der Analphabet
illiterate person
A person who cannot read and write.
EXAMPLE
Programme zur Erwachsenenbildung helfen Analphabeten dabei, Lesen und Schreiben zu lernen.
Adult education programs help illiterate people learn to read and write.
der Analphabet
illiterate
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Meanings
der Analphabet
illiterate person
In a figurative sense, a person who has no knowledge or only very little knowledge in a particular field.
EXAMPLE
Was Computer angeht, bin ich ein totaler Analphabet.
When it comes to computers, I'm totally illiterate.
Usage tips
N-declension
'Der Analphabet' belongs to the N-declension. This means it takes the ending '-en' in all cases except the nominative singular.
EXAMPLE
Der Kurs hilft Analphabeten beim Lernen.
The course helps illiterate people with learning.
Word structure
The word comes from Greek. The prefix 'an-' means 'un-' or 'without', and 'Alphabet' refers to the letters. So an 'Analphabet' (illiterate person) is literally someone 'without an alphabet'.
EXAMPLE
Weltweit gibt es Millionen von Analphabeten.
There are millions of illiterate people worldwide.
Usage pattern
In the figurative meaning, people often specify the field in which knowledge is lacking. For this, an adjective or a compound word is usually used.
EXAMPLE
Wenn es um Autos geht, bin ich ein technischer Analphabet.
When it comes to cars, I'm technically illiterate.
Register and style
The figurative use as 'someone who has no clue' is often colloquial and is usually used as an exaggeration or self-deprecatingly.
EXAMPLE
Frag mich nicht nach Politik, da bin ich ein kompletter Analphabet.
Don't ask me about politics; I'm completely illiterate there.
Compare with
Analphabet vs Laie
layperson
A Laie has little knowledge in a particular field, without this automatically being meant as a criticism. In a figurative sense, Analphabet can also refer to someone with no or very little knowledge in a particular field, but it sounds clearly derogatory. Laie is therefore more suitable for a neutral description.
Analphabet
Der verärgerte Kollege bezeichnete ihn wegen seiner fehlenden Computerkenntnisse als Analphabeten.
Because of his lack of computer skills, the annoyed colleague called him illiterate.
Laie
Als Laie kenne ich mich mit Computern nur wenig aus.
As a layperson, I know very little about computers.
In real life
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