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cumplir

to fulfil

verb koom-PLEER Common

Origin: From Latin complere (to fill up, complete).

Also means

to complete, to turn (an age)

Usage Note

Cumplir has several common uses: to fulfil an obligation (cumplir la ley, to obey the law), to complete a period of time (cumplir diez años, to turn ten years old), and to keep a promise (cumplir su palabra). The phrase cumplir años literally means 'to complete years' and is the standard way to say 'to have a birthday' in Spanish.

Examples

"Mañana cumplo treinta años."

Natural Translation

Tomorrow I turn thirty.

Literal Translation

Tomorrow I complete thirty years.

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