Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Enough in Spanish: Suficiente
Suficiente · adjective · soo-fee-see-EN-teh
Suficiente is the most precise Spanish translation of enough, used as an adjective to indicate a sufficient quantity. Bastante is a versatile alternative that can mean enough or quite depending on context. For emphatic commands, Spanish speakers exclaim ¡Basta! to mean 'That's enough!' or 'Stop!'
soo-fee-see-EN-teh
No tengo suficiente dinero para comprar el boleto.
I don't have enough money to buy the ticket.
Enough in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for enough, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| suficiente | enough | soo-fee-see-EN-teh | Default, widely understood |
| bastante | enough | widely used to mean enough or quite, common across all regions | |
| basta | enough | command form meaning 'that's enough!' or 'stop!' |
How Native Speakers Use Suficiente
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Checking quantity
¿Hay suficiente comida para todos los invitados?
Is there enough food for all the guests?
Preparing for a dinner party
Setting a boundary
¡Basta! No quiero escuchar más excusas.
Enough! I don't want to hear any more excuses.
A parent or authority figure drawing a firm line
Expressing satisfaction
Ya tengo bastante información para tomar una decisión.
I already have enough information to make a decision.
Wrapping up research or a meeting
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Suficiente
Using basta as an adjective
Incorrect: No tengo basta agua.
Correct: No tengo suficiente agua.
Basta is the imperative form of the verb bastar (to be enough) and works as an exclamation, not as an adjective modifying a noun. Use suficiente or bastante before a noun.
Making suficiente agree in number
Incorrect: Hay suficientes razones. (when meant as 'enough')
Correct: Hay suficientes razones.
Actually, suficiente does take a plural form (suficientes) when modifying a plural noun. This is correct and is a common point of confusion for learners who think it should stay invariable.
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See Suficiente used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using suficiente in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear No tengo suficiente dinero para comprar el boleto. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Enough in Spanish
- Can bastante mean something other than enough?
- Bastante pulls double duty — beyond meaning enough, it often functions as an adverb meaning quite or rather. For instance, 'Es bastante difícil' means 'It's quite difficult,' not 'It's enough difficult.'
- When should I use basta versus suficiente?
- Use suficiente when you need an adjective before or after a noun ('suficiente tiempo'). Use ¡Basta! as a standalone exclamation to tell someone to stop or to declare that something is enough.
- Does suficiente change form for masculine and feminine nouns?
- Suficiente is gender-invariable because it ends in -e, staying the same with both masculine and feminine nouns. Suficiente has the same form for both genders. However, it does change for number: suficiente (singular) and suficientes (plural).