Suficiente vs. bastante
In Spanish, 'suficiente' and 'bastante' are words often used to express the concept of 'enough' or 'sufficient'. However, they are used in slightly different contexts and nuances.
Suficiente
The word 'suficiente' means 'sufficient' or 'enough' and is often used to indicate that there is an adequate amount of something to meet a need.
No tengo suficiente dinero para comprar ese coche.
(I don't have enough money to buy that car.)
Hay suficiente comida para todos los invitados.
(There is enough food for all the guests.)
Ella estudió lo suficiente para pasar el examen.
(She studied enough to pass the exam.)
¿Es esta cantidad de agua suficiente?
(Is this amount of water sufficient?)
Bastante
The word 'bastante' also means 'enough', 'quite a lot', or 'plenty' and can be more flexible, sometimes implying more than just the minimum needed. It can convey an ample quantity or even a quality of frequency or intensity.
Tenemos bastante tiempo para terminar el proyecto.
(We have enough time to finish the project.)
Hay bastante gente en la fiesta.
(There are quite a lot of people at the party.)
Ese niño es bastante inteligente para su edad.
(That child is quite intelligent for his age.)
La película estuvo bastante interesante.
(The movie was quite interesting.)
Summary
In summary, while both 'suficiente' and 'bastante' can mean 'enough', 'suficiente' typically denotes a sufficient quantity to meet a specific need, whereas 'bastante' often suggests an ample or plentiful amount, sometimes even beyond just sufficiency.