buta huruf

Indonesian

Etymology

Compound of (blind) buta +‎ (letter) huruf, calque from Chinese 文盲 (“illiteracy”, literally “writing blind”) (Can this(+) etymology be sourced?).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /bu.ta ˈhu.rʊf/

Adjective

buta huruf

  1. illiterate (unable to read and write)
    Synonym: tunaaksara

Noun

buta huruf (uncountable)

  1. illiteracy
    Synonyms: kebutahurufan, tunaaksara
    1. the inability to read and write
    2. the portion of a population unable to read and write, generally given as a percentage

Further reading

Malay

Etymology

Compound of buta (blind) +‎ huruf (letter).

Pronunciation

Adjective

buta huruf (Jawi spelling بوتا حروف, comparative lebih buta huruf, superlative paling buta huruf)

  1. Unable to read and write; illiterate.
    Antonyms: celik huruf, kenal huruf

Affixations

Further reading