A Practical Review Checklist for WPML AI Translation
A translation can read smoothly and still create a problem on a WordPress site. A product name changes, a measurement loses its unit, or a short button becomes three lines on mobile. Those are different failures, so they
A translation can read smoothly and still create a problem on a WordPress site. A product name changes, a measurement loses its unit, or a short button becomes three lines on mobile. Those are different failures, so they need different checks.
I build Lumo AI Translation Addon for WPML. Here is the small review workflow I recommend before expanding an AI translation batch. This is a practical checklist, not a benchmark claiming that one model wins every language.
1. Pick a sample that can fail
Choose a technical product page, a page with brand names, an Elementor section and a longer article. A simple introductory paragraph does not tell you much about how a model will handle the difficult parts of your site. Keep a copy of the source and note the target language and model you used.
2. Write down the non-negotiables
Separate names that must remain unchanged from terms that should be translated consistently. For example, a fictional product called SmartQueue might keep its name while the ordinary phrase βsupport queueβ should be translated. Include the intended audience and tone.
A useful starting brief is: βTranslate for customers buying this product. Keep SmartQueue unchanged. Preserve numerical specifications and their units. Do not add product claims. Use clear, natural language.β Adapt that brief to the actual page rather than applying it blindly everywhere.
3. Review meaning before polish
Check whether a translated sentence still makes the same claim. Pay particular attention to quantities, compatibility, exclusions and product limitations. Natural phrasing is valuable, but an elegant sentence with the wrong specification is still wrong. Have a competent speaker review important customer-facing copy.
4. Inspect the saved page
Read the result in WordPress and open the rendered page. Check headings, buttons, navigation and mobile layout. If a field or string is missing, investigate its translation configuration instead of assuming that rerunning the whole page will fix it.
5. Expand in controlled batches
Back up existing translations before a bulk retranslation. If only titles need correction, keep the scope limited to titles. Review the first batch before starting the next one, and record changes to your instructions so later results can be explained.
Where our addon fits
Lumo AI Translation Addon integrates supported AI providers into the WPML workflow using your own API key. It supports OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek and Mistral, with content-specific instructions, background translation and scoped bulk tools. WPML is required. Provider token charges are separate from the addon licence.
Custom instructions guide a model; they do not guarantee compliance. The goal is a manageable translation process with a clear review step.
Explore the addon and setup walkthrough.
Our terminology guide explains the distinction between brand names, ordinary terms and instructions in more detail.
What would you add to a pre-launch translation checklist?
Originally published by Dev.to WebDev. Aggregated on AIWithGhost for educational purposes β full credit and traffic to the original publisher.