deficiency

/dɪˈfɪʃənsi/
Syllables de·fi·cien·cy
Stress de-FI-cien-cy

Phonics Breakdown

de
/dɪ/
short i
fi
/fɪ/
short i
ci
/ʃ/
sion sound
en
/ən/
schwa
cy
/si/
y as /i/

Meaning

a lack or shortage of something

Sound Reference

💡

de=/dɪ/(decide) + fi=/fɪ/(fish) + ci=/ʃ/(special) + en=/ən/(open) + cy=/si/(city)

Example

Vitamin D deficiency can cause health problems.