FOR TEAMS LOCALISING BITCOIN PRODUCTS

Build Bitcoin
products that
speak your users'
language.

A practical glossary of Bitcoin, Lightning and mobile money terms across African languages. Each translation is proposed and agreed on by native speakers, giving you terminology you can use when localising your product.

4LANGUAGES
359TERMS
14CATEGORIES
WALLETS

Wallet

noun · Software or hardware used to manage bitcoin
and sign transactions.

EnglishGĩkũyũKiswahiliSoomaali

Pochi

Programu au maunzi yanayotumika kusimamia bitcoin na kusaini miamala

USAGE NOTE

"Pochi" is the everyday Kiswahili word for a purse or wallet, so it feels familiar the moment someone opens your app.

WHY IT MATTERS

Localisation is more than
translation.

Bitcoin terms do not always translate directly. A literal translation might be technically correct but unfamiliar to the people using your product. The glossary gives your team reviewed terminology to use when localising your interface, onboarding, documentation and support.

▤

Design UI users recognise

Use consistent Bitcoin terminology across buttons, labels, menus and product flows.

◎

Localise faster, with
confidence

Give translators and localisation teams reviewed terminology instead of translating Bitcoin terms from scratch.

▣

Keep product language
consistent

“Use the same terminology across your interface, onboarding, help content and support.

BROWSE

Look up any term in seconds.

Search by concept, filter by language or category, and see the definition and
usage note side by side.

⌖Search everythingTerms, definitions, usage notes and translations, all in one search box.
⇆Compare side by sideSee every language next to the English term instead of one at a time.
▤Filter as you goNarrow by language or category — wallets, Lightning, mobile money and more.
Open the glossary →

359 TERMS · 4 LANGUAGES · 14 CATEGORIES · FREE & OPEN

HOW TO USE IT

Use the glossary in your
localisation workflow.

Find the Bitcoin term you need, choose your target language, then use the translation and guidance in your product.

1

Choose your language

Select the language you’re localising your product into.

You pick: Kiswahili
2

Find the term

Search for the Bitcoin concept used in your interface, flow or content.

Wallet → Pochi
3

Use the guidance

Review the translation, definition and usage notes before adding the term to your product.

Ship the right word

LANGUAGES

More languages are on the
way.

The glossary currently covers Gĩkũyũ, Kiswahili and Soomaali. We're working with native speakers to bring it to more languages — and you can help decide which comes next.

Request a language

Tell us which language you’d like to see next and leave your email — we’ll let you know when work on it starts.

Request a language →

WORK FASTER

Give your AI tools the
right terminology.

Use glossary terms as context when asking AI tools to translate product copy, onboarding flows, support content or documentation.

Learn to use it with AI →
TRANSLATE A FLOW

Using the Bitcoin Glossary as terminology guidance, translate this wallet onboarding flow into Kiswahili. Keep the approved terms for "wallet" (Pochi), "private key" and "seed phrase".

WRITE MICROCOPY

Write a one-line error message for a failed Lightning payment in Soomaali, following the glossary's terms.

EXPLAIN A CONCEPT

Explain "seed phrase" to a first-time user in simple Gĩkũyũ, following the glossary's definition and usage note.

OUR METHOD

Bitcoin terms rarely translate
directly. So we don't just
translate them.

Terms like ‘seed phrase’ and ‘self-custody’ do not always have a direct equivalent. Native speakers propose, discuss and agree on terminology that reflects both the language and the Bitcoin concept.

文01

Propose

Native speakers propose a term that carries the real meaning — not a literal word swap.

◉02

Review

Other native speakers review and discuss the proposed terminology.

▤03

Agree

Contributors agree on the term that best communicates the concept.

◌04

Contextualise

We add definitions and usage guidance to help product teams use the term correctly.

COMING SOON

The full methodology, written up.

A deeper look at how terms are chosen, sourced, reviewed and updated. Get an email when it's published.

EXPAND THE GLOSSARY

Help bring the glossary to
more languages.

We're expanding the glossary with native speakers. Help create a glossary
for your language, or tell us which language you'd like to see next.

Sign up as a translator →

OPEN & COMMUNITY-BUILT

Made by the people who
speak the language.

The glossary is built by real people who speak these languages. Native speakers propose, discuss and agree on terminology, with Bitcoin contributors helping ensure each term remains technically accurate.

Contribute on GitHub ◉
文

TranslatorsPropose & refine terms

☆

Localisation
specialists
Tone & regional fit

♙

Bitcoin
contributors
Technical accuracy

✓

Community
reviewers
Check every entry

₿

Localise your Bitcoin
product with better
terminology.

Start with terminology already discussed and agreed on by native speakers instead
of translating Bitcoin terms from scratch.

Open the glossary →