deficiente

deh-fee-thyehn-teh/defiˈθjente/

“deficiente” means “poor” in Spanish (quality or performance).

poor, inadequate

Also: deficient, substandard

Adjectivem or fB1

A sad child holding a broken wooden toy car with a missing wheel.

📝 In Action

El servicio de atención al cliente es deficiente en esta tienda.

The customer service is poor in this store.

Muchos niños sufren de una nutrición deficiente en esa región.

Many children suffer from inadequate nutrition in that region.

El informe fue considerado deficiente porque le faltaban datos importantes.

The report was considered substandard because it was missing important data.

Word Connections

Synonyms

insuficiente (insufficient)
escaso (scarce/meager)
malo (bad)

Antonyms

excelente (excellent)
suficiente (sufficient)
eficiente (efficient)

Common Collocations

servicio deficiente – poor service
nutrición deficiente – poor nutrition
rendimiento deficiente – poor performance

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "deficiente" in Spanish:

deficient→inadequate→poor→substandard→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: deficiente

Question 1 of 3

Which of these describes a 'servicio deficiente'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

deficiencia(deficiency/shortcoming) — Noun

deficientemente(poorly) — Adverb

déficit(deficit) — Noun

🎵 Rhymes▼

eficiente valiente suficiente

📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'deficiens,' which describes someone or something that is 'failing' or 'falling short.' It comes from 'de-' (away) and 'facere' (to do or make).

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: deficientFrench: déficientItalian: deficiente

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'deficiente' an insult in Spanish?

While it usually describes things (like service or nutrition), using it to describe a person's intelligence can be very offensive, similar to 'mentally deficient' in English. Use it with caution when referring to people.

What is the difference between 'malo' and 'deficiente'?

'Malo' is a general word for 'bad.' 'Deficiente' is more specific; it means something is lacking a specific quality or hasn't reached a minimum required level.

Is it always negative?

Yes, it always implies that something is missing, incomplete, or not as good as it should be.