Illiterates Meaning in English
word · lemma: illiterate
ˌɪˈɫɪtɝəts
i-LIH-ter-uts
ɪlˈɪtəɹəts
i-LIH-tuh-ruts
Definition
People who cannot read or write, usually because they never learned how.
Usage & Nuances
Usually used in formal or statistical contexts. The singular is 'illiterate.' Can sound negative or stigmatizing if used carelessly—it's best used in discussions about education or social issues.
Spanish: analfabetosPortuguese (BR): analfabetosPortuguese (PT): analfabetosChinese (Simplified): 文盲Chinese (Traditional): 文盲Hindi: अशिक्षित लोगArabic: الأميونBengali: নিরক্ষর মানুষ - অশিক্ষিত মানুষRussian: неграмотныеJapanese: 非識字者 - 読み書きできない人Vietnamese: người không biết chữKorean: 문맹자Turkish: okuma yazma bilmeyenlerUrdu: ناخواندہ افرادIndonesian: orang buta huruf
Example Sentences
Many illiterates live in rural areas where schools are far away.
basic
The government provides programs to help illiterates learn to read.
basic
There are still millions of illiterates in the world today.
basic
Some communities organize night classes for local illiterates.
natural
It's important not to judge illiterates—many never had the chance to attend school.
natural
After years of hard work, many former illiterates can now read newspapers every day.
natural