WPML’s glossary helps you get higher quality translations by defining how you want certain words to appear in various languages.
What is the WPML Glossary?
The WPML Glossary is a tool that improves translation accuracy by specifying translations for words that have multiple meanings (or multiple possible translations).
For example:
The term ‘whole foods’ can mean both the organic supermarket (Whole Foods) and foods that are minimally processed.
In Spanish, the WooCommerce checkout may be translated in various ways like “Página de pago”, “Finalizar compra”, or “Carrito de compra”.
To eliminate confusion, you can create a glossary entry with the correct or preferred translation in different languages.
Glossary entries with their translations in different languages
Once created, automatic translation engines will use the glossary entry to correctly translate your terms, and translators will receive additional context during translation.
WPML’s advanced translation editor suggesting a translation for a glossary term
Best Practices for Adding Terms to Your Glossary
Before you add terms to WPML’s Glossary, consider these guidelines:
Add Only Critical Terms Avoid overusing the glossary to define unnecessary terms. Only include terms that both human and AI translators might struggle to translate correctly, such as words with multiple meanings.
Keep Terms Simple Enter terms exactly as they should appear in translations. Do not include extra information like text in parentheses unless it’s part of the term itself.
Avoid Duplicates Ensure that every term is unique. Duplicate entries can cause issues with AI translation.
How to Create Glossary Entries in WPML
There used to be two types of glossary entries in WPML: names and general terms. With our recent updates, there’s only one type of entry (names). This makes the glossary simpler and easier to manage for both users and AI.
To create glossary entries in WPML:
Go to WPML → Translation Management.
Switch to the Translation Tools tab and select Glossary.
Click Add glossary entry and enter your term, description, and translations.
Adding a new glossary entry in WPML
Bulk Importing Glossary Terms Using CSV Files
WPML allows you to easily import (and export) your glossary terms using CSV files. This approach can save you time by instantly importing many terms at once, as well as streamline your organization by having all terms in one place.
To import glossary terms:
Go to WPML → Translation Management.
Switch to the Translation Tools tab and select Glossary.
Click on Import glossary to upload a CSV file.
You can also click on Export glossary to download the terms in a CSV file.
Importing your glossary via a CSV file
Updating Translations After Changing Glossary Entries
Whenever you create or update glossary terms, you need to update translations that include these terms. To automatically update all necessary translations, go to the Glossary tab and click Update existing translations.
Clicking the Update existing translations button
WPML will now automatically update translations without consuming any credits. Completing this process may take a few minutes, so don’t click the button again if you don’t see immediate changes.
By default, this feature can only update translations created in the past 30 days. To update glossary terms in older translations, resend your content for translation via WPML → Translation Management. Remember that this translation method consumes credits.
