A measure of how much existing translated content can be reused through translation memory instead of translated again.
Translation leverage refers to the reuse of previously translated content stored in a translation memory ™. When identical or similar source text appears in new projects, TM systems surface existing translations instead of requiring new ones.
In localization workflows, leverage analysis classifies content into:
A project with many unchanged strings from earlier releases will show high leverage, with fewer words requiring full translation.
Leverage is directly affected by source content consistency. Frequent rewrites, inconsistent terminology, or formatting changes reduce reuse because translation memory systems cannot identify reliable matches. Stable phrasing and controlled terminology increase leverage across releases.
Some workflows also apply cross-locale leverage, where translations from one language variant are reused in another, such as US English supporting Canadian English.
Tracking translation leverage helps teams estimate translation scope, understand reuse levels, and plan localization work based on actual content changes rather than total word count.