Spanish Conversation · Level 66
60 words
Spanish word
escasear
Pronunciation
IPA/eskaseˈaɾ/
Meaning
- verbbe scarce
Example
En invierno escasea la leña para la calefacción.
Firewood for heating is scarce in winter.
More examples
En la ciudad escasea el espacio para aparcar.
In the city, parking space is scarce.
Core concept
A nearly empty grocery shelf.
Common phrases
escasear combustible
be short of fuel
escasear medicinas
be short of medicines
escasear plazas de aparcamiento
be short of parking spaces
Similar words
faltar: Fall short of the number or quantity that is expected or required.
acabarse: Be consumed so that the item no longer remains.
agotarse: Be gradually exhausted as supply dwindles to zero.
carecer: Have an absence of something essential or expected.
Definition in Spanish
Expresa que hay poca disponibilidad de algo o que empieza a hacerse escaso, aplicable a cosas y conceptos.
Word origin
From the adjective escaso 'scarce' plus the verbalizing suffix -ear, the verb expresses that something becomes scarce or runs low.
Usage tips
- Escasear commonly appears in impersonal statements about supplies or resources (escasea la gasolina) while faltar usually marks a specific missing item or an individual's lack.