The prefix "inter" implies motion across a perceived boundary, but that motion is the onedirectional application of one cultural framework to another. Intercultural education presumes cultural universalism, or the notion that all citizens of the world have the same fundamental wants and needs and should have the same fundamental human rights, though those wants, needs, and rights are, in reality, imposed by a dominant culture and are often rejected as a hegemonic practice.

The prefix "multi" means "many", and thus implies that numerous cultures are living and learning side-by-side in the pursuit of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence, yet without necessarily coming into regular or meaningful contact with one another. Multicultural education accepts that there are profound cultural differences between groups of people, but adopts the perspective of cultural relativism.

The prefix "multi", implies a connection, a reciprocal relationship, whereby cultures are not only peacefully coexisting and not only coming into contact on the basis of shared beliefs and values, that not only is some cultural transformation occurring, but that communication, a negotiation of meaning and an exchange of ideas, is occurring.

The prefix "trans" means "many", and thus implies that numerous cultures are living and learning side-by-side in the pursuit of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence, yet without necessarily coming into regular or meaningful contact with one another. Transcultural education accepts that there are profound cultural differences between groups of people, but adopts the perspective of cultural relativism.