complementar
“complementar” means “to complement” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to complement
Also: to supplement, to round out
📝 In Action
Este vino complementa muy bien el sabor del queso.
A2This wine complements the flavor of the cheese very well.
Debemos complementar nuestra dieta con más frutas y verduras.
B1We should supplement our diet with more fruits and vegetables.
Sus habilidades técnicas complementan mi experiencia en ventas.
B2His technical skills round out my sales experience.
to match/go with
📝 In Action
Ese bolso rojo complementa perfectamente tu vestido.
A2That red bag matches your dress perfectly.
Los colores fríos se complementan en esta pintura.
B1The cool colors go well together in this painting.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: complementar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly uses the idea of adding a missing piece to make something better?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'complementum', which comes from 'complere' (to fill up). It shares the same root as the English word 'complete'.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'complementar' the same as 'completar'?
Not exactly. 'Completar' means to finish something that is unfinished (like a form or a puzzle). 'Complementar' means to add something extra to something that might already be 'finished' to make it even better or more balanced.
Can I use 'complementar' for people?
Yes! It is very common to say 'Ellos se complementan muy bien' to mean a couple or a team works perfectly together because their personalities or skills match up.
How do I say 'complementary colors' in Spanish?
You use the related adjective: 'colores complementarios'.