What Not to Translate
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Not everything should be translated. Learn which elements to keep in their original language to maintain clarity, professionalism, and meaning in your international communications.
Brand Names and Trademarks
Never translate company names, product names, or registered trademarks. They are legal identities that must remain consistent globally.
Keep original: Apple, Microsoft, Google, iPhone, Windows, Gmail Why: Legal protection, brand recognition, and trademark requirements
Exception: Some brands create localized versions for specific markets (like Coca-Cola using Chinese characters), but this is a deliberate brand strategy, not translation.
Personal Names and Titles
People’s names stay the same across languages, even if they have meaning in the original language.
Keep original: John Smith, Maria Garcia, Zhang Wei, Ahmed Hassan Don’t translate: Even names with clear meanings like “John” (God is gracious) or “Victoria” (victory)
Professional titles: Keep specific job titles that don’t have exact equivalents: “Chief Revenue Officer,” “Product Manager,” “DevOps Engineer”
Technical Terms Without Equivalents
Many technical, scientific, and business terms don’t exist in all languages or have become universal.
IT terminology: API, SSL, HTTP, URL, SEO, CRM, SaaS Scientific terms: DNA, pH, GPS coordinates Business concepts: ROI, KPI, B2B, startup, freelancer
Why keep them: Industry professionals worldwide use these English terms. Translation creates confusion.
Proper Nouns and Geographic Names
Most place names, institution names, and specific references stay in their original form.
Geographic locations: New York, Silicon Valley, Wall Street, Oxford University Institutions: NATO, UNESCO, MIT, Harvard Business School Events: Super Bowl, Olympic Games, World Cup
Exception: Some cities have established translated names (London/Londres, Munich/München), but use the version your audience recognizes.
Legal and Financial Terms
Legal concepts often don’t transfer between legal systems. Financial terms may have specific regulatory meanings.
Legal terms: LLC, copyright, patent, common law, due process Financial terms: 401(k), IBAN, SWIFT code, SEC filing Government terms: Social Security, Medicare, Green Card
Why: These represent specific systems that don’t exist everywhere. Translation makes them meaningless.
URLs and Code
Web addresses, programming code, and technical specifications must stay exactly as written.
Never translate: Website URLs, email addresses, file paths, variable names Code snippets: Programming languages use English keywords File extensions: .pdf, .docx, .html
Reason: Translation breaks functionality completely.
Measurements and Standards
Some measurements and standards are better left in original units with explanations.
Keep with explanation:
- “5 feet 10 inches (178 cm)”
- “$50,000 USD (approximately €42,000)”
- “Size Medium (EU size 38)”
Industry standards: ISO 9001, GDPR compliance, FDA approved
Established Foreign Terms
Some foreign words have become standard in international business or are widely understood.
Business terms: Kaizen, feng shui, safari, fiesta, siesta Food terms: Sushi, pizza, croissant, taco Cultural terms: Yoga, karma, kindergarten
Why: Translation loses cultural meaning and recognition.
Academic and Research References
Academic citations, research methodologies, and scholarly terms often stay in their original language.
Keep original:
- Journal names: “Nature,” “Science,” “Harvard Business Review”
- Degrees: “PhD in Computer Science,” “MBA,” “MSc”
- Research terms: peer review, double-blind study, meta-analysis
When to Add Explanations Instead
Sometimes you need to keep the original term but add context for clarity:
Format: “Original Term (brief explanation)” Examples:
- “GDPR (European data protection regulation)”
- “401(k) retirement plan”
- “NHS (UK’s national healthcare system)“
Smart Translation Strategy
For professional documents, use OpenL Translate which automatically recognizes what should and shouldn’t be translated, saving you from costly mistakes while maintaining document integrity.
Remember: Good translation preserves meaning and functionality. Sometimes the best translation is no translation at all.
