Otillräcklig

Otillräcklig is a Swedish adjective meaning not sufficient or inadequate, referring to quantities, quality, or capability. It describes something that fails to meet a required level or standard and is the negation of tillräcklig, which means sufficient.

Etymology and forms: The word is formed by adding the negating prefix o- to tillräcklig. In Swedish, the adjective inflects for number and definiteness, so you can have otillräcklig resurs (singular), otillräcklig resursar is incorrect—the correct plural is otillräckliga resurser. In predicative use or with mass/uncountable quantities, otillräckligt is often used, as in Det är otillräckligt med pengar (There is not enough money). The noun form is otillräcklighet, meaning insufficiency.

Usage and contexts: Otillräcklig is common in everyday language as well as formal writing. It can describe resources, performance, data, services, or compliance, for example otillräckliga resurser, otillräcklig bemanning, or otillräcklig kvalitet. It is often encountered in budgeting, planning, education, public administration, and journalism. The term is neutral and descriptive, not evaluative by itself, though context may indicate judgment about adequacy.

Related terms: Tillräcklig (sufficient) is the antonym. Otillräcklighet is the noun form. Other related expressions include bristfällig (defective or faulty) and otillräcklighetskänsla (a sense of insufficiency) in more nuanced uses.

Translation: In English, otillräcklig is most commonly translated as insufficient or inadequate.