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be unlettered

[/biː ˌʌnˈlɛtərd/]
verb phrase
ser iletrado
1. to be illiterate or lacking formal education; to be unable to read or write
He was unlettered but possessed great practical wisdom.
Ele era iletrado, mas possuía grande sabedoria prática.
2. to lack knowledge or sophistication in literary or academic matters
Despite being unlettered in classical languages, she had a keen intellect.
Apesar de ser iletrada nas línguas clássicas, ela tinha um intelecto aguçado.
Synonyms
be illiteratebe uneducatedbe ignorantlack educationbe untaught
Antonyms
be literatebe educatedbe learnedbe scholarlybe well-read

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
ser iletrado
common usage for illiteracy
São Paulo
ser analfabeto
often used interchangeably with iletrado
Portugal
ser analfabeto
preferred term in European Portuguese

Related Idioms & Phrases

can't read or write
lack of formal education
unschooled in letters
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