Glossary / Term Base
A list of approved translations for specific terms to ensure consistency.
Definition
A glossary (or term base) is a curated list of terms and their approved translations for each target language. Unlike translation memory (which stores sentences), glossaries store individual terms, often with definitions and usage notes. Glossaries ensure that key terminology—brand names, product features, technical terms—is translated consistently across all content.
Examples
- →'Dashboard' stays as 'Dashboard' in German (brand term)
- →'Pull request' → 'Solicitud de extraccion' in Spanish (standardized)
- →'Key' (translation key) vs 'Key' (encryption) → different translations
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a glossary different from translation memory?
Translation memory stores full segments (sentences, paragraphs). Glossary stores individual terms (words, phrases). TM helps reuse translations, glossary ensures terminology consistency. Both improve quality but serve different purposes.
Who creates and maintains the glossary?
Typically: 1) Product team defines key terms in source language 2) Linguists/translators provide approved translations 3) Review and update as product evolves. IntlPull lets you manage glossaries with automatic enforcement during translation.