glasheldere

Glasheldere is a Dutch adjective meaning crystal-clear or perfectly transparent. It is used to describe the clarity of physical substances such as water, glass, or air, as well as the clarity of explanations, plans, or language. The term is a compound of glas (glass) and helder (clear).

Grammatically, glashelder is the base form used before indefinite nouns, for example een glashelder water. When used with definite articles or other determiners, the form typically becomes glasheldere, for instance het glasheldere water or de glasheldere uitleg. In plural constructions or with different noun classes, the inflection can vary, but the core meaning remains unchanged: extreme clarity or transparency.

Glasheldere is commonly employed in both literal and figurative senses. Literally, it appears in descriptions of very transparent liquids or objects, such as water, glass, or crystal-clear air. Figuratively, it is used to characterize explanations, negotiations, communication, or plans that leave little room for ambiguity, often translated as “crystal-clear” in English. It can also convey a sense of reliability and straightforwardness.

Related terms include kristalhelder, a near synonym emphasizing purity of clarity, and helder, which is a broader term for clear or bright. Glashelder is widely used in journalism, nature writing, and everyday speech to emphasize exceptional transparency or lucidity.

Examples: Het glasheldere water in de bergen liet ons ver zien. Een glasheldere uitleg maakte de complexiteit begrijpelijk. De glasheldere taal van het rapport liet geen ruimte voor misverstanden.