Where does “buta huruf” come from?

buta huruf (Indonesian) comes from Indonesian buta, from Javanese ꦧꦸꦠ, from Pali bhūta, from Sanskrit भूत, from Proto-Indo-Iranian bʰuHtás, from Proto-Indo-European bʰuH-tó-s, from Proto-Indo-European bʰuH- — to become, grow, appear.

buta huruf (Indonesian): illiterate

Definitions

  1. illiterate

Ancestry of “buta huruf”, step by step

buta huruf traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Indonesian buta

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Indonesianbutablind; not knowing; giant
2Javaneseꦧꦸꦠgiant
3Palibhūtanatural; genuine; true
4Sanskritभूतbeen
5Proto-Indo-IranianbʰuHtásbecome, been
6Proto-Indo-EuropeanbʰuH-tó-s—
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanbʰuH-to become, grow, appear

via Indonesian huruf

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Indonesianhurufletter
2Malayhurufletter
3Arabicحُرُوف—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰuH- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰuH-tó-s →Every word from Proto-Indo-Iranian bʰuHtás →