Translation Glossary.
Master the language of localization. From A to Z, we've compiled the essential terminology every professional translator should know.
A–C Terms
Accurate Translation
A translation that conveys the exact meaning, tone, and intent of the source text without distortion, omission, or unauthorized addition.
Adaptation
The process of adjusting content to suit a specific culture or demographic; highly utilized in global marketing, advertising, and creative content.
Alignment
The process of matching source-language segments with their corresponding target-language segments from previous translations to create a new Translation Memory (TM).
Back Translation
Translating a target text back into its original source language to verify strict accuracy and identify nuances or errors, frequently used in medical and legal fields.
Bilingual
An individual fluent in two languages. Note: Being bilingual does not automatically qualify someone as a professional translator.
CAT Tools (Computer-Assisted Translation)
Specialized software that helps human translators work faster and maintain consistency using translation memories and terminology databases (e.g., Trados, MemoQ).
Certified Translation
A legally recognized translation accompanied by a signed Certificate of Accuracy from the translator or agency, often required for immigration, legal, or official academic use.
Client Review
A dedicated workflow step where the client’s internal team or local reviewers check the translated content for brand voice and accuracy before final delivery.
Concordance Search
A feature within CAT tools that allows translators to search a Translation Memory for a specific word or phrase to see how it was translated in previous contexts.
Content Localization
Adapting digital content linguistically and culturally for a specific target market to ensure it resonates natively with local audiences.
D–F Terms
Desktop Publishing (DTP)
The process of formatting translated visual content (PDFs, brochures, manuals) to match the layout of the original design, accommodating for text expansion or right-to-left languages.
Direct Translation
A literal, word-for-word translation process that prioritizes exact linguistic transfer over cultural adaptation.
Document Translation
The professional translation of written materials, including business contracts, medical reports, technical manuals, and legal certificates.
Dubbing
Replacing the original spoken audio in a video or film with a translated audio track synchronized to the speakers' lip movements.
Editing (Translation Editing)
A comprehensive review process aimed at improving the clarity, style, flow, and grammatical correctness of a translated text against the source.
Equivalence
The goal of achieving the exact same meaning, emotional impact, or functional effect in the target language as in the source text.
Free Translation
A flexible translation approach that prioritizes the overall meaning and readability of the text over rigid, word-for-word accuracy.
Fuzzy Match
A term used in CAT tools indicating that a source text segment partially matches a segment already stored in the Translation Memory (usually expressed as a percentage, e.g., an 85% match).
G–L Terms
Glossary (Terminology List)
A curated database of approved brand terms, industry jargon, and their standardized translations to ensure absolute consistency across all projects.
Human Translation
High-quality translation performed entirely by a professional, native-speaking linguist, guaranteeing cultural nuance and contextual accuracy.
Internationalization (i18n)
The technical process of designing a software application or product so it can be easily adapted to various languages and regions without engineering changes.
Interpretation
The oral or signed translation of spoken language in real-time (e.g., simultaneous interpretation at conferences), as opposed to written translation.
Language Pair
The specific combination of the source language and the target language used in a project (e.g., English → Arabic, denoted as EN-AR).
Localization (L10n)
The comprehensive adaptation of a product, app, or website to a specific region, encompassing language, cultural norms, currency, dates, and visual formatting.
M–R Terms
Machine Translation (MT)
Fully automated translation generated by artificial intelligence or neural networks (e.g., Google Translate, DeepL) without initial human intervention.
MTPE (Machine Translation Post-Editing)
The hybrid process where a professional human editor reviews and refines machine-translated content to ensure accuracy, fluency, and proper tone.
Multilingual Content
Digital or print content made available in multiple languages to reach a global audience.
Native Speaker
An individual who acquired a specific language naturally in early childhood and speaks it comprehensively as their primary language.
Notarized Translation
A translated document that includes a sworn statement from the translator signed in the physical presence of a Notary Public.
Proofreading
The final, meticulous check of a translated text to catch and eliminate minor grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting errors before publication.
Pseudo-translation
A software testing method where source text is replaced with mock characters to ensure the user interface can handle text expansion and diverse alphabets before actual translation begins.
Quality Assurance (QA)
A systematic, multi-step process utilizing both automated tools and human checks to ensure overall translation quality, technical integrity, and formatting consistency.
Revision
The process of a second, independent linguist reviewing a translation against the source text to verify accuracy and resolve errors.
S–Z Terms
Sight Translation
The process of reading a written source document and simultaneously translating it out loud into the target language.
Source Language (SL)
The original language in which the content was initially written or spoken.
Subtitling
The process of adding translated written text to the bottom of a video screen to convey the spoken dialogue and vital sound effects.
Target Language (TL)
The final language into which the source content is being translated.
Technical Translation
The translation of highly specialized content requiring subject-matter expertise, such as medical protocols, legal contracts, or software engineering documentation.
Terminology Management
The ongoing process of capturing, organizing, and updating approved terms across all translation projects to build brand consistency.
Transcreation
A blend of translation and content creation; adapting the core message, tone, and emotional intent of creative marketing copy to resonate perfectly with a local demographic.
Translation Memory (TM)
A linguistic database that continuously captures and stores previously translated sentences and segments for instant reuse in future projects, lowering costs and boosting speed.
Translation Workflow
The standardized, multi-step lifecycle of a language project, typically encompassing preparation, translation, editing, proofreading (TEP), QA, and final delivery.
Turnaround Time (TAT)
The total agreed-upon time required for a language service provider to complete and deliver a translation project.
Voiceover
Adding a translated spoken audio track over a video presentation or e-learning module, typically without matching the exact lip movements of the on-screen talent.