Comprimento vs. Cumprimento: Length or a Greeting?
Comprimento measures length; cumprimento can mean a greeting or the fulfillment of a duty or promise.
Real Life Portuguese · 5 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Comprimento with o refers to the length of an object, space, or period. It answers how long something is. The adjective comprido (long) shares the same root and can help you remember the vowel.
Use comprimento for a measurement
Use the unit or object after the word when the measurement needs to be clear: comprimento de dois metros, comprimento da rua, or comprimento do texto.
Qual é o comprimento da mesa?
What is the length of the table?
A ponte tem dois quilômetros de comprimento.
The bridge is two kilometers long.
O comprimento do artigo ficou adequado.
The article’s length turned out to be suitable.
Use cumprimento for a greeting or fulfillment
Cumprimento with u can mean a greeting or the act of greeting someone: mandar um cumprimento (send regards), receber os cumprimentos (receive congratulations or greetings). It also names the act of fulfilling a duty, promise, or requirement: cumprimento do acordo.
The verb cumprir means to fulfill or carry out. That link helps distinguish cumprimento from comprimento, which measures length.
Envie meus cumprimentos à sua família.
Send my regards to your family.
O cumprimento do prazo depende de todos.
Meeting the deadline depends on everyone.
Ela cumprimentou os convidados na entrada.
She greeted the guests at the entrance.
Put it into practice
Comprimento is length. Cumprimento is a greeting or the fulfillment of a promise, duty, or requirement.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “The bridge is two kilometers long”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
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