Translation Glossary
Plain-English definitions for translation, localization, and i18n professionals
20 terms — click any card to read the full definition.
Translation Memory
A database of previously translated segments that suggests reuse for consistent output.
Read definition →CAT Tool
Software that assists human translators with TM lookup, glossaries, and segment editing.
Read definition →XLIFF
Open XML standard for exchanging localizable content between translation tools.
Read definition →Localization
Adapting content for a specific locale — language, formats, culture, and imagery.
Read definition →Transcreation
Creative translation that recreates tone and intent rather than translating word-for-word.
Read definition →TMX
Translation Memory eXchange — the standard format for sharing TM data between tools.
Read definition →SDLX / SDLTM
SDL Trados file formats for bilingual translation packages and translation memory.
Read definition →Glossary (in translation)
A project-specific list of approved term translations to enforce consistency.
Read definition →Back-translation
Re-translating a translated text back to the source language to check accuracy.
Read definition →Post-editing
Human correction of machine-translated output to meet publication quality standards.
Read definition →Source Language
The original language of the content being translated.
Read definition →Target Language
The language the content is being translated into.
Read definition →Fuzzy Match
A TM suggestion that is similar but not identical to the source segment, scored by percentage.
Read definition →Locale
A language + region code (e.g. en-US, fr-CA) that governs formatting and translation.
Read definition →i18n / L10n
Internationalisation (design for any language) and Localisation (adapt for one locale).
Read definition →Subtitle Timing (SRT)
SubRip text format — timestamps + text lines used for video subtitles and captions.
Read definition →EPUB Format
Open eBook format based on HTML/CSS; requires structure-aware translation.
Read definition →Machine Translation
Automated translation via neural networks — the engine behind modern AI translation tools.
Read definition →Human-in-the-loop Translation
A workflow where a human reviewer validates or edits machine-translated output.
Read definition →TER / BLEU Score
Automated metrics that measure machine translation quality against human reference output.
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