Translation Memory (TM)
Translation Memory (TM) is a database that stores segments of text (sentences, paragraphs, or headings) that have been previously translated. When the same segment appears again, the TM automatically suggests the stored translation, ensuring consistency and significantly reducing costs and time.
Never Pay to Translate the Same Thing Twice
You shouldn't pay to translate "Contact Us" 50 times across your website. TM ensures you pay once, and it's reused forever. Beyond cost savings, TM guarantees consistency—"Product X" is always described identically across 1,000 pages and 10 languages. This is critical for technical documentation, legal contracts, and e-commerce catalogs where terminology must be exact. TM databases accumulate value over time: a company that translates 1 million words/year builds a massive TM asset that makes year 5 translations 60-80% faster and cheaper than year 1.
Human Translation vs. Translation Memory
Real-World Impact
E-commerce site translates 5,000 product pages without TM
Footer "Terms & Conditions" translated 5,000 times
Wastes $750 on repetitive translations
Same site uses TM system
Footer translated once, applied automatically to all pages
Saves $750 + ensures perfect consistency