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sufficienza

sufficiency

noun soof-fee-CHEN-tsah Rare
People & Society Education

Origin: From Latin sufficientia.

Also means

self-satisfaction

Usage Note

Sufficienza has two distinct everyday uses: the academic sense (a passing grade — the minimum mark to pass, typically 6/10 in Italian schools) and the attitudinal sense of smugness or condescension (parlare con sufficienza = to speak condescendingly). Learners encountering aria di sufficienza should note it means an air of superiority, not adequacy.

Examples

"Ha risposto con un'aria di sufficienza."

Natural Translation

He answered with an air of condescension.

Literal Translation

He answered with an air of sufficiency.

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