Why L10n? The Number Logic Behind Localisation Abbreviations

Anyone taking their first steps into the world of localisation runs straight into a spelling that looks odd: L10n, i18n, G11n. These abbreviations are not random; behind them lies an elegant and simple piece of number logic. Localisation abbreviations are a clever way of shortening long technical terms.

Contents

Jiménez-Crespo (2024) notes that localisation is also known by the abbreviation “L10n”: in the word “localisation” there are ten letters between the L and the n. In this article we look at how this numeronym tradition works, which terms it covers and why it came about.

How is L10n read?

L10n is the abbreviated form of the word “localisation”. The logic is simple: the first letter of the word (L) and its last letter (n) are kept, and the ten letters in between are replaced by the number “10”. A long word is thus reduced to three characters, L-10-n.

This spelling is extremely widespread in the industry. For a localisation specialist, L10n is both quicker to write than “localisation” and a badge of belonging. The abbreviation is at the same time part of an industry language.

One important point: these abbreviations do not change the meaning of the word; they only shorten the way it is written. L10n and “localisation” are exactly the same thing.

i18n, G11n and the rest

The same logic is applied to other terms. i18n means “internationalisation”: there are 18 letters between the i and the n. G11n is “globalisation”: there are 11 letters between the G and the n. Every one of these abbreviations is formed by the same counting method.

Together, these terms make up the wider process family of localisation. Globalisation (G11n), internationalisation (i18n), localisation (L10n) and translation (t9n) are most often spoken of together under the heading of the GILT chain.

The table below summarises these abbreviations and shows where the numbers come from.

Abbreviation	Full term	What the number means
L10n	Localisation	10 letters between L and n
i18n	Internationalisation	18 letters between i and n
G11n	Globalisation	11 letters between G and n
t9n	Translation	9 letters between t and n

As the table shows, the logic is the same for every term. The number indicates only how many letters have been left out; it carries no code and no hidden meaning.

What is a numeronym?

This kind of abbreviation is called a “numeronym”. A numeronym is an abbreviation in which the number of letters in between is written between the first and last letters of a word. Most localisation terms are shortened in this way.

The numeronym tradition has its roots in software. The need to write long English technical terms quickly gave rise to this practical solution. Over time it became standard in the localisation industry and turned into a shared language.

You can find detailed explanations of these terms in our knowledge centre, and you can look at our translation services page for your corporate projects.

Why do the abbreviations matter?

These abbreviations are not merely a writing convenience; they also reflect how the industry thinks. The fact that every term in the GILT chain has an abbreviation of its own shows that they are seen as separate but connected processes.

Recognising these abbreviations in a localisation document allows you to read the process correctly. The phrase “i18n preparation” in a quotation, for example, means getting the product technically ready for localisation.

The following tips will help you to use the abbreviations correctly:

1. Remember that the number indicates how many letters have been left out.
2. Know that L10n and “localisation” are exactly the same.
3. Recognise that i18n is the technical preparation that comes before localisation.
4. Read the GILT terms together in documents; they form a chain.

These tips will make technical documents and quotations easier to follow. Abbreviations are not frightening; once learned, they make life simpler.

The link with the GILT chain

These abbreviations take on their meaning not one by one but as a chain. Globalisation (G11n), internationalisation (i18n), localisation (L10n) and translation (t9n) together make up the GILT process. Each of them represents one stage of that process.

The order of the chain matters. Globalisation is the widest stage; it prepares the organisation to work globally. Internationalisation prepares the product technically for localisation. Localisation and translation then do the adaptation work itself.

Seeing these abbreviations in a document therefore tells you which stage of the process you are at. The abbreviations effectively map the process out. Recognising them helps you to see the project as a whole.

Where else do localisation abbreviations turn up?

Localisation abbreviations are not limited to these four terms. Many other concepts in the industry are shortened in a similar way. Post-editing of machine translation, for instance, is referred to as “MTPE”, and localisation quality assurance as “LQA”.

These abbreviations also crop up in file names, folder structures and software settings. A language folder may be named “tr-TR”; this indicates the Turkish locale of Türkiye. Abbreviations have worked their way into every layer of the technical infrastructure.

That prevalence makes recognising the abbreviations all the more valuable. Everyone working on a localisation project shares this common language. Knowing the abbreviations makes it easier to settle quickly into the team and the process.

How the abbreviations are pronounced

How these abbreviations should be said out loud is another common question. Most of the time the letters and the number are voiced separately, as in “el-ten-en”. In practice, though, many specialists prefer to use the abbreviation in its written form.

In a Turkish-speaking team, the abbreviations are mostly pronounced the English way. This keeps them in step with the global language of the industry. Even so, in correspondence the abbreviation itself is used more often than any spoken form.

Pronunciation may look like a small detail, but it makes communication easier. When everyone on a team understands the same term in the same way, misunderstandings become less frequent. A shared language is the foundation of shared understanding.

The benefit of standardisation

The standardisation of these abbreviations brings the industry a real benefit. Specialists in different countries and different companies use the same terms in the same way. A Turkish translator and a Japanese engineer mean the same thing when they say “i18n”. This shared language is what makes global collaboration possible. Localisation is by its very nature an international business; without a common terminology, coordination on this scale becomes difficult.

Standardisation also makes learning easier. Once you have grasped the logic behind these abbreviations, you can decode a new term the moment you meet it. The formula, “first and last letter of the word, number of letters in between”, is the same for every numeronym. That consistency helps newcomers to the industry pick up the common language more quickly. One rule, once learned, applies to countless terms.

Another benefit of the abbreviations is that they save space in documents and interfaces by shortening long technical terms. Using “i18n” instead of writing out a twenty-letter word like “internationalisation” every time is both faster and easier to read. This practical gain shows why the abbreviations are not merely jargon but a genuine tool. Efficiency is valuable at every layer of the industry.

In the end, these abbreviations are a small but meaningful reflection of the global and technical nature of localisation. Recognising them is not just a matter of decoding terms; it is a way of understanding how the industry thinks. A shared language builds a shared culture, and that culture brings specialists from every corner of the world to the same table. The abbreviations are the quiet go-betweens of that meeting.

The way these abbreviations came about is also a reminder of the software origins of localisation. The numeronym tradition grew out of the need to write long English technical terms quickly, and it settled into the industry as part of an engineering culture. The abbreviations are therefore not only shortcuts but traces of where the field came from. Localisation was born in a technical world, and it took its language from that world too.

For beginners these abbreviations can sometimes look like an obstacle. Once the logic is grasped, however, they lose their power to intimidate. The formula, “first and last letter of the word, number of letters in between”, works in the same way for every numeronym. That consistency makes them easy to learn. Anyone who has worked out L10n understands i18n and G11n instantly. A shared logic offers a shared key.

Knowing these abbreviations gives everyone involved in a localisation project a small but real advantage. Quotations, file names, folder structures and software settings are full of these terms. Anyone who can decode them reads the map of the process more quickly and settles into the team sooner. In short, these seemingly technical details are in fact the keys that open the doors of the industry’s common language. They are easy to learn and their value lasts.

The Türkiye context

In Türkiye these numeronym abbreviations are mostly used in their English form: L10n, i18n and so on. Because the Turkish equivalents (yerelleştirme, uluslararasılaştırma) are long, no tradition of producing Turkish abbreviations with the same number logic has taken hold. This is one reflection of the industry falling into step with its global language.

An interesting technical detail concerns the way Turkish handles upper and lower case. The lower-case “i” in the abbreviation “i18n” is read in Turkish as the dotted “i”; yet this English-derived abbreviation keeps its English spelling even in Turkish texts. It is a typical example of an internationally standard term being left outside local spelling rules.

The practical upshot for a corporate buyer is this: when you come across these abbreviations in a localisation quotation or document, it is enough to know that they are standard industry terms. Decoding the meaning makes the rest of the process easier to read.

What does this mean for you?

If you are buying translation or localisation, recognising these abbreviations will help you read documents and quotations correctly. The abbreviations are not an obstacle; they are part of a shared language.

1. Learn to recognise the terms L10n, i18n and G11n in quotations.
2. Know that i18n preparation is a step that comes before localisation.
3. If the meaning of an abbreviation is unclear, ask your supplier to explain it.
4. Consider the GILT terms as a whole.

To plan a localisation process properly from the start, you can tell us what you need through our quotation form. A shared language is the beginning of good collaboration.

Frequently asked questions

Why is L10n written that way?

In the word “localisation” there are ten letters between the L and the n. That number is put in place of the letters in order to shorten a long word: L-10-n.

What do i18n and G11n mean?

i18n means “internationalisation” (18 letters between the i and the n) and G11n means “globalisation” (11 letters between the G and the n). Both are formed with the same number logic.

What are these abbreviations called?

They are known as “numeronyms”: a type of abbreviation in which the number of letters in between is written between the first and last letters of a word.

Why did this tradition come about?

To write long technical terms quickly and to build a common language within the industry. Originating in software, the tradition became standard in the localisation industry.

References

• Jiménez-Crespo, M. A. (2024). Localization in Translation. Routledge (Chs. 1-2).
• Esselink, B. (2000). A Practical Guide to Localization. John Benjamins.
• LISA (2007). The Globalization Industry Primer. Localization Industry Standards Association.