Cumplir

Cumplir is a Spanish verb that means to fulfill, to carry out, or to complete an action, duty, or objective. It is also used to indicate that someone reaches a given age, as in cumplir años. The verb is transitive and can be used reflexively in the form cumplirse to express that something comes to pass or is realized.

As a transitive verb, cumplir denotes performing or achieving something: cumplir una tarea, cumplir un objetivo, cumplir un plazo, or cumplir una promesa. The construction cumplir con followed by an object expresses meeting requirements, obeying rules, or satisfying contractual terms, as in cumplir con los requisitos or cumplir con la ley. Cumplir con las expectativas is a common expression, meaning to meet expectations.

Other frequent uses include cumplir años (to turn a certain age) and, more broadly, to meet or observe obligations or norms. In everyday speech, cumplir with someone’s expectations or with a rule is common across Spanish-speaking regions.

Conjugation and etymology: cumplir comes from Latin complere ‘to fill up’ and has the standard Spanish verb paradigm. Present: yo cumplo, tú cumples, él/ella/Ud. cumple, nosotros cumplimos, vosotros cumplís, ellos cumplen. Preterite: cumplí, cumpliste, cumplió, cumplimos, cumplisteis, cumplieron. Subjunctive present: cumpla, cumplas, cumpla, cumplamos, cumplan. The reflexive form cumplirse is used when the subject itself is affected by the action, as in “se cumple la promesa.”

See also: cumplimiento (the act of fulfilling), cumplir con (obligation or rule).