French word

pénurie

Pronunciation

IPA/penyʁi/

Meaning

  • feminine nounshortage

Example

Le pays souffre d'une pénurie d'eau depuis des mois.

The country has been suffering from a water shortage for months.

Illustration for pénurie (shortage)

More examples

On ressent la pénurie d'eau au quotidien.

We feel the water shortage every day.

Core concept

A limited essential supply being stretched among many people.

Common phrases

  • pénurie d'eau

    water shortage

  • pénurie de carburant

    fuel shortage

  • pénurie alimentaire

    food shortage

Similar words

manque: A lack of something that is necessary.
absence: A condition in which a person or thing is entirely absent.

Definition in French

Manque important et souvent généralisé d'une ressource, d'un produit ou d'un approvisionnement, généralement exprimé par «pénurie de + nom».

Word origin

French pénurie derives from Latin penuria, which denoted scarcity, want, or insufficient supplies.

Usage tips

  • Pénurie is common in news and formal contexts, while everyday speech often uses manquer de or ne pas avoir assez de.

Other meanings

  • scarcitynoun

Opposites

Related words

  • pénuriquescarceadjective

Word lists with this word