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B1 noun 12 دقيقة للقراءة

déficience

تدرّب عليها أمثلة ملاحظات ونصائح déficience في 30 ثانية

الشرح déficience in your Level:

At the A1 level, the word déficience might seem a bit long and difficult. However, you can think of it simply as a very formal way to say 'a lack' or 'something missing'. You will mostly see it when talking about health or food. For example, if you don't eat enough oranges, a doctor might say you have a 'déficience en vitamine C'.

Remember that it is a feminine word: une déficience. You don't need to use this word in daily life yet. Instead of saying 'J'ai une déficience de temps', just say 'Je n'ai pas le temps'. Use this word only when you are reading a health report or listening to a doctor. It is a 'big word' for a 'small lack' in most casual situations!

Try to remember it by its English cousin, 'deficiency'. They look almost the same! Just change the '-cy' to '-ce'. This makes it an easy 'cognate' (a word that looks the same in two languages). Just be careful with the pronunciation: in French, we say 'day-fee-sy-ahns'.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

At the A2 level, you start to learn more specific vocabulary for health and the body. Déficience is useful here because it helps you describe physical problems more accurately than just saying 'malade' (sick). You might hear it in the context of 'déficience visuelle' (needing glasses) or 'déficience auditive' (hearing problems).

Grammatically, notice how we use the preposition 'en'. We say 'une déficience en fer' or 'une déficience en magnésium'. We do not say 'de le fer'. This is a common pattern for substances. You might also see it in the plural: 'des déficiences'.

When you are writing a simple essay about health or a balanced diet, using 'déficience' instead of 'manque' will make your French sound more advanced. It shows you are moving away from basic words and starting to use 'le français formel'. Just remember: it's for things that are missing or not working well.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

As a B1 learner, you should be able to use déficience in a variety of contexts, not just medical ones. You can use it to critique a system or a logic. For example, 'la déficience du système éducatif' (the flaws in the education system). This shows you can handle abstract concepts.

You should also be aware of the difference between 'déficience' and 'déficit'. Remember: use 'déficit' for money and numbers, and 'déficience' for quality and function. This is a key distinction that separates intermediate learners from beginners. If you say 'le déficit de son audition', a native speaker will understand, but they will know you made a mistake.

In B1 discussions about social issues, 'déficience' is a key term for talking about disability rights and accessibility. You might discuss how 'une déficience physique' shouldn't prevent someone from working. It is a formal, respectful word that allows you to participate in serious conversations about society and health.

At the B2 level, you need to understand the technical and legal weight of déficience. In France and other francophone countries, this word is used in legal documents to define disability levels. You should understand the 'medical model' of disability where 'déficience' is the clinical term for the biological impairment.

You should also be comfortable using the word in professional critiques. For instance, in a business context, you might analyze the 'déficiences structurelles' of a company that is losing money. Here, the word implies a fundamental flaw that needs a strategic fix. It is much more powerful than saying 'problèmes'.

Focus on your collocations. Learn phrases like 'combler une déficience' (to fill/fix a deficiency) or 'pallier une déficience' (to compensate for a deficiency). Using 'pallier' (a high-level verb) with 'déficience' is a great way to demonstrate B2-level proficiency in your writing and speaking exams like the DELF B2.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

For C1 learners, déficience is a tool for nuanced analysis. You should explore its use in philosophy and high-level political science. It can describe a 'déficience ontologique' (an ontological lack) or a 'déficience démocratique'. At this level, the word is used to describe the essence of a failure in a complex system.

You must also be very sensitive to the 'social model' vs. 'medical model' debate. A C1 speaker knows that while 'déficience' is medically accurate, using it in certain social contexts might be seen as 'pathologizing' a person. You should be able to navigate the shift from 'la déficience' to 'la situation de handicap' in your discourse to show cultural fluency.

In your writing, use 'déficience' to avoid repetition of words like 'manque', 'insuffisance', or 'faiblesse'. Use it when you want to imply that a lack is not just an accident, but a structural part of the entity you are describing. It is a word of 'essence' rather than just 'circumstance'.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

At the C2 level, you are expected to understand the most subtle and archaic nuances of déficience. You might encounter it in classical literature or specialized medical theses where it describes the 'déficience de la volonté' (a lack of will) or other psychological states. You should be able to use it with absolute precision in academic writing.

Consider the etymological link to 'défaillance'. A C2 speaker can distinguish between a 'déficience' (a steady state of lack) and a 'défaillance' (a momentary collapse). In a high-stakes environment like a courtroom or a scientific defense, choosing between these two words can change the entire argument regarding liability or causality.

Finally, your use of the word should be effortless and integrated into complex sentence structures. You might use it in a concessive clause: 'Bien que la déficience structurelle soit évidente, les résultats financiers restent positifs.' This level of sophistication shows you aren't just using the word because you learned it, but because it is the only word that precisely fits the complex thought you are expressing.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

تدرّب عليها أمثلة ملاحظات ونصائح

déficience في 30 ثانية

Déficience is a formal French noun meaning 'deficiency' or 'impairment', primarily used in medical, nutritional, and technical contexts to describe functional lacks.
It is feminine (la/une déficience) and often paired with adjectives like 'visuelle' or 'intellectuelle', or the preposition 'en' for substances like 'en fer'.
Unlike the financial 'déficit', 'déficience' focuses on the quality and integrity of a function rather than just a numerical shortage of money.
In modern social contexts, it describes the biological aspect of disability, while 'handicap' refers to the social barriers faced by the person.

The French word déficience is a sophisticated noun that translates primarily to 'deficiency' or 'impairment' in English. While it shares a common Latin root with its English counterpart, its usage in French is often more strictly categorized into medical, nutritional, and technical spheres. At its core, the word signifies a state where something is missing, insufficient, or functioning below the standard level expected for a healthy or complete system. Understanding this word requires looking beyond a simple dictionary definition and exploring how it describes the human condition, biological needs, and even structural flaws in abstract systems.

Medical Context: In clinical settings, it refers to a functional loss or abnormality of a psychological, physiological, or anatomical structure. For example, 'déficience visuelle' (visual impairment) or 'déficience intellectuelle' (intellectual disability). It is the technical term used by the WHO (OMS in French) to describe the biological level of disability.

L'examen médical a révélé une déficience auditive légère chez l'enfant.

Nutritional Context: When talking about health and diet, it refers to a lack of essential substances. While 'carence' is often used for severe vitamin lacks, 'déficience' is commonly used for a general sub-optimal level of nutrients or minerals in the body.

Une déficience en fer peut provoquer une fatigue chronique et des vertiges.

Beyond the physical, the word can be applied to systems and logic. A 'déficience du système' suggests a structural flaw or a failure in the way a protocol is executed. It implies that the system is not merely broken, but fundamentally lacking a component necessary for its success. In social discourse, the word is handled with care; in modern French society, there is a strong movement towards inclusive language, moving from 'déficience' to 'situation de handicap' to emphasize the environment's role in accessibility rather than just the individual's biological lack.

Les experts ont critiqué la déficience des mesures de sécurité dans l'usine.

Technical Nuance: In engineering or mechanics, it might describe a part that does not meet the required specifications, leading to a loss of efficiency. It is less common than 'panne' (breakdown) but more precise regarding the cause of the failure.

La déficience du moteur provient d'une mauvaise lubrification des pièces.

Historically, the term evolved from the Latin 'deficientia', meaning a failing or falling short. In the 17th century, it was used more broadly for any lack, but by the 19th and 20th centuries, it became firmly rooted in the lexicon of medicine and social sciences. Today, when you hear 'déficience' in a French news report or a scientific journal, it carries a weight of precision and gravity, signaling that the lack in question is not a temporary inconvenience but a significant structural or physiological gap that requires intervention or accommodation.

Il est crucial de dépister toute déficience immunitaire dès le plus jeune âge.

Using déficience correctly involves understanding its grammatical role as a feminine noun and its typical collocations. It is almost always followed by a qualifying adjective or a prepositional phrase starting with 'en' or 'de'. This word is formal; you will rarely find it in casual street slang. It belongs to the realms of health, science, administration, and formal critique. When you use it, you are making a statement about the functional integrity of a person, a substance, or a system.

The 'Déficience + Adjective' Pattern: This is the most common way to describe specific impairments. The adjective agrees with the feminine noun 'déficience'. Common examples include visuelle, auditive, motrice, mentale, and intellectuelle.

La déficience intellectuelle est souvent diagnostiquée durant l'enfance.

The 'Déficience en [Substance]' Pattern: Used primarily in nutrition and biology to indicate a lack of a specific element. Note the use of 'en' without an article (déficience en fer, not déficience en le fer).

Beaucoup de citadins souffrent d'une déficience en vitamine D pendant l'hiver.

In a broader, more abstract sense, you can use 'déficience' to describe a lack of quality or a failure in performance. This is common in political or organizational critiques. You might hear about the 'déficience des services publics' or the 'déficience du raisonnement'. In these cases, it acts as a synonym for 'faiblesse' (weakness) or 'insuffisance' (insufficiency), but with a more clinical, objective tone.

Le rapport souligne la déficience du contrôle qualité dans cette entreprise.

Plural Usage: In the plural form 'déficiences', the word often refers to multiple types of lacks or a general state of being flawed. 'Combler ses déficiences' means to fill or make up for one's shortcomings.

L'athlète travaille dur pour corriger ses déficiences techniques.

Finally, consider the verb 'déficier'—actually, it doesn't exist in modern French! Unlike English where you can say 'the system is deficient' (adjective), in French, you would use the noun 'déficience' or the adjective 'déficient'. Be careful with 'déficient'; while it exists, it is often seen as more pejorative than the noun form, especially when applied to people. Stick to the noun-based phrasing 'présenter une déficience' for a more professional and respectful tone.

Malgré sa déficience visuelle, elle a réussi à obtenir son diplôme avec mention.

If you are living in a French-speaking country, you are likely to encounter déficience in formal and professional environments rather than at a dinner party with friends. It is a 'high-register' word. You will hear it in news broadcasts, read it in medical reports, and see it in government documents regarding public health or social services. It is a word of diagnosis and assessment.

In the News (Actualités): Journalists use 'déficience' when reporting on systemic failures. If a bridge collapses or a government program fails, the media might discuss the 'déficience structurelle' or 'déficience administrative'. It sounds more analytical and less emotional than 'faute' (fault).

Le journal télévisé a évoqué une déficience majeure dans le système de santé national.

At the Doctor's (Chez le médecin): This is the primary habitat of the word. A doctor will use it to explain blood test results or developmental milestones. 'Une déficience immunitaire' is a common phrase heard in discussions about chronic health conditions or the effects of certain treatments like chemotherapy.

Le médecin m'a expliqué que ma fatigue était due à une déficience en fer.

In education, 'déficience' is used by school psychologists and specialized teachers (enseignants référents). When discussing 'l'école inclusive', teachers talk about adapting their methods for students with 'déficiences sensorielles' (sensory impairments). It is a term of pedagogical planning. You will also see it on food packaging, specifically on 'compléments alimentaires' (supplements), which claim to 'corriger les déficiences nutritionnelles'.

Ce complément alimentaire aide à combler toute déficience en magnésium.

In Workplace Safety: Safety inspectors use the word to describe equipment that is no longer safe. If a fire extinguisher is empty or a sensor is broken, it is a 'déficience matérielle'. This usage is very common in industrial reports and insurance claims.

L'inspecteur a noté une déficience dans le système d'alarme incendie.

Finally, in the legal world, specifically in civil law, 'déficience' might appear in contracts or lawsuits regarding the quality of goods or services. If a product doesn't work as promised due to an inherent lack of quality, lawyers might argue about a 'déficience de conception' (design flaw). Hearing this word usually means something serious is being evaluated or corrected.

L'avocat a prouvé la déficience de conception du logiciel.

One of the biggest hurdles for English speakers learning French is the 'false friend' or 'partial friend' trap. While déficience and 'deficiency' are very similar, their usage patterns differ. The most common mistakes involve confusing 'déficience' with related terms like 'déficit', 'carence', or 'handicap'. Let's break down these nuances so you can avoid sounding like a direct translation machine.

Mistake 1: Using 'Déficience' for Money: In English, we might say a 'budget deficiency'. In French, this is almost always 'un déficit budgétaire'. Using 'déficience' in a financial context sounds very strange to a native ear. 'Déficit' is for numbers and quantities; 'déficience' is for function and quality.

Incorrect: La déficience de la banque est grave. (Correct: Le déficit de la banque...)

Mistake 2: Confusing 'Déficience' with 'Handicap': In modern French, these are not synonyms. A 'déficience' is the biological loss (e.g., loss of a limb). A 'handicap' is the social disadvantage resulting from that loss (e.g., unable to enter a building without a ramp). Using 'déficience' when you mean the social experience of disability can sound overly clinical or even insensitive.

Il faut adapter la ville à la déficience. (Better: Il faut adapter la ville au handicap.)

Another error is the gender of the word. English speakers often forget that words ending in '-ence' are typically feminine in French. Saying 'un déficience' instead of 'une déficience' is a common A1-B1 level error. Furthermore, avoid using 'déficience' to mean 'lack' in a casual way. If you are out of milk, you don't have a 'déficience de lait'; you have a 'manque de lait'. 'Déficience' is too heavy for groceries!

Incorrect: J'ai une déficience de sommeil. (Better: Je manque de sommeil.)

Mistake 3: Adjective Placement: In French, the qualifying adjective almost always follows 'déficience'. Unlike English 'visual impairment', French says 'déficience visuelle'. Putting the adjective before the noun is a classic anglicism.

Incorrect: Il a une intellectuelle déficience. (Correct: Il a une déficience intellectuelle.)

Lastly, be careful with the word 'déficient'. While it is the adjective form, in French, calling a person 'un déficient' is extremely offensive and dated, similar to the 'R-word' in English. Always use the noun phrase 'une personne avec une déficience' or 'une personne en situation de handicap' to remain respectful and modern.

To truly master déficience, you need to know its 'neighbors'—the words that mean something similar but are used in different contexts. French is a language of precision, and choosing the right word for 'lack' can change the entire meaning of your sentence. Let's compare 'déficience' with its most common alternatives: carence, lacune, insuffisance, and déficit.

Déficience vs. Carence: 'Carence' refers to a total lack or a severe deprivation of something essential, usually nutritional or emotional. 'Déficience' is more about poor function. Use 'carence' for 'vitamin deficiency' when it's a medical problem, but 'déficience' for general functional issues.

La carence en vitamine C cause le scorbut, tandis qu'une déficience en fer cause de l'anémie.

Déficience vs. Lacune: 'Lacune' is used almost exclusively for gaps in knowledge, memory, or legal documents. If you forgot your history lessons, you have 'des lacunes en histoire'. You would never say 'déficience en histoire'. 'Lacune' is a 'hole' in a set of data or knowledge.

Cet étudiant a de graves lacunes en mathématiques.

Then there is 'déficit'. As mentioned before, 'déficit' is quantitative. It is used for budgets, trade balances, or a specific measurable shortage of points in a game. 'Déficience' is qualitative; it describes the quality of a function. If a student fails a test, they might have a 'déficit de points' (quantity) caused by a 'déficience de concentration' (quality/function).

Le pays fait face à un déficit commercial record cette année.

Formal Alternatives: In high-level writing, you might use 'vicié' (tainted/flawed) or 'défaillance' (failure). 'Défaillance' is common in technical contexts, like 'défaillance cardiaque' (heart failure) or 'défaillance technique'. It implies a sudden stop in function, whereas 'déficience' is often a chronic or inherent state.

Une défaillance des freins a causé l'accident.

By learning these distinctions, you move from simply 'knowing' a word to 'mastering' the language. Native speakers appreciate the subtle choice of 'lacune' over 'déficience' because it shows you understand the domain of the conversation. Keep this list in mind next time you want to describe something that is just not quite up to par.

How Formal Is It?

حقيقة ممتعة

The word 'déficience' was originally more common in spiritual and philosophical texts before it became a mainstay of modern medicine and nutrition in the 19th century.

دليل النطق

UK /de.fi.sjɑ̃s/

US /de.fi.sjɑ̃s/

In French, the stress is usually on the last syllable: de-fi-ci-ENCE.

يتقافى مع

conscience patience science confiance expérience audience influence présence

أخطاء شائعة

Pronouncing it like the English 'deficiency' with a 'cy' sound at the end.
Forgetting the nasal sound in 'ence'.
Pronouncing the 'é' like an 'e' in 'pet'.
Dropping the final 's' sound.
Mixing up the 'ci' and 'si' sounds.

مستوى الصعوبة

القراءة 3/5

Easy to recognize because it is a cognate of 'deficiency'.

الكتابة 4/5

Requires knowledge of gender and specific prepositions like 'en'.

التحدث 4/5

The nasal 'ence' and the 'é' can be tricky for beginners.

الاستماع 3/5

Clear pronunciation in formal contexts makes it easy to spot.

ماذا تتعلّم بعد ذلك

المتطلبات الأساسية

manque santé corps vitamine problème

تعلّم لاحقاً

carence insuffisance pallier combler handicap

متقدم

ontologique systémique étiologie nosographie akrasie

قواعد يجب معرفتها

The preposition 'en' is used after 'déficience' for substances without an article.

Une déficience en zinc.

Adjectives modifying 'déficience' must be in the feminine form.

Une déficience intellectuelle (not intellectuel).

The verb 'pallier' (to compensate for) does not take the preposition 'à' after it, unlike 'remédier à'.

Pallier une déficience.

Nouns ending in -ence are almost always feminine.

La patience, la science, la déficience.

Elision occurs with 'de' before 'une déficience'.

Il souffre d'une déficience.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

أمثلة حسب المستوى

Elle a une déficience en fer.

She has an iron deficiency.

Uses 'une' because déficience is feminine.

Le docteur parle de sa déficience.

The doctor is talking about his/her deficiency.

Possessive 'sa' agrees with 'déficience'.

Une déficience en vitamines est possible.

A vitamin deficiency is possible.

Notice 'en' before the substance.

Il n'a pas de déficience grave.

He doesn't have a serious deficiency.

After 'pas de', we use the noun without an article.

C'est une petite déficience.

It is a small deficiency.

Adjective 'petite' follows the gender of the noun.

La déficience est rare.

The deficiency is rare.

Simple Subject-Verb-Adjective structure.

Tu as une déficience en magnésium ?

Do you have a magnesium deficiency?

Question using intonation.

Mange des fruits pour éviter la déficience.

Eat fruits to avoid the deficiency.

Imperative form 'Mange'.

La déficience visuelle demande des lunettes.

Visual impairment requires glasses.

'Demande' here means 'requires'.

Il souffre d'une déficience auditive légère.

He suffers from a slight hearing impairment.

'Souffrir de' + 'une' becomes 'souffrir d'une'.

Cette déficience peut être corrigée facilement.

This deficiency can be corrected easily.

Passive voice 'peut être corrigée'.

Les enfants ont parfois une déficience en calcium.

Children sometimes have a calcium deficiency.

Adverb 'parfois' placed after the verb.

Ma déficience ne m'empêche pas de courir.

My impairment doesn't stop me from running.

Negative 'ne... pas' surrounding the object pronoun and verb.

Le médecin cherche la cause de la déficience.

The doctor is looking for the cause of the deficiency.

Prepositional phrase 'de la déficience'.

Est-ce une déficience de naissance ?

Is it a deficiency from birth?

'De naissance' acts as an adjectival phrase.

Nous luttons contre cette déficience immunitaire.

We are fighting against this immune deficiency.

Verb 'lutter contre'.

La déficience du système de sécurité nous inquiète.

The deficiency of the security system worries us.

Abstract usage referring to a system.

Elle a surmonté sa déficience avec beaucoup de courage.

She overcame her impairment with a lot of courage.

Passé composé 'a surmonté'.

Il existe des solutions pour pallier cette déficience.

Solutions exist to compensate for this deficiency.

'Pallier' is used without a preposition in French.

Le rapport indique une déficience dans l'organisation.

The report indicates a deficiency in the organization.

Formal business context.

Une déficience intellectuelle n'est pas une maladie.

An intellectual disability is not a disease.

Focus on social definition.

On peut combler une déficience en fer par l'alimentation.

One can fill an iron deficiency through diet.

Generic pronoun 'On'.

Cette déficience motrice nécessite un fauteuil roulant.

This motor impairment requires a wheelchair.

Technical adjective 'motrice'.

Les experts analysent la déficience du logiciel.

The experts are analyzing the software's deficiency.

Technical/Computing context.

La déficience de l'État a été critiquée par les citoyens.

The State's deficiency was criticized by the citizens.

Passive voice with agent 'par les citoyens'.

Il faut identifier toute déficience structurelle du bâtiment.

Any structural deficiency of the building must be identified.

Impersonal 'Il faut'.

Une déficience immunitaire acquise peut être très grave.

An acquired immune deficiency can be very serious.

Medical term 'acquise' (acquired).

Le manque de sommeil accentue la déficience cognitive.

Lack of sleep accentuates cognitive impairment.

Verb 'accentuer' (to worsen/accentuate).

Les déficiences de la mémoire sont courantes avec l'âge.

Memory deficiencies are common with age.

Plural noun 'déficiences'.

Cette loi vise à aider les personnes avec une déficience.

This law aims to help people with an impairment.

Verb 'viser à' (to aim at).

L'entreprise doit corriger ses déficiences managériales.

The company must correct its managerial deficiencies.

Adjective 'managériales' agrees with plural noun.

La déficience de preuves a mené à l'abandon des charges.

The lack of evidence led to the dropping of charges.

Abstract usage in a legal context.

La déficience de la pensée critique fragilise la démocratie.

The deficiency of critical thinking weakens democracy.

High-level social critique.

Nous devons pallier la déficience des ressources naturelles.

We must compensate for the deficiency of natural resources.

Use of 'pallier' in environmental context.

L'auteur explore la déficience morale de ses personnages.

The author explores the moral deficiency of his characters.

Literary analysis usage.

Une déficience enzymatique rare a été découverte.

A rare enzymatic deficiency was discovered.

Specialized scientific usage.

La déficience de l'infrastructure empêche le développement.

The deficiency of infrastructure prevents development.

Economic/Geopolitical context.

Le philosophe traite de la déficience originelle de l'homme.

The philosopher deals with the original deficiency of man.

Philosophical usage.

Sa déficience d'empathie est un trait sociopathique.

His lack of empathy is a sociopathic trait.

Psychological diagnostic usage.

L'étude souligne une déficience de la réponse immunitaire.

The study highlights a deficiency in the immune response.

Academic scientific phrasing.

L'œuvre souligne la déficience intrinsèque du langage.

The work highlights the intrinsic deficiency of language.

Epistemological context.

La déficience systémique exige une refonte totale.

The systemic deficiency demands a total overhaul.

Political/Organizational reform context.

Elle a analysé la déficience de la volonté chez les stoïciens.

She analyzed the deficiency of will among the Stoics.

Academic history of philosophy.

La déficience de l'argumentation rend le verdict suspect.

The deficiency of the argumentation makes the verdict suspicious.

Legal/Rhetorical critique.

On observe une déficience de la cohésion sociale.

A deficiency in social cohesion is observed.

Sociological observation.

La déficience de l'âme est un thème récurrent du romantisme.

The deficiency of the soul is a recurring theme of Romanticism.

Literary theory context.

Cette déficience méthodologique invalide les résultats.

This methodological deficiency invalidates the results.

Hard science peer review tone.

La déficience de l'autorité a conduit à l'anarchie.

The deficiency of authority led to anarchy.

Historical/Political analysis.

تلازمات شائعة

déficience intellectuelle

déficience visuelle

déficience auditive

déficience motrice

déficience en fer

déficience immunitaire

combler une déficience

pallier une déficience

déficience structurelle

déficience mentale

العبارات الشائعة

souffrir d'une déficience

— To have a specific impairment or lack. This is the standard way to describe the condition.

Il souffre d'une déficience en magnésium depuis des mois.

présenter une déficience

— A more clinical and formal way to say someone has an impairment.

L'enfant présente une déficience légère de l'attention.

corriger une déficience

— To fix or improve a lack through treatment or action.

Le traitement vise à corriger la déficience hormonale.

déficience de la mémoire

— Memory loss or impairment, often used in geriatric contexts.

Les déficiences de la mémoire s'accentuent avec l'âge.

déficience de l'attention

— Lack of focus, often used in discussions about ADHD (TDAH in French).

Sa déficience de l'attention l'empêche de finir ses devoirs.

déficience en vitamines

— A general lack of vitamins in the body.

Une déficience en vitamines peut causer de nombreux problèmes.

déficience de conception

— A flaw in how something was designed.

L'accident est dû à une déficience de conception du frein.

déficience congénitale

— An impairment present from birth.

Il est né avec une déficience congénitale du cœur.

déficience acquise

— An impairment that developed later in life, not present at birth.

C'est une déficience acquise suite à un accident.

déficience passagère

— A temporary lack or weakness.

C'est juste une déficience passagère due à la fatigue.

يُخلط عادةً مع

déficience vs déficit

Déficit is for money or quantities; déficience is for function or quality.

déficience vs défaillance

Défaillance is a sudden failure; déficience is often a chronic or inherent state.

déficience vs carence

Carence is a severe or total lack; déficience is a functional insufficiency.

تعبيرات اصطلاحية

"combler les déficiences"

— To make up for what is missing. Often used in education or skills.

Il suit des cours du soir pour combler ses déficiences en anglais.

Neutral

"faire preuve de déficience"

— To show a lack of something (usually a quality like judgment or courage).

Le gouvernement a fait preuve de déficience dans sa gestion de la crise.

Formal

"accuser une déficience"

— To show or display a measurable lack or weakness.

Le moteur accuse une déficience de puissance à haut régime.

Technical

"pallié par la technologie"

— When a deficiency is compensated for by modern tools.

Sa déficience visuelle est palliée par des logiciels spéciaux.

Formal

"être en proie à une déficience"

— To be suffering from or struggling with a lack.

Le pays est en proie à une déficience énergétique majeure.

Literary/Journalistic

"relever une déficience"

— To point out or note a flaw or lack.

L'audit a relevé plusieurs déficiences administratives.

Professional

"masquer une déficience"

— To hide a weakness or a lack.

Il essaie de masquer sa déficience de confiance par l'arrogance.

Neutral

"déficience de la raison"

— A lack of logic or sanity.

Ses actes témoignent d'une certaine déficience de la raison.

Literary/Formal

"remédier à une déficience"

— To find a remedy or solution for a lack.

Nous devons remédier à cette déficience de personnel rapidement.

Professional

"déficience de la volonté"

— A lack of willpower (akrasia).

La déficience de la volonté l'empêche d'arrêter de fumer.

Philosophical

سهل الخلط

déficience vs Déficient

It's the adjective form of the noun.

As a noun, 'un déficient' is offensive. As an adjective, it's clinical. Use the noun phrase instead.

Un système déficient (adjective) vs. Une déficience du système (noun).

déficience vs Manque

Both mean 'lack'.

Manque is general and informal. Déficience is technical and formal. You have a 'manque de temps' but a 'déficience en fer'.

Le manque de sommeil vs. La déficience cognitive.

déficience vs Handicap

Often used as synonyms for disability.

Déficience is the biological impairment. Handicap is the social disadvantage. This is a crucial distinction in French law.

La déficience visuelle cause un handicap dans un monde sans braille.

déficience vs Insuffisance

Both describe things that are not enough.

Insuffisance is often used for organ output (insuffisance cardiaque). Déficience is broader and covers structural lacks.

Insuffisance rénale vs. Déficience intellectuelle.

déficience vs Lacune

Both describe gaps.

Lacune is for knowledge, memory, or text. Déficience is for physical/systemic function.

Lacunes en maths vs. Déficience auditive.

أنماط الجُمل

Sujet + avoir + une déficience en + [Nom].

Elle a une déficience en fer.

Sujet + souffrir + de + la/une déficience + [Adjectif].

Il souffre d'une déficience auditive.

La déficience de + [Système] + est + [Adjectif].

La déficience du système est évidente.

Il faut + pallier + la déficience + [Adjectif].

Il faut pallier la déficience visuelle.

L'analyse + souligner + une déficience de + [Concept].

L'analyse souligne une déficience de la logique.

Nonobstant + la déficience + [Adjectif], + [Proposition].

Nonobstant la déficience structurelle, le projet continue.

Sujet + combler + sa déficience + en + [Domaine].

Il comble sa déficience en langues.

Est-ce que + Sujet + avoir + une déficience ?

Est-ce que tu as une déficience ?

عائلة الكلمة

الأسماء

déficience (impairment)

déficit (shortfall/deficit)

défaillance (failure/breakdown)

الأفعال

déficit (archaic/rare)

défaillir (to faint/fail)

الصفات

déficient (deficient/flawed)

déficitaire (in deficit - usually financial)

مرتبط

carence

insuffisance

lacune

manque

handicap

سجّل مجاناً لرؤية جميع الأمثلة

كيفية الاستخدام

frequency

Common in specialized media and healthcare; rare in casual street speech.

أخطاء شائعة

Un déficience → Une déficience
Déficience is a feminine noun. You must use 'une' or 'la'.
Déficience budgétaire → Déficit budgétaire
In financial contexts, use 'déficit', not 'déficience'.
Déficience de fer → Déficience en fer
The preposition 'en' is the standard choice for nutritional substances.
Une intellectuelle déficience → Une déficience intellectuelle
In French, the qualifying adjective usually follows the noun.
Pallier à une déficience → Pallier une déficience
The verb 'pallier' is transitive and does not take the preposition 'à'.

نصائح

Gender Check

Always remember 'déficience' is feminine. This affects your articles (la/une) and your adjectives (visuelle, auditive).

Preposition 'En'

When talking about vitamins or minerals, use 'en'. Example: 'déficience en zinc'. Do not use 'de le'.

Formal Tone

Use 'déficience' in essays or professional emails to sound more academic. Avoid it in casual chats with friends.

Inclusive Language

In social contexts, prefer 'personne en situation de handicap' over 'personne avec une déficience' for better inclusion.

System Flaws

Use 'déficience structurelle' to describe fundamental problems in buildings or organizations.

The Nasal Sound

The 'ence' at the end is a nasal sound. Practice saying 'en' without your tongue touching the roof of your mouth.

Déficience vs Déficit

Remember: Déficit = Money/Numbers. Déficience = Health/Function.

Clinical Precision

If you are at a French doctor, use 'déficience' to describe a chronic lack of something like iron or vitamins.

Verb Pairing

Pair 'déficience' with the verb 'combler' (to fill) or 'pallier' (to compensate for).

Context Clues

If you hear 'déficience' in the news, it's usually about a failure in government or infrastructure.

احفظها

وسيلة تذكّر

Think of the 'DE' as 'DOWN' and 'FICI' as 'FIX'. If something is 'DOWN-FIX-ENCE', it means it is broken or lacking and needs to be fixed. It sounds like 'deficiency' in English, so use that bridge!

ربط بصري

Imagine a battery icon that is only 10% full. That 90% gap is the 'déficience'. Or imagine a person with glasses; the glasses 'pallient' (compensate for) the 'déficience visuelle'.

Word Web

Santé Médecine Vitamines Handicap Système Manque Carence Insuffisance

تحدٍّ

Try to write three sentences: one about a vitamin, one about a physical sense (like sight), and one about a computer or government system, all using 'déficience'.

أصل الكلمة

Derived from the Latin word 'deficientia', which comes from 'deficere' (to fail, to be lacking). It entered the French language in the late 15th century.

المعنى الأصلي: The state of being incomplete or failing to meet a standard.

Romance (Latin root).

السياق الثقافي

Avoid using 'déficient' as a noun for a person; it is considered highly offensive. Always use the noun 'déficience' to describe the condition, not the person.

In English, 'deficiency' is used similarly, but we often prefer 'impairment' for senses (hearing/vision). In French, 'déficience' is the direct clinical term for both.

The WHO (OMS) International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. French Law of 2005 for equal rights and opportunities. Scientific reports on 'La déficience en iode' in mountainous regions.

تدرّب في الحياة الواقعية

سياقات واقعية

Medical Diagnosis

déficience auditive
déficience visuelle
déficience intellectuelle
déficience motrice

Nutrition

déficience en fer
déficience en magnésium
déficience en vitamine D
déficience nutritionnelle

System Analysis

déficience structurelle
déficience du système
déficience administrative
déficience de sécurité

Education

élèves avec une déficience
déficience de l'apprentissage
combler les déficiences
déficience cognitive

Psychology

déficience de l'attention
déficience de la mémoire
déficience émotionnelle
déficience de la volonté

بدايات محادثة

"Pensez-vous que le système scolaire français a une déficience majeure ?"

"Avez-vous déjà souffert d'une déficience en fer ou en vitamines ?"

"Comment la technologie peut-elle aider à pallier une déficience visuelle ?"

"Quelle est la différence entre une déficience et un handicap selon vous ?"

"Est-ce qu'une déficience de sommeil affecte beaucoup votre travail ?"

مواضيع للكتابة اليومية

Décrivez un moment où vous avez dû combler une déficience dans vos connaissances.

Réfléchissez à l'importance de dépister une déficience immunitaire tôt dans la vie.

Analysez une déficience que vous observez dans l'infrastructure de votre ville.

Écrivez sur la façon dont une personne peut transformer une déficience en force.

Discutez de l'impact d'une déficience de communication dans une relation.

الأسئلة الشائعة

10 أسئلة

No, while it is very common in medicine, it can also describe structural flaws in systems, software, or logic. For example, 'une déficience du système de sécurité' refers to a flaw in a security setup.

'Carence' is typically used for a severe or total lack of something vital, especially nutrients (carence en vitamine C). 'Déficience' is a more general term for sub-optimal function or a partial lack.

No, for money or budget shortages, you must use 'déficit'. 'Déficience' sounds very strange in a financial context.

Use 'en' for substances like minerals or vitamins (déficience en fer). Use 'de' for abstract concepts or systems (déficience de la mémoire, déficience du système).

It is a neutral, clinical term. However, when applied to people, it should be used with care. It describes a functional lack, not the person's value.

It is a nasal vowel. The 'en' sounds like the 'an' in 'pardon' but more open, followed by a soft 's' sound. Do not pronounce the 'n' as a hard consonant.

Yes, in formal or psychological contexts, such as 'une déficience de l'empathie' (a lack of empathy). It sounds more clinical than 'manque'.

The most common are: visuelle (visual), auditive (hearing), intellectuelle (intellectual), motrice (motor), and immunitaire (immune).

Not exactly. In French, 'déficience' is 'impairment' (biological), while 'handicap' is 'disability' (social). This is a technical but important distinction.

Technically you could, but no native speaker would. Use 'un manque de temps' or simply 'je n'ai pas le temps'. 'Déficience' is too formal for time.

سجّل مجاناً للنصائح والملاحظات