cumplir

From Old Spanish cumplir, complir, from Latin complēre, present active infinitive of compleō (however, the preservation of the -pl-, in comparison to henchir from implēre, indicates the word did not completely undergo a popular phonetic evolution, and a more conservative pronunciation was preserved, probably due to use among the learned upper classes[1]). Compare Portuguese cumprir and English comply.

• IPA^(key): /kumˈpliɾ/ [kũmˈpliɾ]

• Audio (Colombia)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iɾ
• Syllabification: cum‧plir

cumplir (first-person singular present cumplo, first-person singular preterite cumplí, past participle cumplido)

1. to fulfil, to fulfill, to meet, to deliver (e.g., requirements, prerequisites, promise, vow)

   No prometas lo que no puedas cumplir.

   Do not promise what you cannot deliver.

2. to achieve, to accomplish, to carry out, to perform, to complete, to discharge, to fulfil(e.g., one's duties, responsibilities)
3. to turn a certain age (usually succeeded by los, although not necessary)

   Cumplí los 18 años el mes pasado.

   I turned 18 last month.

   Ella vivió con sus padres hasta que cumplió 20 años.

   She lived with her parents until she turned 20.

4. to serve (e.g., a prison sentence, an allotted time of punishment)
5. to comply
6. (reflexive) to comply with; to be fulfilled, met, honored, implemented, satisfied, performed, observed, respected, followed
7. (reflexive) to be served (e.g. a prison sentence or punishment)
8. (takes a reflexive pronoun) to come true, to be fulfilled

• cumpleaños
• cumplido
• cumplidor
• cumplimiento
• por cumplir

• complemento
• completo

• “cumplir”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014