Locale fit
PT-BR interference, lexical choices and structures that do not sound natural in Portugal.
Demonstration project · SaaS / UX localization
PT-PT Localization QA
From simulated MT/AI output to product-ready European Portuguese.
I created this fictional sample to demonstrate how I evaluate and localize interface copy for European Portuguese. The exercise starts with five English UI strings and deliberately imperfect Portuguese, simulating common MT/AI issues: PT-BR interference, calques, accuracy errors, mechanical tone and incorrect locale formatting.
Meaning preservation
Correction of segments that alter or weaken the source meaning.
Product copy
Concise, functional wording shaped around interface context and user intent.
Issue classification
Category, severity, correction and rationale for each relevant issue.
01 / Brief
A small test structured like a real QA workflow.
The scenario simulates an international SaaS product preparing an onboarding flow for Portugal. The goal is not to show a long translation, but to make linguistic judgment visible: what is wrong, why it matters and how to correct it without losing the function of the interface copy.
02 / Before and after
Five strings. Five verifiable language decisions.
| ID | EN source | Simulated PT | Final PT-PT | QA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Start your 14-day free trial. No credit card required. |
Comece seu teste grátis de 14 dias. Nenhum cartão de crédito requerido. |
Comece o seu período experimental gratuito de 14 dias. Não é necessário cartão de crédito. |
Locale + FluencyMajor The raw version mixes PT-BR signals with literal English transfer. The revision uses idiomatic PT-PT wording and clearer product terminology. |
| 02 | Invite teammates and keep everyone on the same page. |
Convide seus companheiros de equipe e mantenha todos na mesma página. |
Convide a sua equipa e mantenha todos alinhados. |
Locale + IdiomMajor "companheiros de equipe" is not natural product copy in PT-PT and "na mesma página" calques an English idiom. Both are localized in the final version. |
| 03 | Get more done, without the busywork. |
Faça mais, sem o trabalho ocupado. |
Faça mais, sem perder tempo com tarefas repetitivas. |
AccuracyMajor "trabalho ocupado" mistranslates "busywork". The revision restores the meaning of repetitive, low-value work without copying the English structure. |
| 04 | Upgrade now to unlock unlimited projects. |
Atualize agora para desbloquear projetos ilimitados. |
Atualize o seu plano e crie quantos projetos quiser. |
UX StyleMinor The raw version is understandable but mechanical and makes the product benefit less clear. The revision states both the action and user benefit directly. |
| 05 | €9.99/month, billed annually. |
€9.99/mês, cobrado anualmente. |
9,99 €/mês, faturado anualmente. |
Locale + FormattingMinor Price formatting and billing terminology are adapted to PT-PT conventions, including decimal separator and currency-symbol placement. |
This is a demonstration sample created by Diogo Neves. It does not represent a real client or product. The initial Portuguese output was intentionally written with problems to demonstrate QA decisions.
03 / Method
Review does not stop when the grammar is technically correct.
Context
Define locale, audience, product, intent and space constraints.
Evaluate
Compare source and output for accuracy, fluency, terminology and locale fit.
Localize
Rewrite for natural PT-PT while preserving the function of each interface string.
Verify
Run a second pass for consistency, punctuation, numbers, currency and terminology.
04 / Deliverable
The client receives clean copy and a concise record of what changed.
For this type of work I would deliver implementation-ready copy plus a short QA report containing the issues that matter. The report makes decisions auditable and helps product or localization teams identify recurring error patterns.
PT-PT Localization QA