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WPML 4.8 Makes Glossaries Smarter (and Shorter)

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Last month, we released WPML 4.8, which upgrades how glossaries work with AI translation. Now, Private Translation Cloud (PTC) automatically recognizes related word forms, so you only need to define a term once and PTC applies it consistently across translations.

What’s Changing?

Before this update, glossary terms had to match the text exactly.

If you wanted consistent translations for a word like page, you had to enter every variation: Page, pages, page’s, and so on.

That’s no longer necessary.

Private Translation Cloud (PTC) now understands how words relate to each other. When you define how to translate page, the AI applies that rule across all its forms—capitalized, plural, possessive, and more—automatically.

Why This Matters

A large glossary used to be helpful because it covered all possible word forms. Now, it can actually get in the way. Long lists of nearly identical terms make it harder for the AI to tell which ones really matter.

With PTC, a smaller and more focused glossary leads to better translations.

What to Keep in Your Glossary

Keep the terms that are specific to your brand, your products, or your industry. These are the kinds of things the AI won’t always guess correctly.

For example:

If you’re a marketing agency and want the word branding to stay exactly as is in all translations, add it: Branding → Branding

If your product names are common dictionary words (like Advanced Custom Fields), include them so the AI knows not to translate them.

If you’re working with specialized content and need to control how certain terms are translated, include those too: Heart → Coronary

What to Remove

You can safely clean up unnecessary entries like these:

 Variations of the same word

You don’t need to list every form:

page
Page
Pages
Page’s

One version is enough. The AI handles the rest.

 Size, color, or quantity entries

No need to repeat entries like:

Expert Line Flat Brush size 4
Expert Line Flat Brush size 5

Just include Expert Line Flat Brush.

 Common or obvious words

Basic terms like home, support, or blog are already understood by the AI and don’t need to be in your glossary.

Want to Rely Less on the Glossary? Use Context

WPML 4.8 also introduces Context and Target Audience fields. These help the AI understand what your content is about, what you offer, and who you’re speaking to.

Giving PTC context to get guaranteed translation quality

With that information, the AI can make smarter decisions and choose the right terminology on its own.

For example:

When we translate wpml.org, we let the AI know it’s a site for a WordPress plugin. So when it sees the word post, it understands we mean a blog post—not the post office.

Using these fields well can reduce your need for glossary entries even further.

What You Should Do Now

Take a moment to review your glossary. If it’s long, trim it down. Focus on what really matters—your brand, your products, and any terms that are uniquely specific to your content.

Need help? Contact our support team and we’ll gladly assist you in cleaning up your glossary.