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How to Say "insufficient" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “insufficient” is “insuficiente” — use 'insuficiente' when referring to something that does not meet a required amount, standard, or quality..

English → Spanish

insuficiente

/een-soo-fee-syen-teh//insufiˈsjente/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'insuficiente' when referring to something that does not meet a required amount, standard, or quality.
A tiny patchwork blanket sitting in the middle of a very large bed, showing it is not enough to cover the surface.

Examples

Tengo dinero insuficiente para comprar ese coche.

I have insufficient money to buy that car.

Las pruebas son insuficientes para cerrar el caso.

The evidence is insufficient to close the case.

El tiempo disponible fue insuficiente para terminar el examen.

The available time was not enough to finish the exam.

One Form for All

This word ends in 'e,' which means it doesn't change for boys or girls. You can use it with both masculine and feminine words without changing its ending.

Where to put it

Usually, you place 'insuficiente' after the thing you are describing, like 'agua insuficiente' (not enough water).

Don't try to make it feminine

Mistake: “La comida es insuficienta.”

Correction: La comida es insuficiente. Words ending in -e stay the same regardless of gender.

escaso

/es-KAH-so//esˈkaso/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'escaso' when referring to something that is lacking or in short supply, often implying scarcity or rarity.
A single apple sitting alone at the bottom of a large wooden crate.

Examples

El agua es escasa en el desierto.

Water is scarce in the desert.

Tenemos recursos escasos para completar el proyecto.

We have limited resources to complete the project.

La visibilidad era escasa debido a la niebla.

Visibility was poor due to the fog.

Matching with Nouns

Like most adjectives in Spanish, this word must change to match the thing it describes. Use 'escaso' for masculine items and 'escasa' for feminine items.

Placement

When you put 'escaso' before the noun, it often adds a bit of emphasis or a more formal tone compared to putting it after.

Using 'escaso' vs 'poco'

Mistake: “No tengo escaso tiempo.”

Correction: Tengo poco tiempo or Mi tiempo es escaso. 'Escaso' is usually used to describe the quality of the supply, while 'poco' simply means 'not much'.

Insufficient vs. Scarce

Learners often confuse 'insuficiente' and 'escaso'. Remember that 'insuficiente' applies when a specific requirement or standard isn't met (like insufficient funds), while 'escaso' highlights a general lack or shortage (like scarce resources).

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