Complement and compliment differ by one letter, and the letter matches a partner word. Complement with an e partners with complete: two things complement each other when together they form a whole. Compliment with an i partners with praise: "I like it" starts with i.
Both words are nouns and verbs. You can complement a meal with wine, and you can compliment a friend on their cooking. The first is about fit, and the second is about praise.
This page gives both meanings, the partner-word test, eight examples and 15 questions. Every answer says whether the sentence is about completeness or praise.
What each word means
complement
complement (noun and verb): something that completes or goes well with something else. "The wine complements the meal."
compliment
compliment (noun and verb): an expression of praise. "She paid me a compliment." "He complimented her work."
The rule
Complement completes
- As a verb: to go well with something, or to make it better as a pair. "The shoes complement the dress."
- As a noun: the thing that completes a pair or a set. "The wine is a perfect complement to the fish."
- In grammar, a complement is the word that completes the meaning of a verb: "She became a doctor."
- In maths, the complement of a set is what completes the whole.
Compliment is praise
- As a noun: a kind remark. "Thank you for the compliment."
- As a verb: to praise someone. "The teacher complimented my writing."
- The pattern is compliment someone on something: "He complimented her on her presentation."
- Complimentary has two meanings: expressing praise, or given free of charge. "Complimentary breakfast."
The partner-word test
- Complement pairs with complete. If the sentence is about two things fitting together, use the e spelling.
- Compliment pairs with praise. If the sentence is about kind words, use the i spelling.
- Spell the partner word in your head: compl-ete has e, and I praise has i.
- Complimentary with an i is the adjective. Complementary with an e means completing: "complementary colours".
Traps to watch
- The colours blue and orange are complementary, not complimentary, because they complete each other.
- A hotel with a complimentary breakfast gives it free; the spelling keeps the i.
- Do not write "the sauce compliments the fish" when you mean it fits well. Use complement.
- In "she complimented me on my English", the praise goes to a person, so the i spelling is correct.
How to remember
The trick: Complement has e and pairs with complete. Compliment has i, and I give praise with an i.
Examples
- The wine complements the meal.The wine goes well with the food, so the e spelling is correct.
- Those shoes complement your dress.The shoes and the dress form a good pair.
- She paid me a nice compliment.The remark is praise, so the i spelling is correct.
- He complimented her on her presentation.The verb means praised, followed by on.
- The two skills complement each other.Each skill completes the other, so complement fits.
- Thank you for the compliment.The kind words are a compliment.
- The hotel serves a complimentary breakfast.Complimentary here means free of charge.
- The blue curtains complement the grey walls.The colours go well together, so the e spelling is correct.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Those shoes compliment your dress. Right: Those shoes complement your dress.
- The shoes go well with the dress, so the e spelling that pairs with complete is correct.
- Wrong: Thank you for the complement. Right: Thank you for the compliment.
- The thanks are for praise, so the i spelling is needed.
- Wrong: The new software compliments the system. Right: The new software complements the system.
- The software completes the system, so complement with e is correct.
- Wrong: She complemented me on my English. Right: She complimented me on my English.
- Giving praise is complimenting, with the i spelling.
- Wrong: The dessert was a perfect compliment to the meal. Right: The dessert was a perfect complement to the meal.
- The dessert completes the meal, so the e spelling is correct.
Practice drill
Answer all 15 questions. Each answer is marked at once, and the rule is explained under the question.
The wine ___ the meal.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. complements The wine goes well with the food, so complement with e is correct.
Those shoes ___ your dress.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. complement The shoes complete the look, so the e spelling is needed.
She paid me a nice ___.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. compliment A kind remark is a compliment with the i spelling.
He ___ her on her presentation.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. complimented The verb meaning praised is complimented with an i.
The two skills ___ each other.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. complement Each skill completes the other, so complement with e fits.
Thank you for the ___.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. compliment The thanks are for praise, so compliment with i is correct.
The hotel serves a ___ breakfast.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. complimentary Here complimentary means free of charge, with the i spelling.
The blue curtains ___ the grey walls.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. complement The colours go well together, so complement with e is correct.
Blue and orange are ___ colours.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. complementary The colours complete each other, so complementary with e is correct.
The teacher ___ my writing.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. complimented The teacher gave praise, so complimented with i is needed.
The sauce is a perfect ___ to the fish.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. complement The sauce completes the dish, so complement with e is correct.
He is always quick with a ___.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. compliment A quick kind remark is a compliment with i.
The two teams ___ each other well.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. complement Each team brings what the other lacks, so complement with e is correct.
The guests received ___ tickets.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. complimentary Free tickets are complimentary with the i spelling.
Her remark was a lovely ___.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. compliment A lovely remark is praise, so compliment with i is correct.
Questions learners ask
What does complimentary mean?
It has two meanings. It can mean expressing praise: "complimentary remarks". It can also mean free: "a complimentary drink". Both meanings use the i spelling.
Is a compliment always about appearance?
No. A compliment can praise work, cooking, a skill or a character trait. "You handled that difficult call very well" is a compliment about skill.
What is a complement in grammar?
A complement is the word or phrase that completes the meaning of a verb or a noun. In "she became a doctor", a doctor is the subject complement. It completes the idea that became introduces.
More confusing words
Sight, site or cite
Sight is about seeing, site is a place or a website, and cite means to quote a source.
Remember vs remind
Remember is memory that stays in your own head. Remind means to make someone else remember, so it needs a person after the verb.
Who vs whom
Who does the action, like he. Whom receives the action, like him, and often follows a preposition.
Browse all the confusing word pairs or take the free A1 to C2 level test to find your starting point.