Deficit in different languages

Deficit in Different Languages

Discover 'Deficit' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

The term 'deficit' holds great significance in various fields, including economics, finance, and healthcare. It generally refers to a shortfall or lack of something, such as a budgetary shortage or a deficiency in a skill or resource. The concept of deficit has been culturally important across societies, as it often serves as a catalyst for innovation, progress, and self-improvement.

Moreover, understanding the translation of 'deficit' in different languages can provide valuable insights into how diverse cultures perceive and address shortcomings. For instance, in Spanish, 'deficit' translates to 'déficit,' while in French, it is 'déficit.' In German, the term is 'Defizit,' and in Japanese, it is 'デフィcit (deficit).'

Delving into the nuances of this term across languages can reveal fascinating cultural differences and historical contexts. Join us as we explore the translations of 'deficit' in various languages and learn how diverse cultures understand and tackle shortages.

Deficit


Deficit in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaanstekort
The Afrikaans word "tekort" stems from the Dutch word "tekort" meaning "lack" or "want". It can also refer to a "shortage" or "deficiency" in various contexts.
Amharicጉድለት
Hausakasawa
The word "kasawa" in Hausa also means "a shortfall" or "a lack of something."
Igbompe
"Mpe" also means "need" or "want" in Igbo.
Malagasyfahampiam
"Fahina" (knowledge) and "piam" (debt) together mean "deficit" in Malagasy.
Nyanja (Chichewa)kuchepekedwa
The word "kuchepekedwa" also means "to be reduced" or "to be taken away" in Nyanja (Chichewa).
Shonakushomeka
The word "kushomeka" also means "to be empty" or "to be lacking something".
Somalidhimis
Alternatively, dhimis is an alternative term for the number "90".
Sesothokhaello
The Sesotho word "khaello" also means "absence" or "lack".
Swahiliupungufu
Upungufu means 'deficiency' or 'lack' in Swahili, and comes from the root '-pung-' meaning 'to miss' or 'to be absent'.
Xhosaintsilelo
The Xhosa word 'intsilelo' can also mean 'shortfall', 'loss', or any kind of negative balance.
Yorubaaipe
Aipe also means "something that is short, less than expected, or incomplete" in Yoruba.
Zuluukusilela
"Ukusila" means to cut or remove something, while "ukusilela" means to be lacking or deficient.
Bambaradɛsɛ (dɛsɛ) ye
Ewenusiwo gblẽ le ame ŋu
Kinyarwandadefisit
Lingaladéficit ya mbongo
Lugandaebbula ly’ensimbi
Sepeditlhaelelo
Twi (Akan)sika a ɛho hia

Deficit in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicعجز
"عجز" is also used to describe someone's weakness, poverty, or failure.
Hebrewגֵרָעוֹן
The word "גֵרָעוֹן" is also used in Hebrew to refer to the numerical difference between two quantities.
Pashtoکسر
The Pashto word "کسر" also means "lack" or "absence".
Arabicعجز
"عجز" is also used to describe someone's weakness, poverty, or failure.

Deficit in Western European Languages

Albaniandeficiti
The word "deficiti" is of Latin origin and is related to the verb "deficere", which means "to fail" or "to be lacking."
Basquedefizita
The Basque word "defizita" also means "debt" and comes from the Latin word "deficere" meaning "to fail" or "to lack."
Catalandèficit
The Catalan word "dèficit" comes from Latin "deficĕre", meaning "to fail" or "to be lacking".
Croatiandeficit
The word deficit in Croatian ('deficit') derives from the Latin word 'deficere', meaning “to be lacking” or “to fail”.
Danishunderskud
The Danish word "underskud" derives from the German word "Unterschuss", meaning "undershoot" or "to fall short of". Historically, it was used to refer to a shortfall in a budget.
Dutchtekort
The Dutch word "tekort" comes from Middle Dutch and originally meant "shortcoming".
Englishdeficit
The word "deficit" comes from the Latin word "deficere", meaning "to fail" or "to be lacking".
Frenchdéficit
In French, the word "déficit" also has connotations of physical deterioration, fatigue, or weakness.
Frisiantekoart
"Tekoart" is a Frisian word derived from the Old Frisian "tekort," with the suffix "-art." The word is also used in Dutch, where it means "shortage," but it is not commonly used in English.
Galiciandéficit
O termo "déficit" ven procedente do latín "deficit", que significa "falta" ou "escasez"
Germandefizit
The word "Defizit" in German can also refer to a negative balance or a shortfall.
Icelandichalli
The Icelandic word 'halli' is derived from the Old Norse word 'halla,' which originally meant a 'deficiency' or 'shortcoming' in a person's character or social standing.
Irisheasnamh
The word 'easnamh' in Modern Irish is a loan word from the Latin 'deficiens', which is itself a compound of 'desco' meaning 'short' or 'lacking', and 'facio' meaning 'to make' or 'to do'
Italiandisavanzo
The word "disavanzo" comes from the Italian word "avanzo", which means "exceeding", and the prefix "dis-", which means "opposite", so "disavanzo" means "not exceeding" or "falling short".
Luxembourgishdefizit
In Luxembourgish, "Defizit" can also refer to a "failure" or "lack" in a more general sense, beyond financial contexts.
Maltesedefiċit
The Maltese word "defiċit" can also refer to a financial loss or a shortage of something.
Norwegianunderskudd
In archaic Norwegian, "underskudd" also means "excess" or "surplus".
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)déficit
In Portuguese, "déficit" can also refer to a flaw or shortcoming.
Scots Gaeliceasbhaidh
The word "easbhaidh" is derived from the Old Irish word "essbaidh," meaning "want" or "need."
Spanishdéficit
The Spanish word "déficit" can also refer to a lack of something in general, not just in a financial sense.
Swedishunderskott
The Swedish word "underskott" literally means "below shot".
Welshdiffyg
In addition to its literal meaning, "diffyg" can also refer figuratively to a lack of something, such as knowledge, experience, or resources.

Deficit in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianдэфіцыт
The word "дэфіцыт" can also mean "shortage" or "lack" in Belarusian.
Bosniandeficit
The word "deficit" comes from the Latin word for "it lacks".
Bulgarianдефицит
The word "дефицит" in Bulgarian can also refer to a shortage of goods or supplies.
Czechdeficit
The Czech word "deficit" originates from the Latin word "deficere", meaning "to fail" or "to fall short".
Estonianpuudujääk
In Estonia, the word "puudujääk" also denotes a person who is absent or missing.
Finnishalijäämä
The Finnish word "alijäämä" comes from the stem "ali-", meaning "under" or "below", and the suffix "-jäämä", meaning "something left over".
Hungarianhiány
The word "hiány" in Hungarian refers not only to a deficit but also to a sense of incompleteness, longing, or absence.
Latviandeficīts
Deficīts in Latvian can also mean "lack" or "shortcoming".
Lithuaniantrūkumas
The Lithuanian word "trūkumas" comes from the word "trūkti", which means "to lack" or "to be missing".
Macedonianдефицит
The word 'дефицит' comes from the Latin word 'deficere', meaning 'to be wanting' or 'to fall short'.
Polishdeficyt
The word "deficyt" in Polish can also mean "lack" or "shortfall".
Romaniandeficit
In Romanian, "deficit" can also refer to a lack of weight, intelligence, or other qualities, and the term "buget deficit" is used for budget deficit.
Russianдефицит
The word "дефицит" is derived from the Latin word "deficere" meaning "to fail, to be short of".
Serbianдефицит
Дефицит (deficit) in Serbian also means 'lack' or 'shortage'.
Slovakdeficit
"Deficit" comes from Latin verb "deficere" - to fail, to decrease.
Slovenianprimanjkljaj
The word "primanjkljaj" is derived from the verb "manjkati", meaning "to be missing" or "to lack".
Ukrainianдефіцит
The word "дефіцит" comes from the Latin word "deficere", which means "to fail".

Deficit in South Asian Languages

Bengaliঘাটতি
ঘাটতি is cognate with 'ghat', meaning 'step' in Sanskrit, hence a 'fall' or 'lack' in quantity.
Gujaratiખોટ
The word 'ખોટ' also means 'wrong,' 'incorrect,' or 'false,' reflecting its root meaning of 'lack' or 'shortfall.'
Hindiघाटा
The word "घाटा" in Hindi derives from Sanskrit "हत," meaning "stolen," and "आ," meaning "to," indicating a loss or deficit.
Kannadaಕೊರತೆ
In Kannada, "ಕೊರತೆ" can also mean "want", "lack", or "shortfall."
Malayalamകമ്മി
The word "കമ്മി" comes from the root "കമ്", which means "to decrease" or "to become less."
Marathiतूट
The word 'तूट' in Marathi can also mean 'breakage' or 'loss'.
Nepaliघाटा
"घाटा" is also a Nepali word for a 'pass' (mountain passage).
Punjabiਘਾਟਾ
Sinhala (Sinhalese)හිඟය
The word හිඟය (higa) in Sinhala can also refer to a gap or a lack, not necessarily financial.
Tamilபற்றாக்குறை
Teluguలోటు
The Telugu word "లోటు" (deficit) also refers to a gap, lack, or shortage, and can be used in various contexts beyond economics.
Urduخسارہ
The word "خسارہ" (deficit) in Urdu is derived from an Arabic word meaning "loss or harm".

Deficit in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)赤字
赤字, in Chinese, can also mean 'red characters' and is often used in accounting to signify a loss or deficit.
Chinese (Traditional)赤字
赤字 can also mean "red ink" in a figurative sense, indicating a negative or unfavorable situation.
Japanese赤字
In Japanese, the word "赤字" (akaji) literally translates to "red letter," referring to the red ink used to indicate negative balances in accounting.
Korean적자
The word "적자" can also mean "red ink" or "loss" in Korean.
Mongolianалдагдал
The word "алдагдал" (deficit) derives from the Mongolian verb "алдах" (to lose) and signifies a shortfall or difference.
Myanmar (Burmese)လိုငွေပြမှု

Deficit in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiandefisit
The Indonesian word "defisit" is derived from the English word "deficit".
Javanesedefisit
In Javanese, "defisit" is also a shortened form of the phrase "dewi langit sit" meaning "sky goddess"}
Khmerឱនភាព
The Khmer word for "deficit," ឱនភាព, can also be used to refer to a "shortfall" or "lack."
Laoການຂາດດຸນ
Malaydefisit
The Malay word 'defisit' is also used in Indonesian and Portuguese, and comes from the Latin 'deficit', meaning 'it lacks'.
Thaiการขาดดุล
The word "การขาดดุล" is derived from the Sanskrit word "कृषि-क्षय" (kshi- kshaya), meaning "loss of agriculture" or "famine".
Vietnamesethiếu hụt hoặc khuyết
The term "deficit" comes from the Latin word "deficere", which means "to fail".
Filipino (Tagalog)kakulangan

Deficit in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanikəsir
"Kəsir" originates from Arabic, meaning "to be broken or incomplete". In Turkish, it also means "fraction".
Kazakhтапшылық
The word "тапшылық" also means "shortage" or "inadequacy" in Kazakh.
Kyrgyzтартыштык
The word "тартыштык" also means "insufficiency" or "shortage" in Kyrgyz.
Tajikкаср
The word "каср" in Tajik also has the alternate meaning of "loss" or "failure."}
Turkmendefisit
Uzbekdefitsit
The word "defitsit" is derived from the Latin word "deficere" meaning "to lack" or "to fall short".
Uyghurقىزىل رەقەم

Deficit in Pacific Languages

Hawaiiandefisit
The word **deficit** in Hawaiian is "deficit".
Maoritakarepa
In the word "takarepa," the prefix "taka" refers to climbing, "re" refers to doing something in a way that is not correct, and "pa" means firm, therefore "takarepa" together can be understood as "something climbed up or done incorrectly, creating a deficit."
Samoanpaʻu
The word "paʻu" can also refer to a type of wrap-around skirt worn by Samoan women.
Tagalog (Filipino)kakulangan
"Kakulangan" also means "lack" or "want" in Tagalog.

Deficit in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaradéficit ukax utjiwa
Guaranidéficit rehegua

Deficit in International Languages

Esperantodeficito
"Deficito" is derived from the Latin "deficere," meaning "to fall short," and is related to the English "defect," meaning "a flaw or imperfection."
Latindefectubus
"Defectus", a synonym of "deficit", means "a failure in supply" in Latin.

Deficit in Others Languages

Greekέλλειμμα
The root ελλ- is shared with the verb ελλιπής ('to be wanting') and likely derives from the PIE root *welh₁- or *walh₁- ('to turn, move, go').
Hmongxam phaj
"Xam phaj" also means "shortage" or "lack" in Hmong.
Kurdishkêmî
Though the etymology of the word "kêmî" is unknown, it is hypothesized to originate from the Old Iranian word "kam", meaning "less".
Turkishaçık
"Açık" also means "obvious" in Turkish, which can have similar connotations to a "deficit" but with a more positive connotation implying clarity or transparency.
Xhosaintsilelo
The Xhosa word 'intsilelo' can also mean 'shortfall', 'loss', or any kind of negative balance.
Yiddishדעפיציט
The Yiddish word "דעפיציט" (deficit) is thought to be a borrowing from the French word "déficit", which in turn comes from the Latin word "deficere", meaning "to come apart" or "to fail".
Zuluukusilela
"Ukusila" means to cut or remove something, while "ukusilela" means to be lacking or deficient.
Assameseঘাটি
Aymaradéficit ukax utjiwa
Bhojpuriघाटा के नुकसान भइल बा
Dhivehiޑެފިސިޓް
Dogriघाटा हो गया
Filipino (Tagalog)kakulangan
Guaranidéficit rehegua
Ilocanodepisit ti bagina
Kriodɛfisit we dɛn kin gɛt
Kurdish (Sorani)کورتهێنان
Maithiliघाटा के
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯗꯦꯐꯤꯁꯤꯠ ꯂꯩꯕꯥ꯫
Mizodeficit a awm
Oromohanqina qabaachuu
Odia (Oriya)ନିଅଣ୍ଟ
Quechuadéficit nisqa
Sanskritघातः
Tatarдефицит
Tigrinyaሕጽረት ምዃኑ’ዩ።
Tsongaku pfumaleka ka mali

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