illiterate

/ɪˈlɪtərət/

Syllables il·lit·er·ate

Stress il-LIT-er-ate

Phonics Breakdown

il

/ɪl/

short i

lit

/lɪt/

short i

er

/ər/

schwa

ate

/ət/

weak schwa

Meaning

unable to read or write

Sound Reference

💡

il=/ɪl/(ill) + lit=/lɪt/(lit) + er=/ər/(teacher) + ate=/ət/(private)

Example

Many adults were illiterate before free education was available.