complementare

complementary

adjective kom-pleh-men-TAH-reh Less Common

Origin: Latin complementum (that which completes)

Also means

supplementary

Usage Note

Complementare is invariable for gender: un corso complementare / un'attività complementare. It is often used in academic or professional contexts to describe elective or supplementary courses (materie complementari). Do not confuse with complimentare (to compliment someone), a false cognate trap.

Examples

"Queste due materie sono complementari."

Natural Translation

These two subjects are complementary.

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