Translate a string
Write or correct one translation by hand, with the glossary, the memory and the length limit in view.
Anyone who can edit a language can write its translations: Translators, Reviewers, Developers, Admins and the account's Owners. A member scoped to particular languages can only write in the languages they were given; in any other language the editor reads Read only. Translating this locale is not one of your rights here.
The editor writes translations only. Source text comes from your files, through an import, the CLI or an integration.
Write the translation
Open the string
In the editor, choose the language, then pick the string from the queue on the left. Search or filter the queue to find it, or press Alt ↓ to jump to the next untranslated string.
Type the translation
Type into the box under the source. Glossary terms in the string, an exact memory match and Glossa's alternatives are listed beside it; select one to use it as your starting point.
Save
Select Save, or press ⌘ Enter to save and move to the next string (⌘ Shift Enter saves without moving). Discard, or Esc, drops your change.
On Windows and Linux, use Ctrl for ⌘.
Start from a suggestion
You do not have to type from scratch. In the context panel, or beside the box in Side by side:
- Use this ($0) copies an exact match from translation memory.
- Use this under Similar approved translations copies a reviewed translation of similar source text. Check it before saving: the source it matched is shown above it.
- Suggest asks Glossa for a fresh draft of this one string, checked against the placeholders, plural forms, glossary terms and length limit. Accept puts it in the box. Available on Starter and above.
Whatever you take is saved as your edit, so you can change it before or after saving.
What happens when you save
The string's state becomes edited, and your name is added to its history. A translation you have edited or reviewed is never overwritten by AI: later translation runs skip it, even when its source text changes.
While you type, the editor checks your draft against the source and lists problems under the box, such as a missing placeholder. If the key has a maximum length, a counter shows your length against it.
Ask a reviewer to check it
In Table view, Ask for a check under the row's state flags the translation as needing a check and notifies the project's reviewers ("requested your review"). It is offered to anyone who can edit the language, on translations that are not already flagged or approved. See Approve or flag a translation.
Plural strings
A key marked as plural has one form per plural category of the language. It cannot be typed into a single box: select Edit forms in the table, or Edit plural forms in Side by side. See Plural forms.
If it doesn't work
- "Over the limit. Saving keeps your text and flags this row for review.": your translation is longer than the key's maximum length. It saves, and the string is flagged so a reviewer sees it.
- "Someone else saved "…" while you were editing. Save again to replace it.": a teammate saved this string after you opened it. Your text is kept; save again only if yours should win.
- "Save failed.": the change did not reach the server. Your text stays in the box; try again.
- The box is read-only: you do not have edit access to this language. Ask an Admin to grant you access.