4 syllables: De, fi, cien, cy. Stress on fi.
dif-ISH-uhn-see
/dɪˈfɪʃənsi/
Deficiency is pronounced dif-ISH-uhn-see (/dɪˈfɪʃənsi/). It has four syllables (De-fi-cien-cy), with the stress on "fi". Deficiency is a state or condition lacking something essential or functionally necessary. It refers to an insufficiency or shortage, often used in medical or nutritional contexts to describe inadequate amounts of vitamins, minerals, or other required substances. The term can also describe a shortcoming in a system or process.
nounDeficiency is a state or condition lacking something essential or functionally necessary. It refers to an insufficiency or shortage, often used in medical or nutritional contexts to describe inadequate amounts of vitamins, minerals, or other required substances. The term can also describe a shortcoming in a system or process.
How to Pronounce Deficiency
"The patient was diagnosed with a vitamin D deficiency."
"There is a deficiency in our data that prevents a definitive conclusion."
"The system’s performance showed a deficiency in error handling."
Pronounce as di-FISH-ən-see. Primary stress on the second syllable: /dɪˈfɪʃəns i/ but correctly /dɪˈfɪʃənsi/. Break it: de- FISH -en- cy. The 'fi' sounds like 'fish' without the 'h' sound at the end; the 'si' at end is 'see' but 'si' before 'i' is 'see' sound; the 'n' is a nasal stop. IPA: US/UK/AU: /dɪˈfɪʃənsi/.
Common errors: misplacing stress to di- as in de-FI- ciency; pronouncing as dee-FIH-shun-see; dropping the second syllable - there is a mid-stress pattern. Correction: keep primary stress on the second syllable: /dɪˈfɪʃənsi/. Ensure the 'fi' is a short 'ih' vowel and not 'ee'. Pronounce the 'n' clearly between the 'ən' and 'si' sounds. Practice with slow enunciation and then speed up while maintaining the same rhythm.
In US/UK/AU, the pronunciation is largely /dɪˈfɪʃənsi/. The only noticeable variation is the quality of the rhotic 'r' in surrounding words; the word itself is non-rhotic in most dialects and ends with a clear 'see' (/si/). Vowel quality in the first stressed syllable remains a short 'ih' (/ɪ/). Australians may slightly reduce the second vowel to a schwa in rapid speech, but still /dɪˈfɪʃənsi/.
It's challenging because of the consecutive unstressed vowels and the 'sh' sound followed by 'ən' and 'si'. The sequence -fɪʃ- + -ən- + -si creates a rapid cluster that can blur into 'fi-she-en-see' for non-native speakers. The two consonant boundaries—/f/ to /ɪ/ and /ʃ/ to /ən/—require precise tongue position and steady airflow. Practice focusing on the -fɪʃ- chunk and maintain the /ən/ as a light, nasal vowel before the final /si/.
The unique feature is the strong second syllable stress on '-fi-': de-FI- 'fi' carries the peak pitch and length in many speakers' pattern. The 'sh' is a palatal-alveolar fricative /ʃ/, followed by a relaxed schwa-like /ən/ before the final /si/. The sequence /ɪˈfɪʃənsi/ demands precise timing: the /ɪ/ in the first syllable should be brief, but the second syllable receives the primary stress, so punch that /ɪ/ a touch more, then glide into /ʃən-*/.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Deficiency" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Deficiency" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Deficiency"
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