Matt Mullenweg 11:12 pm on March 5, 2026

Polyglots in an Age of AI

I’m seeing a lot of projects use https://crowdin.com/

What can we learn and adapt from them? Human time is precious; let’s use it on the most impactful things.

Ali Darwich 12:06 am on March 6, 2026

Crowdin is a good platform, but it has the same issues that we currently have: Unexperienced users will flood stringsString A string is a translatable part of the software. A translation consists of a multitude of localized strings. with very poor translations that visually pollute the editor, or send a series of useless comments as problems to be solved, and then the editors will have to repeatedly solve the problems and delete the suggestions, or just ignore them.

I agree with the point about time, and while exploring an AI implementation for this might be needed, let’s not forget that localizing WordPress is one of the most vital arteries in the heart of this community, one of the many reasons why the platform is still adopted by many communities around the planet. Nuance, context, and familiarity are things that not even the most advanced AI tool on the planet can give.
Peter Smits 4:24 pm on March 11, 2026

We already have started with AI on translate.wordpress.orgtranslate.wordpress.org The platform for contributing to the translation of WordPress core, themes and plugins.. We have two options OpenAI and DeepL. Both deliver reasonably good texts, but still need improving. The problem with AIvis the fact that authors are starting to use it offline, then importing it into GlotPressGlotPress GlotPress is the translation management software that powers Translate.WordPress.org. More information is available at glotpress.org. our translation platform. That causes a problem for GTEGeneral Translation Editor A General Translation Editor (often referred to as GTE) is a person, who has global access to validate strings on all projects for a specific locale./PTEProject Translation Editor A Project Translation Editor (often referred to as PTE) is a person, who has access to validate strings on a specific project (for example BuddyPress, WooCommerce or Twenty Fourteen) for one specific locale. A project translation editor can approve strings that are added by translation contributors. Per project translation, editors are appointed by a general translation editor after a request by the project author or by the contributors themselves. volunteers, that have to check those suggestions.

To keep a good standard in translation of WordPress, we cannot accept those suggestions blindly. Then it is better to leave it untranslated. Or we need to create an engine that corrects wrong translations automatically. But that is something which will cost huge effort.

Better to use the data we have in the database, to improve current models by learning them WordPress terminology.
Marc Armengou 10:36 am on March 12, 2026

AI

Human review is still necessary. We can only use AI to suggest stringsString A string is a translatable part of the software. A translation consists of a multitude of localized strings. that haven’t been suggested by humans. This increases the pressure on the review process; therefore, we will need to redirect or increase human hours to review more strings than before.

It is better for these suggestions to be made by an AI trained on the style guide, glossary, and approved translations for each localeLocale Locale = language version, often a combination of a language code and a region code, for instance es_MX denotes Spanish as it’s used in Mexico. A list of all locales supported by WordPress in https://make.wordpress.org/polyglots/teams/, rather than individuals importing external translations generated by general-purpose AI.

Only PTEProject Translation Editor A Project Translation Editor (often referred to as PTE) is a person, who has access to validate strings on a specific project (for example BuddyPress, WooCommerce or Twenty Fourteen) for one specific locale. A project translation editor can approve strings that are added by translation contributors. Per project translation, editors are appointed by a general translation editor after a request by the project author or by the contributors themselves./GTEGeneral Translation Editor A General Translation Editor (often referred to as GTE) is a person, who has global access to validate strings on all projects for a specific locale. roles should have the ability to import translations. However, if the suggestions are made by our own trained AIs, the ability to import might no longer be necessary.

Crowdin

Notifications

GTEs should receive voluntary notifications by subscribing to specific plugins, themes, or users to be alerted about new strings. Currently, we have no way of knowing if there are new translations pending review. We have to be notified via external channels, which creates unnecessary friction.

However, if the AI handles the stringString A string is a translatable part of the software. A translation consists of a multitude of localized strings. suggestions, these notifications become unnecessary.

Suggested strings

For several months now, in some Crowdin projects, almost all strings have suggestions shortly after entering the translation system. Consequently, there is now more work involved in reviewing than in suggesting.

In Crowdin, strings are only manually approved by human reviewers. If strings haven’t been reviewed due to a lack of reviewers, the project team can push their own translated strings to production if they deem it necessary.

Personally, I prefer untranslated strings (English) over low-quality ones.

Rewards

Some projects leverage contribution counts to offer rewards.

Ranking

Although Crowdin allows you to use filters within a project to see a ranking of contributors by language and specific dates, this ranking is not visible at a glance. I believe the focus should be on the percentage of the project translated, rather than a ranking of individuals. Removing the ranking, excluding reviewers from it, or separating translators from reviewers would avoid friction regarding translation attribution.

Bonus

Separating CLPTECross-locale Project Translation Editor A Cross-Locale Project Translation Editor is an account owned by a plugin or theme author (or the authoring organization), which uses professional translators to localize their product. The cross-locale project translation editor can import/validate strings on a specific project for more than one locale. This role has the same capabilities as a Project Translation Editor over multiple locales instead of one. Cross-Locale Project Translation Editors need to meet a set of criteria before being appointed by General Translation Editors./PTE requests from the Polyglots teamPolyglots Team Polyglots Team is a group of multilingual translators who work on translating plugins, themes, documentation, and front-facing marketing copy. https://make.wordpress.org/polyglots/teams/’s publication flow would allow us to receive notifications for these posts. Currently, we do not receive alerts for these publications.
- Marc Armengou 9:57 pm on April 16, 2026
  
  I’m back to share a few more ideas that could be implemented in GlotPressGlotPress GlotPress is the translation management software that powers Translate.WordPress.org. More information is available at glotpress.org. and to mention that I prefer GlotPress’s review process because it’s faster.
  
  Another small feature I miss in GlotPress—and that Crowdin does have—is the ability to click on a placeholder—like %1$s—to paste it directly into the translation field. You just click on it instead of having to type “%1$s.” It’s a small detail, but convenient.
  
  Translation stringsString A string is a translatable part of the software. A translation consists of a multitude of localized strings. can contain images to provide context for the translation. Translators can even request context for a specific stringString A string is a translatable part of the software. A translation consists of a multitude of localized strings. if they have any questions.
  
  Finally, the platform has a built-in chat feature that allows you to communicate with any user via direct messages.
Peter Smits 11:39 am on March 12, 2026

Mark,
You do have an option to see if new translations have arrived. For that we do have the page “translate.wordpress.orgtranslate.wordpress.org The platform for contributing to the translation of WordPress core, themes and plugins./localeLocale Locale = language version, often a combination of a language code and a region code, for instance es_MX denotes Spanish as it’s used in Mexico. A list of all locales supported by WordPress in https://make.wordpress.org/polyglots/teams//default/wp”
Just click “Waiting”, and you will see all waiting stringsString A string is a translatable part of the software. A translation consists of a multitude of localized strings.. What we do not have, is a selection of projects that have recently added new strings into it after a certain date. But that would only be helpfull for translators who are PTEProject Translation Editor A Project Translation Editor (often referred to as PTE) is a person, who has access to validate strings on a specific project (for example BuddyPress, WooCommerce or Twenty Fourteen) for one specific locale. A project translation editor can approve strings that are added by translation contributors. Per project translation, editors are appointed by a general translation editor after a request by the project author or by the contributors themselves. for the project.
- Marc Armengou 12:58 pm on March 12, 2026
  
  Thanks, Peter. The ‘Waiting’ tab on translate.wordpress.orgtranslate.wordpress.org The platform for contributing to the translation of WordPress core, themes and plugins./localeLocale Locale = language version, often a combination of a language code and a region code, for instance es_MX denotes Spanish as it’s used in Mexico. A list of all locales supported by WordPress in https://make.wordpress.org/polyglots/teams//default/wp is useful when you’re up to date with translations. However, some localesLocale Locale = language version, often a combination of a language code and a region code, for instance es_MX denotes Spanish as it’s used in Mexico. A list of all locales supported by WordPress in https://make.wordpress.org/polyglots/teams/ have literally hundreds of projects on the waiting list. Most of these are low-quality, AI-generated, or unreviewed machine translations. In these cases, the waiting list is just not usable.

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Polyglots in an Age of AI

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