Opaque vs. Translucent

Hello, you have A Way with Words.

Hi, this is Sophia Agostra calling from Omaha, Nebraska.

Hi, Sophia.

Welcome to the show. What can we do for you?

I have a question about the two words opaque and translucent.

In the car one day when me and my parents were driving, I don’t know how we got on the subject, but we started talking about the two words opaque and translucent. And I said, well, I remember in fourth grade, our teacher told us we were studying these minerals in these rocks, and there’s some translucent ones, and we didn’t know what the word to describe them was. And our teacher told us it was translucent so that light could come through, but you couldn’t entirely see a clear picture through.

And then, again, in the fifth grade last year, we learned how light traveled, and we learned the word opaque, and that meant like a wooden door that was solid. No light could come through. You couldn’t see anything through. And then translucent meant that it was kind of like a lampshade. You know, you could, light came through, but you couldn’t fully see a picture.

And so then I told that to my dad, and he was like, no. I thought opaque meant that a little bit of light could come through, but you couldn’t see a full picture. I was like, no, that’s translucent. So I didn’t really know, and I decided to call you guys.

I got to say, you sound like a very bright young woman, Sophia, and you’ve got the definitions exactly right as most of the world understands them. Opaque means that you can’t see through it and no light passes through. And translucent means that some light passes through, but you can’t make out what’s on the other side, really.

Okay. And then transparent, the third one that you didn’t mention, means you can see through it completely and make out a clear picture of what’s on the other side.

Yeah, the trans in translucent is a cross, like transfer. And lucent means it comes from light. So light running across or passing across.

Yeah. But the thing that I think we need to say here is that sometimes we all have these misunderstandings about language that don’t get cleared up until really late in life. I was telling Martha earlier that I have a friend who thought asymmetrical, meaning not symmetrical, meant symmetrical. Like for a long time, well into her 20s. She would say, oh, that’s very asymmetrical. I’m like, no, it isn’t. That’s perfectly balanced. But she thought it meant equal on each side.

Sophia, I think you live up to your name. Do you know what your name means in ancient Greek?

I think, does it mean wisdom?

It does mean wisdom. There we go. And therefore, philosophy is the love of wisdom.

Oh.

Yeah.

Yeah. I love that name, Sophia. So you’re definitely living up to your name.

Thank you very much.

You’re welcome. And thank you so much for calling. We really appreciate it.

Yeah. Take care.

Yeah, thank you.

Bye-bye.

All right. Bye-bye.

Bye.

We welcome calls from everyone in the family. Kids, you got a question, just ask mom and dad if you can use the phone. Give us a ring. We’ll try to sort it out. 877-929-9673.