Inklingo

How to Say "to fulfill" in Spanish

English → Spanish

satisfacer

sa-tees-fa-SEHRsatis.faˈseɾ

verbB1general
Use 'satisfacer' when 'to fulfill' means to meet a need, desire, or expectation, like satisfying hunger or a requirement.
A person happily drinking a glass of water after being thirsty.

Examples

Esta comida no logró satisfacer mi hambre.

This food didn't manage to satisfy my hunger.

Queremos satisfacer las necesidades de nuestros clientes.

We want to meet our customers' needs.

Ella leyó el libro para satisfacer su curiosidad.

She read the book to satisfy her curiosity.

The 'Hacer' Rule

This word is conjugated exactly like the common verb 'hacer' (to do/make). If you know that 'hacer' becomes 'hice' in the past, you'll know 'satisfacer' becomes 'satisfice'.

Using regular endings

Mistake: “Yo satisfací”

Correction: Yo satisfice. Because it follows the 'hacer' pattern, it uses a special 'i' spelling in the past instead of the regular 'í'.

honrar

on-RAHRonˈraɾ

verbB1general
Use 'honrar' when 'to fulfill' means to show respect or keep a promise or commitment, often in a moral or ceremonial sense.
A young person bowing respectfully to an elderly person in a peaceful garden.

Examples

Es importante honrar a nuestros antepasados.

It is important to honor our ancestors.

La empresa decidió honrar su promesa de aumentar los salarios.

The company decided to honor its promise to raise salaries.

Me honra mucho recibir esta invitación.

I am very honored to receive this invitation.

The 'Personal A'

Since you usually honor people, don't forget to put a small 'a' before the person you are honoring. For example: 'Honro a mi abuelo' (I honor my grandfather).

Using it as a Feeling

When you want to say something is an honor for you, use 'me honra' (it honors me) followed by the action.

Confusing the Verb and Noun

Mistake: “Es un honrar verte.”

Correction: Es un honor verte. Use 'honor' for the noun and 'honrar' only for the action of honoring.

reunir

rreh-oo-NEERre.uˈniɾ

verbC1formal
Use 'reunir' when 'to fulfill' means to meet specific criteria or conditions, typically in a formal context like job applications or qualifications.
A bright red, interlocking puzzle piece being placed perfectly and seamlessly into the corresponding empty space on a larger blue puzzle, symbolizing meeting a requirement.

Examples

El candidato no reúne los requisitos mínimos para el puesto.

The candidate does not meet the minimum requirements for the position.

Esta obra reúne belleza y complejidad técnica.

This work possesses beauty and technical complexity.

Formal Usage

In this formal sense, 'reunir' acts as a synonym for 'cumplir' (to fulfill) or 'poseer' (to possess) and is often used in negative statements about qualifications.

Satisfacer vs. Reunir Requirements

Learners often confuse 'satisfacer' and 'reunir' when the English meaning is 'to meet requirements'. Remember, 'reunir' is specifically for meeting formal criteria or conditions, while 'satisfacer' is broader, covering needs and expectations.

Related Translations

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