to complete
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to complete
To bring a piece of work, a creation, or a task to a conclusion, often with a sense of perfection or completeness.
Der Komponist hat seine letzte Sinfonie kurz vor seinem Tod vollendet.
The composer completed his last symphony shortly before his death.
to reach
To reach a certain year of life. This phrasing is usually used in a formal context for milestone birthdays or legal adulthood.
Morgen vollendet sie ihr 18. Lebensjahr.
Tomorrow she reaches her 18th year of life.
The verb 'vollenden' (to complete) is made up of 'voll' (full) and 'enden' (to end). Literally, it means to bring something to a 'full end.' It is an inseparable verb, so the prefix always stays attached to the stem.
Sie hofft, dass sie ihr Kunstwerk bald vollendet.
She hopes that she will complete her artwork soon.
'Vollenden' (to complete) is an elevated and formal word. In normal usage, you would often use simpler verbs like 'fertig machen' (to finish) or 'beenden' (to end/finish).
Der Künstler brauchte Jahre, um das Gemälde zu vollenden.
The artist needed years to complete the painting.
This meaning is often used for large, important, or creative tasks. Typical objects are 'ein Werk' (a work), 'ein Projekt' (a project), 'ein Bauwerk' (a structure), or 'eine Mission' (a mission).
Die Architekten haben den Plan für das neue Museum vollendet.
The architects completed the plan for the new museum.
When talking about age, a fixed structure is used: 'das [Zahl]. Lebensjahr vollenden' (to reach one's [number]th year of life). The object is always 'das Lebensjahr' with an ordinal number.
Nächste Woche vollendet mein Großvater sein 80. Lebensjahr.
Next week my grandfather reaches his 80th year of life.
to reach
Erreichen and vollenden can both describe reaching a certain age. You generally use erreichen for an age; vollenden ein Lebensjahr (to complete a year of life) is a more formal expression, used especially for milestone birthdays or legal adulthood.
Mia vollendet heute ihr 18. Lebensjahr.
Mia completes her 18th year of life today.
Mia erreicht heute das Alter von 18 Jahren.
Mia turns 18 today.
