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

• “buta huruf” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.

Malay

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (Johor-Riau) IPA^(key): [bu.tə hu.rof]
• (Baku) IPA^(key): [bu.ta hu.rof]

Adjective

buta huruf (Jawi spelling بوتا حروف)

1. Unable to read and write; illiterate.

   Antonyms: celik huruf, kenal huruf

Affixations

• kebutahurufan

Further reading

• “buta huruf” in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu | Malay Literary Reference Centre, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017.