French word

suffire

Pronunciation

IPA/syfiʁ/

Meaning

  • verbbe enough

Example

Ça suffit !

That is enough!

Illustration for suffire (be enough)

More examples

Une heure devrait suffire pour finir.

One hour should be sufficient to finish.

Core concept

The available amount closes the gap to a required result, leaving no further addition or action necessary.

Common phrases

  • suffire à

    be sufficient for

  • suffire pour

    be sufficient to

  • il suffit de

    it is sufficient to

Similar words

se contenter: To accept what is available as satisfactory instead of asking for more.
se passer (de): To do without a particular thing because it is not needed.

Definition in French

Ne nécessiter aucun supplément pour satisfaire une exigence; être assez pour mettre fin à une action ou à une demande.

Word origin

Suffire developed from Latin sufficere through Old French, retaining the idea of providing enough for a purpose.

Usage tips

  • Il suffit de is followed by an infinitive, as in Il suffit de demander, while suffire à commonly introduces the purpose or result.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word