How to translate terms in the SharePoint Term Store

One of the powerful functionalities available within the Term Store is the ability to display managed metadata in multiple languages. This allows global organizations to display terms in the local language of the user signed in. Let me explain how this works and how you can translate terms in the SharePoint Term Store.

Site Language vs. Term Store Language

First, I would like to clarify that SharePoint sites have their own language functionality. I explained how that works in this article. However, this translation applies to the site itself. Term Store metadata has its own translation mechanism, which I will explain in this post.

How to translate terms in the SharePoint Term Store

Step 1: Add language to the Term Store

1. The first step is to add alternate languages to the term store so they can later be selected when translating the terms. To do so, go to the Term Store main page and click Edit next to the Default language.
2. Next, type in the language you would like to add
3. Once an alternate language is selected, click Save.
4. The language panel will look like this now

Step 2: Translate individual terms and term sets

1. Once the alternate language pack is installed, we can translate the individual terms. To do so, click on a term you would like to translate and click +Add under the General tab.
2. From the Language drop-down, choose the language you would like to translate to. The drop-down will list the languages you added in Step 1. Once the language is chosen, provide a translation and click Save.
3. The screen will now display available languages and transactions for a given term.

Experience for the users

The language in which in which the label from the term store is displayed depends on the user who is logged in. It is derived from the user’s default language in their account/profile.

Example of my profile with English set as the primary/display language

Example of a user profile with French set as the primary/display language

So once the user logs in, he will see the label in the local language.

Example of the Document Library with Managed Metadata (English-speaking user)

Example of the Document Library with Managed Metadata (French-speaking user)

Moreover, when the user tries to add or change tags, the Term Store labels will also be displayed in their language.