B1–C1 Vocabulary Spelling

Complement vs Compliment: How to Tell Them Apart

Q: What is the difference between complement and compliment?

Complement (with an e) means something that completes, enhances, or goes perfectly with something else: The wine is a perfect complement to the cheese. Compliment (with an i) is an expression of praise: She paid him a lovely compliment. Both can be nouns and verbs.

Q: How do I remember the spelling of complement vs compliment?

Link complement (with e) to complete — both contain e and relate to completing or enhancing. Link compliment (with i) to I — as in 'I think you look great!' Another mnemonic: complEment and Enhance share an E; complIment and praIse share an I.

Q: Can complement and compliment both be verbs?

Yes. Complement as a verb means to go well with or enhance: Her calm manner complements his energetic style. Compliment as a verb means to praise: He complimented her on her excellent report. The e/i spelling rule applies regardless of part of speech.

Q: What is the difference between complementary and complimentary?

Complementary (with e) means going well together or forming a whole: complementary colours, complementary skills. Complimentary (with i) means expressing praise (a complimentary review) or free of charge (complimentary breakfast, complimentary tickets).

Q: What does "a full complement" mean?

A full complement refers to the complete required number of people or things: The ship sailed with a full complement of crew. Always spelled with e (complement) because it relates to completeness, not praise.

Q: Does "complimentary" always mean free?

No. Complimentary has two meanings: (1) praising or expressing admiration — the reviews were highly complimentary; (2) free of charge — complimentary breakfast, complimentary ticket. Both uses are spelled with an i.

Q: What are complementary colours?

Complementary colours (with e) are pairs of colours opposite each other on the colour wheel: red and green, blue and orange, yellow and purple. They create maximum contrast when placed together. Always spelled with e because the idea is completion, not praise.

Q: How do I use "pay a compliment" correctly?

'Pay a compliment' means to say something kind and praising about a person: He paid her a compliment on her singing. You pay, give, or receive a compliment. Always spelled with i because you are expressing praise.

Q: Are complement and compliment pronounced the same?

In most accents they are pronounced identically or nearly so: /ˈkɒm.plɪ.mənt/. This is why the spelling confusion is so widespread — you cannot rely on pronunciation. Focus on meaning: completing/enhancing (e) versus praising (i).

Q: Do native English speakers confuse complement and compliment?

Yes, very frequently. This is one of the most commonly misspelled word pairs in published English. Knowing the rule — e for completing/enhancing, i for praising — and using a mnemonic puts you ahead of many native writers.

Confused by complement and compliment? One letter separates them — but they mean completely different things. Learn the spelling trick, see clear examples, and test yourself with a free quiz.

Quick Answer

Complement (with an e) means something that completes or goes perfectly with something else: The sauce is a perfect complement to the fish. Compliment (with an i) is an expression of praise: She paid him a lovely compliment. Both words can be nouns and verbs.

Complement

Part of speech: noun & verb

Something that completes, enhances, or goes perfectly with something else; or the complete required number of something. As a verb: to go well with or to enhance.

Example: The crisp white wine was a perfect complement to the seafood.

Compliment

Part of speech: noun & verb

An expression of praise, admiration, or approval directed at a person. As a verb: to say something praising or admiring to someone.

Example: She received many compliments on her presentation.

The Key Difference

The confusion between complement and compliment is entirely about spelling — specifically the vowel in the middle: -e- versus -i-. In most accents the two words sound identical, which is why the mistake is so common even among fluent speakers.

Complement (with an e) belongs to the family of words concerned with completing something. When two things complement each other, they work together to form a whole or to bring out the best in each other. You might speak of complementary colours on an artist’s palette, a full complement of staff in an office, or the way a particular sauce complements a dish. The key idea is always completion or enhancement.

Compliment (with an i) belongs to the world of social praise. When you compliment someone, you express admiration for them — for their work, appearance, skill, or character. A compliment is personal and directed at an individual. You pay a compliment; you receive a compliment; you can be complimented on something. Note also that complimentary (from this root) has the additional meaning of free of charge in many contexts: a complimentary drink, a complimentary upgrade.

Memory Trick

💡 Tip: Link complement to complete — both have an e and both involve completing or going well with something. Link compliment to I — as in “I think you’re wonderful!” — a personal remark directed at someone. One more: complEment and Enhance both have an E; complIment and praIse both have an I.

Examples in Context

Seeing the two words side by side in similar sentences makes the difference immediately clear.

The bold red cushions complement the neutral sofa beautifully. (they go well together)

He complimented her on the colour she had chosen for the room. (he praised her choice)

A crisp Riesling is often the best complement to spicy Asian food. (it completes the meal)

The chef received several compliments from the diners that evening. (expressions of praise)

The hospital now has a full complement of nursing staff. (complete required number)

The manager took a moment to compliment the team on their hard work. (to praise publicly)

Related Forms: Complementary vs Complimentary

The adjective forms cause just as much confusion as the base words, so it is worth giving them their own treatment.

Adjective	Meaning	Example
Complementary	Going well together; completing each other; forming a whole	Complementary colours, complementary skills, complementary medicine
Complimentary	(1) Expressing praise; (2) given free of charge	A complimentary review; complimentary breakfast; complimentary tickets

The rule is the same: if the idea is about completing or enhancing, use the e spelling. If the idea is about praise or something provided free, use the i spelling.

Common Mistakes

ESL learners — and native speakers — fall into a handful of predictable traps with this pair.

She paid him a nice complement on his speech.

She paid him a nice compliment on his speech. (it is an expression of praise → compliment with an i)

The bold earrings complimented her outfit.

The bold earrings complemented her outfit. (they enhanced it; no person is being praised → complement with an e)

The hotel offered a complementary welcome drink.

The hotel offered a complimentary welcome drink. (free of charge → complimentary with an i)

Quick Quiz

Think you have got it? Put your knowledge to the test with LexFizz’s interactive exercises:

True or False — decide whether a sentence uses the correct word.
Complete the Sentence — fill in the blank with complement or compliment.
Cloze Dropdown — choose the correct form from a dropdown menu.

Related Pairs

If you find complement / compliment tricky, you might also want to review these commonly confused word pairs:

Advice vs Advise — noun/verb spelling pair, similar to complement/compliment.
Practice vs Practise — noun vs verb spelling (British English).
Affect vs Effect — another pair that trips up learners at every level.
Browse all confusing word pairs →

Practise What You’ve Learned

LexFizz has 30 free interactive exercises — no sign-up needed.

Browse All Exercises →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between complement and compliment?

Complement (spelled with an e in the middle) means something that completes, enhances, or goes perfectly with something else: The wine is a perfect complement to the cheese. The sauce complements the fish beautifully. Compliment (spelled with an i) is an expression of praise or admiration directed at a person: She paid him a lovely compliment. He complimented the team on their results. Both words can be nouns and verbs, which adds to the confusion, but the core meanings are entirely different.

How do I remember the spelling of complement vs compliment?

The most reliable trick is to link complement (with e) to the word complete — both contain the letter e and both relate to completing or going well with something. Link compliment (with i) to the word I — as in "I think you look great!" — a personal remark of praise. Another mnemonic: complEment and Enhance share an E (enhancement); complIment and praIse share an I (personal praise). Choose whichever mnemonic sticks for you and apply it consistently.

Can complement and compliment both be verbs?

Yes, both words function as nouns and verbs. Complement as a verb means to go well with or to enhance: Her calm manner complements his energetic style. The flavours complement each other perfectly. Compliment as a verb means to praise or express admiration: He complimented her on her excellent report. The director complimented the cast after the final performance. The same spelling rule applies regardless of the part of speech: e for completing/enhancing, i for praising.

What is the difference between complementary and complimentary?

Complementary (adjective from complement, with e) means going well together, completing each other, or forming a whole: complementary colours on the colour wheel, complementary skills in a team, complementary medicine alongside conventional treatment. Complimentary (adjective from compliment, with i) has two meanings: first, expressing praise or admiration (a complimentary review, she was very complimentary about my work); second, provided free of charge as a courtesy (a complimentary breakfast, complimentary tickets, a complimentary upgrade). The e/i distinction carries over exactly from the base words.

What does "a full complement" mean?

A full complement refers to the complete, required number of people or things needed to make something fully operational or complete. Common examples: The ship sailed with a full complement of crew. The school finally has a full complement of teaching staff. The orchestra performed with a full complement of musicians. This is always spelled with an e (complement) because it relates to completeness, not to praise. It is a formal expression used in professional, nautical, and military contexts.

Does "complimentary" always mean free?

No, complimentary has two distinct meanings. The first is praising or expressing admiration: The reviews were highly complimentary. She made several complimentary remarks about his cooking. The second meaning, free of charge as a courtesy or gift, is very common in hospitality and retail: complimentary breakfast, complimentary glass of wine, complimentary ticket, complimentary copy of the report. Context usually makes the intended meaning clear. Both uses are spelled with an i (complimentary), never with an e.

What are complementary colours?

Complementary colours (always spelled with e) are pairs of colours positioned opposite each other on the colour wheel, such as red and green, blue and orange, or yellow and purple. When placed side by side they create maximum contrast and make each other appear more vivid. Artists and designers use complementary colour schemes for bold, high-impact compositions. The word is spelled with e because the colours complete each other visually — the idea of completion, not praise, is central to this use.

How do I use "pay a compliment" correctly?

Pay a compliment is a fixed English idiom meaning to say something kind and praising about a person: He paid her a compliment on her singing. She paid the chef a well-deserved compliment. You pay a compliment, give a compliment, or receive a compliment. The word pay here is a formal/literary way of saying offer or give, in the same way as pay respect or pay attention. Note the spelling: it is always compliment with an i, because you are expressing praise — not completing something.

Are complement and compliment pronounced the same?

In most accents of British and American English they are pronounced identically or nearly so: /ˈkɒm.plɪ.mənt/. The vowel difference in the written form (e versus i) often disappears in natural speech because both settle into the same unstressed schwa sound in the middle syllable. This is precisely why the spelling confusion is so widespread — you cannot rely on pronunciation to guide you. You need to focus on meaning: completing/enhancing (e) versus praising (i).

Do native English speakers confuse complement and compliment?

Yes, very frequently. This pair is among the most commonly misspelled word pairs in published English, appearing incorrectly in newspapers, marketing materials, social media posts, and even academic texts. The confusion is so widespread that most style guides address it explicitly. Knowing the rule — e for completing/enhancing, i for praising — and applying a mnemonic such as the complete/I-think-you're-great trick puts you ahead of a great many native writers. It is one of those details that makes a noticeable difference to the impression your writing creates.