sufficiente

Sufficiente is an Italian adjective meaning adequate or enough to meet a requirement. It describes something that satisfies a minimum standard, without indicating high quality or excellence. The term expresses a level that is acceptable and capable of fulfilling a need, rather than surpassing it.

Etymology and form: sufficiente derives from Latin sufficiens, the present participle of sufficere, “to suffice.” In Italian it adapts to gender and number: singolare sufficiente (maschile e femminile), plurale sufficienti. The adverbial form is sufficientemente. The related noun is sufficienza, referring to sufficiency or adequacy.

Usage and nuance: sufficiente is used across contexts to indicate adequacy of quantity, quality, or performance. Examples include “una quantità sufficiente di risorse,” “una prova sufficiente,” or “una prestazione sufficiente.” In educational settings, sufficiente often denotes a passing grade, though the exact threshold varies by school or examination board; it generally conveys that the performance meets the required standard but is not outstanding. In contrast, insufficiente denotes failure to meet the standard, while buono or ottimo indicate better-than-sufficient levels.

Synonyms and related terms include adeguato and idoneo, which emphasize suitability, and abbastanza, which can convey “enough” in a more general sense. The term is commonly contrasted with insufficiente and with more positive qualifiers to nuance evaluation or description.

See also: sufficienza

This article provides a concise overview of the adjective sufficiente, its meaning, usage, and linguistic background in Italian.