Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| escasez | /eskaˈseθ/ /eskaˈses/ |
feminine |
| falta | /ˈfalta/ | feminine |
| carestía | /kaɾesˈtia/ | feminine |
| penuria | /peˈnuɾja/ | feminine |
| carencia | /kaˈɾenθja/ /kaˈɾensja/ |
feminine |
| deficiencia | /defiˈθjenθja/ /defiˈsjensja/ |
feminine |
| déficit | /ˈdefiθit/ /ˈdefisit/ |
masculine |
| carecimiento | /kaɾeθimjento/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /kaɾesimjento/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
In Spanish, various words express the concept of a shortage, lack or deficiency. Escasez is a common formal term for shortage. Falta de can be used when the shortage is related to a lack of supplies or ingredients. Déficit is used in economic or financial contexts to refer to a deficit or shortfall. Deficiencia is used when describing a lack of quality, a functional flaw or a nutritional deficiency rather than a quantity of goods. Penuria is a more intense term often used to describe extreme poverty or severe hardship caused by a shortage.
Which one should you use?
Use déficit when referring specifically to a numerical or economic shortfall, such as a budget deficit.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, carestía might be used instead of escasez when referring to a shortage.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun escasez is most commonly paired with the preposition 'de' to indicate what is in short supply.
How do you pronounce it?
/eskaˈseθ/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish speaking cultures, saying someone le falta un tornillo literally means they have a 'shortage of one screw', which is a way to call someone crazy.
- The Spanish word falta can mean 'shortage' or 'lack', but it is also the standard term used in football to signal a 'foul'.
- While falta is used for a general lack, it is also used in the phrase hacer falta to express that something is missed or needed emotionally.
Examples in context
- Aquí nunca faltan cosas que hacer.There is never a shortage of things to do here.This sentence uses falta to show the absence of things to do.Tatoeba #11865813 by Seael, translation #12619911 by glossboss
- La escasez de agua es debido al clima.The water shortage is due to the weather.This sentence uses escasez to describe a shortage of water.Tatoeba #7981261 by pchamorro, translation #270746 by Swift
- Tenemos abundancia de pan, pero escasez de vino.We have an abundance of bread, but a shortage of wine.This sentence uses escasez to contrast an abundance of one item with a shortage of another.Tatoeba #11433844 by Eremon, translation #9722245 by ariarin
- La escasez de agua es un problema graveThe shortage of water is a serious problem
- El déficit de viviendas es preocupanteThe housing shortage is worrisome
- La carestía de productos básicos afecta a la poblaciónThe scarcity of basic products affects the population
- Hay escasez de trabajoThere is a shortage of work
- El trabajo escaseaWork is scarce
- La escasez de gasolina está afectando la economíaThe gasoline shortage is impacting the economy
- Falta de alimentos en el supermercadoShortage of food in the supermarket
- En esta época del año, hay escasez de turistasAt this time of the year, there is a shortage of tourists
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are discussing the prices at the grocery store.
- LucíaHay una escasez de huevos en el mercado.There is a shortage of eggs at the market.
- DanielPor eso los precios están tan altos.That is why the prices are so high.
- LucíaSí, espero que pase pronto la escasez.Yes, I hope the shortage ends soon.
- DanielYo también, Lucía, ya no quedan muchos.Me too, Lucía, there aren't many left.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shortage” translations and entries escasez, falta, carestía, penuria, carencia, deficiencia, déficit, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
