always uses 'compliment' (with an 'i') because it means a gracious expression of goodwill — not a complement that completes something.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
Red wine is the perfect ____ to a steak dinner.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
He paid her a ____ on her excellent work.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Does something complete or enhance another thing? Use 'complement'. Is someone saying something nice? Use 'compliment'.
Mixing them up due to similar spelling. Wrong: "She complemented my dress." (if you meant she said something nice about it: complimented)
'ComplEment' contains 'E' — think 'complEte'. 'ComplIment' contains 'I' — think 'I said something nice'.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy