Literal means taking words in their exact, non-figurative sense — a literal translation. Literate means able to read and write, and by extension knowledgeable in a field: computer literate. Both come from the Latin for letter, which is why they look related.
The core difference
Both from Latin littera, letter, but describing different things.
- literal — exact, non-figurative: the literal meaning.
- literate — able to read and write: a literate population. Also: competent in a field.
The extended sense of literate
Computer literate, financially literate, media literate — the word now means competent in any domain, not just reading. That extension is fully standard and probably the most common way you will meet it.
The literally problem
Literally used as an intensifier meaning its own opposite is over two centuries old and recorded in major dictionaries, so it is not a modern error. See metaphorically vs figuratively for the words that say what you mean when precision matters.
Frequently asked questions
Which word means able to read?
Literate. Literal means taking words in their exact sense.
What does computer literate mean?
Competent with computers — an extension of literate to mean skilled in any domain.
Are the words related?
Yes, both from Latin littera, letter — which is why they look so similar.