Termbase Basics
Termbases help ensure consistent terminology across your translations.
What is a Termbase?
A termbase is a database of terms with their translations:
| Source (EN) | Target (NL) | Domain | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| software | software | IT | Don’t translate |
| click | klikken | IT | Verb |
| machine learning | machinaal leren | AI | Official term |
Why Use Termbases?
- Consistency: Same term = same translation every time
- Efficiency: Don’t look up the same term twice
- Quality: Use approved terminology
- Client requirements: Follow style guides
Termbase Features in Supervertaler
Automatic Highlighting
Terms from active termbases are highlighted in the source text:
- Green background by default
- Hover to see the translation
- Higher priority = darker shade
Multiple Termbases
Maintain separate termbases for:
- Different clients
- Different domains (legal, medical, IT)
- Different projects
Priority Levels
Assign priority (1-10) to terms:
- Priority 1 (highest): Must be used
- Priority 5: Standard terms
- Priority 10: Optional/suggestions
Forbidden Terms
Mark terms as “forbidden” to flag text that should NOT be translated or should be avoided.
Creating Your First Termbase
- Go to the Termbases tab
- Click + Create Termbase
- Enter a name (e.g., “Client ABC Terminology”)
- Choose source and target languages
- Click Create
Adding Terms
Manually
- Click on your termbase
- Click + Add Term
- Enter source term, target term
- Optionally add domain, notes, priority
- Click Save
From Selection
- Select text in the source column
- Right-click → Add to Termbase
- Enter the target translation
- Choose which termbase to add to
Import from File
- Go to the Termbases tab
- Click Import
- Select a TSV file (tab-separated: source, target, domain, notes)
- Watch the progress dialog
Termbase Settings
Activation
Termbases must be activated to show matches:
- ✅ Read: Terms are highlighted and shown in lookups
- ✅ Write: New terms can be added during translation
Highlight Style
Choose how terms appear in the grid:
- Background: Green background shading
- Dotted Underline: Subtle underline
- Semibold: Bold text
Go to Settings → View Settings → Termbase Highlight Style.