Glossary

The Glossary lets you define pronunciation and translation rules for specific terms at the workspace level. Each workspace has a single shared glossary. Download and re-upload a CSV to sync terms across multiple workspaces.

Glossary rules apply only to newly created translations. Rules are applied automatically whenever a new translated or dubbed version of a video is created, keeping company names, product terms, and industry language consistent across languages and accents.

Translated or dubbed videos that predate the any Glossary terms being added are not updated automatically. Edit/re-translate/re-dub the video for the affected language to apply the latest rules.

Te system uses AI to understand context when applying terms. In some edge cases it may not perfectly disambiguate terms with multiple meanings, especially without additional context in the script.

Access the Glossary

Select Glossary in the left-hand navigation menu. From here you can add, edit, import, and export terms.

Add or edit a term

1. Select + New term.
2. Enter the term and select its original language.
3. Configure the Pronunciation and Translation settings on the right.
4. Select Save.

Pronunciation

Type a phonetic spelling or select Record to speak the pronunciation aloud.

Use the scope setting to control where the pronunciation applies:

Translation

Toggle Don't translate to keep the term unchanged across all languages — useful for acronyms and brand names. Otherwise, define a translation for each target language or locale.

Manage terms from the editor

You can add and manage glossary terms without leaving the editor.

To add a translation: Highlight the term in the script and select Add translation. From the panel, you can toggle Don't translate, view existing translations, or select Manage translations to open the full Glossary page.

To add a pronunciation: Highlight the term in the script, select Add pronunciation, then select Add to Glossary.

Import and export via CSV

To import: Select Import, upload your file, decide whether you want to import pronunciations or translations, and follow the prompts. New terms are added to your existing glossary; conflicting entries for the same term and target language are replaced; unrelated entries are unaffected.

1. Prepare a CSV file with your term data.

   A typical structure might include:

   • Source language
   • Source term
   • Target language / locale
   • Target term
   • “Do not translate” flag (if applicable)

2. Go to the Glossary page in Synthesia.

3. Select the Import option.

4. Upload your CSV and follow the prompts to map your columns to glossary fields.

5. Review the summary and confirm the import.

To export: Select Export, decide whether you want to export pronunciations or translations, and download your file.

Control who can edit the Glossary

The Restricted Glossary Management toggle is off by default for new workspaces, meaning all workspace members can manage glossary terms. Workspace admins can restrict this to admins only if needed, and Organization admins can define whether the glossary can be edited by All members / Admins only / Restrict for admins only in specific workspaces.

Example workflows

• Standardizing product names across regions: add product and feature names as glossary terms. Choose approved translations per language or mark them as Don't translate to keep them in English.
• Keeping acronyms consistent: create entries for acronyms like "SSO" or "FOCA" and set them to Don't translate so they remain unchanged across all languages.
• Supporting regional localization: add accent-specific entries (for example es-ES vs es-MX) for the same concept to align with local expectations.