Complement vs Compliment at a glance
- complement
/ˈkɒmplɪment/ · verb
To go well with something and make it better or complete.
- The wine complements the fish perfectly.
- Their skills complement each other.
- compliment
/ˈkɒmplɪmənt/ · noun
Something nice you say to praise someone.
- She paid me a compliment on my haircut.
- Thanks for the compliment!
How to remember it
A complement completes something. A compliment says "I like your...": both have an i.
Good to know
Both words can be nouns and verbs. Complimentary also means free: complimentary drinks.
Common mistakes
Wrong: He complemented me on my English.
Right: He complimented me on my English.
Wrong: The sauce compliments the pasta well.
Right: The sauce complements the pasta well.
Quick quiz
1.That's the nicest anyone has given me.
2.The blue cushions the grey sofa.
Pick the right word for each gap.