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insufficiente

insufficient, inadequate

adjective een-soof-fee-CHEN-teh Less Common
Descriptions & Qualities Quality

Origin: From Latin insufficientem, from in- (not) + sufficere (to suffice).

Usage Note

Insufficiente is invariable for gender — un risultato insufficiente, una prova insufficiente — and only changes in the plural (insufficienti). In Italian school grading it is the official term for a failing mark (below 6 out of 10), so students know it well. The noun insufficienza (f) means insufficiency or a failing grade.

Examples

"Le risorse disponibili sono insufficienti."

Natural Translation

The available resources are insufficient.

Literal Translation

The resources available are insufficient.

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