This guide is for users who access the Canva app with an API key. Existing Pairaphrase customers who sign in with their account use Translation Memories and glossaries assigned through Pairaphrase Groups. Read this guide if you’d like to use the Canva app with an active Pairaphrase subscription.
What you can do using the Canva App with an API key
After connecting, you can:
- Translate complete Canva designs or selected text elements
- Choose from the translation engines available in the app
- Upload and search Translation Memory files
- Upload, create and search glossary terms
- Reuse Translation Memory segments and glossary entries
- Export larger designs as translated DOCX files
- Review translated segments in the session history
Get access to the Canva integration
The Pairaphrase app is not currently listed in the Canva Marketplace.
To request access, visit:
https://www.pairaphrase.com/integrations/canva
After completing the sign-up form, you will receive instructions for accessing the app in Canva.
Request a Pairaphrase API key
New users can request an API key at:
https://www.pairaphrase.com/api
New users who connect through this method receive 25,000 words of translation at no charge before additional charges apply.
Connect the app with your API key
- Open the Pairaphrase app inside Canva.
- Select the Settings tab.
- Paste your API key into the provided field.
- Select Save & Validate.
- Confirm that the API key valid message appears.
To disconnect the key, return to Settings and select Remove API key.
Translate a Canva design
After validating your API key:
- Open the Translate tab.
- Choose a translation engine.
- Select the source and target languages.
- Choose Translate selected or Translate all.
Use Swap languages to reverse the selected language pair.
Translate selected text
Use Translate selected when you only want to translate specific text elements.
- Select a supported text element in the Canva design.
- Select Translate selected.
- Review and edit the translation shown in the Pairaphrase panel.
- Select Apply to design.
The translation is not added to the design until you select Apply to design.
Translate the entire design
Select Translate all to translate all supported text elements in the design at once. The translations are applied directly to the Canva design. The translated segments then appear in Session history. Unlike Translate selected, this workflow does not include an editing step before the translations are applied. After translating, review the design for accuracy, spacing, line breaks and text fit.
Use Translation Memory in Canva
Expand Translation memories to upload, search and reuse previous translations.
Upload a Translation Memory
The Canva app accepts Translation Memory files in TMX format.
To upload a Translation Memory:
- Expand Translation memories.
- Select the source and target languages under Language pair.
- Select Choose file.
- Choose the TMX file from your device.
- Select Upload.
Make sure the selected language pair matches the content of the TMX file.
Search Translation Memory
Use the search tools to locate previously translated segments.
- Select or confirm the language pair.
- Enter source text or keywords in the search field.
- Select Search.
- Review the matching source and target segments.
Select Use beside a result to reuse that translation in your current workflow.
Translation Memory is useful for content that appears repeatedly, such as approved messaging, instructions, product descriptions and organizational terminology.
Use glossaries in Canva
Expand Glossaries to upload terminology, create entries manually and search existing terms.
Upload a glossary
The Canva app accepts glossary files in CSV format.
To upload a glossary:
- Expand Glossaries.
- Select the source and target languages under Language pair.
- Select Choose file.
- Choose the CSV glossary file from your device.
- Select Upload.
Confirm that the selected language pair matches the terms in the file.
Add a glossary term manually
You can also add individual terms without uploading a file.
- Enter the approved source term.
- Select its source language.
- Enter the preferred target term.
- Select its target language.
- Select Add to glossary.
Use this option when you need to add a small number of company names, technical terms or preferred translations.
Search glossary entries
To find an existing term:
- Select or confirm the language pair.
- Enter a word or phrase in the search field.
- Select Search.
- Review the matching glossary entries.
Select Use beside an entry to apply the preferred terminology to your current translation workflow.
Translate a full document and export it as DOCX
The Translate full document (docx) option is intended for larger or more text-heavy Canva designs.
To use it:
- Expand Translate full document (docx).
- Select the source language.
- Select the target language.
- Select Export and translate to docx.
The design content is exported and translated into a Microsoft Word DOCX file.
This workflow does not replace text directly in the Canva design. It is better suited to extensive designs where reviewing the translated content as a document is more practical.
Review the session history
Expand Session history to view text translated during the current session.
The session history allows you to:
- Review source and translated segments
- Return to previous translation results
- View segments created through Translate all
- Manage translated content from the current Canva session
Configure translated text
The Settings tab includes options that can help translated content fit the design.
Reduce font size to fit
Enable Reduce font size to fit to automatically reduce the font size when translated text is too long for the existing text element.
Review the design afterward to make sure the text remains readable.
Mirror layouts for right-to-left languages
Enable Mirror layout for right-to-left languages when translating between left-to-right and right-to-left languages.
This adjusts the layout direction to match the target language's reading direction better.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an existing Pairaphrase account?
No. You can request an API key and connect it directly through the Canva app.
How many free words do new API-key users receive?
New users receive 25,000 words of translation at no charge before additional charges apply.
Can I use Translation Memory without a Pairaphrase account?
Yes. API-key users can upload TMX files, search stored segments and reuse translations directly inside the Canva app.
Which file format is required for Translation Memory?
Translation Memory files must be uploaded in TMX format.
Can I create and use glossaries in the Canva app?
Yes. API-key users can upload a CSV glossary, add terms manually, search glossary entries and reuse preferred translations.
Can I edit translations before adding them to Canva?
You can review and edit translations created with Translate selected before selecting Apply to design. Translate all applies translations directly to the design.
What is the difference between API-key access and signing in with a Pairaphrase account?
API-key users manage Translation Memory and glossary resources directly inside the Canva app.
Users who sign in with an existing Pairaphrase account use the Translation Memories and glossaries assigned to them through Pairaphrase Groups. Those users do not manage the resources from within the Canva app.
Why is Translate selected unavailable?
The option becomes available after you select a supported text element in the Canva design.
Can I remove or replace my API key?
Yes. Open the Settings tab and select Remove API key. You can then enter and validate another key.