Skip to content

analfabeta

illiterate person

noun ah-nahl-fah-BEH-tah Rare

Origin: Greek analphabetos, from an- (not) + alphabetos (knowing the alphabet)

Usage Note

Analfabeta is an epicene noun — the same form is used for both genders: un analfabeta (m) and un'analfabeta (f). The plural is analfabeti (m) / analfabete (f). Used both literally (unable to read/write) and figuratively for someone ignorant about a specific field, e.g. analfabeta digitale.

Examples

"Il tasso di analfabeti è diminuito molto."

Natural Translation

The illiteracy rate has decreased greatly.

Literal Translation

The rate of illiterates has-decreased greatly.

Explore Italian by topic