'analphabete' originates from French, specifically the word 'analphabète', which comes from Greek 'an-' meaning 'not' and 'alphabētos' meaning 'alphabet'.

'analphabète' was borrowed into French from Greek, and then into English as 'analphabete', retaining its meaning of 'illiterate person'.

Initially, it meant 'a person who cannot read or write', and this meaning has remained unchanged in modern usage.