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How to Use Brand Glossary

This article helps explain the functions and benefits of Brand Glossary.

Avi avatar
Written by Avi
Updated over 3 months ago

In this guide, we’ll explore using the Brand Glossary feature to maintain consistency across all your content.

👋 Prefer to watch instead of read? Check out our Translation & Brand Glossary tutorial from HeyGen Academy: 101, a follow-along course teaching all of HeyGen's basics.


What is 'Brand' in HeyGen?

Wondering what HeyGen Brand is? Let’s break it down. Brand consists of two main parts:

  • Brand Kit – all your visual assets (logos, colors, fonts, media)

  • Brand Glossary – your pronunciation and translation rules

Together, they help you and your team create videos that look and sound consistently on-brand—no matter who's making them or what language they're in. This guide focuses on Brand Glossary (your pronunciation and translation rules). For managing consistent pronunciation and translations, visit our Brand Kit guide.


What is Brand Glossary?

Brand Glossary is a feature that allows you to control how specific words and phrases are pronounced or translated, so your messaging stays accurate and aligned, even across multiple languages. This is particularly useful for brand names, product names, or technical terms that you want to remain consistent across all your videos and translations.

Brand Glossary rules can be set up manually or by uploading a CSV file.


How to Set Up Brand Glossary

To set up a Brand Glossary, click Brand in the left navigation pane to go to the Brand Hub. From there, click the Brand Glossary tab.

Then click Add New Brand Glossary. You'll have two options:

  • Upload a CSV file

  • Add manually

Manual Walkthrough

If you choose to add terms manually, simply click Add New and fill in the required fields. You’ll enter the original word and indicate how you want it pronounced (including phonetic spellings if needed).

Once added, the system will apply your rules automatically when translating video content into that language. You can also delete or update any term at any time for full control.

Upload CSV Walkthrough

Alternatively, you can upload a CSV file to add multiple entries at once. Prepare your CSV with the terms you'd like to manage, then click Upload CSV.

Once the file is uploaded, HeyGen will automatically guide you through the terms, prompting you to confirm which column contains keywords and which contains pronunciations. This is especially efficient for importing larger glossaries or syncing with terminology databases your team already uses.


How to Use Brand Glossary in the Editing Studio

Once your Brand Glossary is set up, it’s easy to apply it directly while editing your video.

When you're creating a video in AI Studio, click the Brand button in the top lefthand corner to access both your Brand Kit and Brand Glossary.

You can switch between different Brand Glossaries, and choose whether to apply or remove pronunciation and translation rules directly to your script. When applied, words with pronunciation rules will appear in italicized purple, so you can clearly see what’s active.

You can also add new pronunciation rules as you go, either by typing them directly into the script or uploading a CSV file within the editor. Any new entries are automatically reflected in the Brand Glossary you currently have selected.

However, translation rules are managed outside of AI Studio. If you want to modify your translation entries, just click Edit within the Brand Glossary view, and you’ll be taken to the Brand Hub where you can upload or modify forced and non-translatable terms.


How to use Brand Glossary for Translation

Translating videos helps you reach global audiences at scale, and Brand Glossary is an essential piece of ensuring smooth and consistent translations. For the best results, we recommend setting up a separate Brand Glossary for each language you commonly translate to.

Translation Rules consist of the two following functions:

Force Translate: This allows you to to define specific translations for specific terms. For example, you may want technical terms like “artificial intelligence” to always be translated into the acronym “AI” in every language.

Don't Translate: This allows you to mark words that should always stay the same. Common examples include product names or brand names.

Applying your Brand Glossary for Translation

Follow these steps to apply your Brand Glossary when translating a video. It’s important to note that it’s a best practice to create a separate Brand Glossary for each language because your translation rules will likely vary between languages. This will keep you more organized and streamline your process.

From the HeyGen Homepage, select Create Video and then Translate a video. Upload your video file or paste in a URL from YouTube or Google Drive. Next, click the Advanced tab and select your Brand Glossary of choice.


Summary

By setting up your Brand Glossary, you’re making sure your translations reflect the exact terms and tone your brand is known for. It’s a simple step that goes a long way in keeping your message clear and consistent—no matter the language.

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