transparente

Transparente is an adjective used in Spanish and Portuguese to describe something that allows light to pass through or something that can be easily perceived. It is also used metaphorically to denote openness and clarity. In Italian, the closest cognate form is trasparente.

Etymology: The term derives from Latin transparens, from trans- “through” + parere “to appear” or “to be seen,” reflecting the sense of being visible through something.

Usage: Physically, a transparent material lets light pass with minimal scattering, as in glass or clear plastic. Figuratively, transparency refers to openness in communication, governance, and information, as in a transparent government or transparent data.

Linguistic notes: In Spanish and Portuguese, transparente is used for masculine and feminine nouns in singular form, with plural forms ending in -es (los objetos transparentes, las sustancias transparentes). In Italian, the equivalent adjective is trasparente, with a similar gender- and number-consistent usage.

See also: transparency; related terms in Romance languages include transparencia (Spanish), Transparência (Portuguese), and trasparenza (Italian).