What does cumple in Spanish mean?

What is the meaning of the word cumple in Spanish? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use cumple in Spanish.

The word cumple in Spanish means accomplish, achieve, turn, keep to, expire, come into effect, be executed, be implemented, mark, commit to, fulfill, do, hold up your side of the bargain, keep, have a birthday, meet the criteria, meet payments, meet the requirements, fulfill the requirements, do your duty, fulfill your duty, keep your word, be true to your word, keep to the schedule, follow the law, obey the law, fulfill a wish, keep a promise. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word cumple

accomplish, achieve

verbo transitivo (llevar a cabo) (goal, ambition)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Hemos cumplido nuestros objetivos para este año punto por punto.
We have achieved our objectives for this year, one by one.

turn

verbo transitivo (años de edad: alcanzar) (age)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Su hijo cumplió tres años.
ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. When I reached the age of 30, I decided to change my life completely.

keep to

verbo transitivo (plazo: respetar)

(phrasal verb, transitive, inseparable: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning, not divisible--for example,"go with" [=combine nicely]: "Those red shoes don't go with my dress." NOT [S]"Those red shoes don't go my dress with."[/S])
Nos costó mucho sacar adelante toda la tarea, pero por fin logramos cumplir los plazos que nos dieron inicialmente.
It was difficult for us to move forward with the project but in the end we were able to keep to the initial deadlines.

expire

verbo pronominal (plazo: terminarse) (deadline, formal)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Mañana se cumple el plazo que te dio tu padre para que consiguieras un trabajo.
ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. We have to finish the job before the deadline expires.

come into effect

verbo pronominal (derecho: una ley)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
El decreto 19 está listo; comuníquese y cúmplase.
ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. The new law on carbon emissions comes into effect next week.

be executed, be implemented

verbo pronominal (derecho: ejecutarse una sentencia)

La sentencia se cumplirá a partir del próximo mes.
The sentence will be implemented next month.

mark

verbo pronominal (tiempo: completarse)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
En 2011 se cumplió el bicentenario de la independencia de Paraguay.
2011 marked the bicentenary of independence in Paraguay.

commit to

(plazo: respetar)

Marta considera que sería arriesgado comprometernos a cumplir con un plazo tan corto.
Marta considers that it would be risky to commit to such a short deadline.

fulfill, do

(obligación: satisfacer)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
El soldado cumplió con su deber cuando salvó a su amigo.
The soldier fulfilled his duty when he saved his friend

hold up your side of the bargain

(no defraudarlo) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Lamento mucho que hayan perdido la oportunidad de concursar; yo cumplí con ustedes avisándoles la fecha límite a tiempo.
I'm very sorry that you missed the chance to compete. I held up my side of the bargain by telling you a long time ago about the deadline.

keep

(promesa: respetar) (promise)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
El constructor cumplió con lo prometido y terminó las obras a tiempo.
The builder kept his word and finished the work on time.

have a birthday

locución verbal (alcanzar cierta edad)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
¿Tú ya cumpliste años? Yo cumplo años en agosto. Ayer cumplía años Fabián.
You already had your birthday? My birthday is in August. Yesterday Fabian had his birthday.

meet the criteria

locución verbal (satisfacer, reunir)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
El candidato no cumple con los criterios de la empresa.
The candidate does not meet the company's criteria.

meet payments

locución verbal (liquidar adeudos)

Debemos cumplir con los pagos antes de la fecha de vencimiento.
We must meet payments before the due date.

meet the requirements, fulfill the requirements

locución verbal (satisfacer condiciones)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
María cumple con los requisitos para el puesto.
Maria meets the requirements for the position.

do your duty, fulfill your duty

locución verbal (hacer lo que debe)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Los alumnos cumplieron con su deber e hicieron las tareas.
The students fulfilled their duties and did their assignments.

keep your word, be true to your word

locución verbal (imperativo moral)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Martín cumplió con su palabra y me devolvió el dinero.
Martin kept his word and returned the money to me.

keep to the schedule

(ajustarse al horario)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

follow the law, obey the law

locución verbal (respetar la legislación)

La empresa cumple la ley.
The company follows the law.

fulfill a wish

locución verbal (realizar) (realise)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Cumplí mi deseo de viajar a Europa.
I fulfilled my wish of traveling to Europe.

keep a promise

locución verbal (imperativo moral)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Juan siempre cumple sus promesas.
Juan always keeps his promises.

Let's learn Spanish

So now that you know more about the meaning of cumple in Spanish, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in Spanish.

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Spanish (español), also known as Castilla, is a language of the Iberian-Romance group of the Romance languages, and the 4th most common language in the world according to Some sources, while others list it as a 2nd or 3rd most common language. It is the mother tongue of about 352 million people, and is spoken by 417 million people when adding its speakers as a language. sub (estimated in 1999). Spanish and Portuguese have very similar grammar and vocabulary; The number of similar vocabulary of these two languages is up to 89%. Spanish is the primary language of 20 countries around the world. It is estimated that the total number of speakers of Spanish is between 470 and 500 million, making it the second most widely spoken language in the world by number of native speakers.