diff --git a/src/prefs/DirectoriesPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/DirectoriesPrefs.cpp
index f094972c2..92d707085 100644
--- a/src/prefs/DirectoriesPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/DirectoriesPrefs.cpp
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ BEGIN_EVENT_TABLE(DirectoriesPrefs, PrefsPanel)
 END_EVENT_TABLE()
 
 DirectoriesPrefs::DirectoriesPrefs(wxWindow * parent)
+/* i18n-hint:  Directories, also called folders, in computer file systems */
 :  PrefsPanel(parent, _("Directories")),
    mFreeSpace(NULL),
    mTempDir(NULL)
diff --git a/src/prefs/ExtImportPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/ExtImportPrefs.cpp
index 9c59b69c0..22c86aadf 100644
--- a/src/prefs/ExtImportPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/ExtImportPrefs.cpp
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ BEGIN_EVENT_TABLE(ExtImportPrefs, PrefsPanel)
 END_EVENT_TABLE()
 
 ExtImportPrefs::ExtImportPrefs(wxWindow * parent)
+/* i18n-hint:  Title of dialog governing "Extended", or "advanced,"
+ * audio file import options */
 :   PrefsPanel(parent, _("Extended Import")), RuleTable(NULL),
     PluginList(NULL), mCreateTable (false), mDragFocus (NULL),
     mFakeKeyEvent (false), mStopRecursiveSelection (false), last_selected (-1)
diff --git a/src/prefs/GUIPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/GUIPrefs.cpp
index 9948df138..8864935e1 100644
--- a/src/prefs/GUIPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/GUIPrefs.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include "../AColor.h"
 
 GUIPrefs::GUIPrefs(wxWindow * parent)
+/* i18n-hint: refers to Audacity's user interface settings */
 :  PrefsPanel(parent, _("Interface"))
 {
    Populate();
diff --git a/src/prefs/KeyConfigPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/KeyConfigPrefs.cpp
index add621713..034f148d6 100644
--- a/src/prefs/KeyConfigPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/KeyConfigPrefs.cpp
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ BEGIN_EVENT_TABLE(KeyConfigPrefs, PrefsPanel)
 END_EVENT_TABLE()
 
 KeyConfigPrefs::KeyConfigPrefs(wxWindow * parent)
+/* i18n-hint: as in computer keyboard (not musical!) */
 :  PrefsPanel(parent, _("Keyboard")),
    mView(NULL),
    mKey(NULL),
diff --git a/src/prefs/LibraryPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/LibraryPrefs.cpp
index f95c2518e..ae7fe025f 100644
--- a/src/prefs/LibraryPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/LibraryPrefs.cpp
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ BEGIN_EVENT_TABLE(LibraryPrefs, PrefsPanel)
 END_EVENT_TABLE()
 
 LibraryPrefs::LibraryPrefs(wxWindow * parent)
+/* i18-hint: refers to optional plug-in software libraries */
 :   PrefsPanel(parent, _("Libraries"))
 {
    Populate();
diff --git a/src/prefs/MidiIOPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/MidiIOPrefs.cpp
index 7f9176bdc..3da710ca2 100644
--- a/src/prefs/MidiIOPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/MidiIOPrefs.cpp
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ BEGIN_EVENT_TABLE(MidiIOPrefs, PrefsPanel)
 END_EVENT_TABLE()
 
 MidiIOPrefs::MidiIOPrefs(wxWindow * parent)
+/* i18n-hint: untranslatable acronym for "Musical Instrument Device Interface" */
 :  PrefsPanel(parent, _("MIDI Devices"))
 {
    Populate();
diff --git a/src/prefs/QualityPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/QualityPrefs.cpp
index 1b75ef16e..f843205e9 100644
--- a/src/prefs/QualityPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/QualityPrefs.cpp
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ BEGIN_EVENT_TABLE(QualityPrefs, PrefsPanel)
 END_EVENT_TABLE()
 
 QualityPrefs::QualityPrefs(wxWindow * parent)
+/* i18n-hint: meaning accuracy in reproduction of sounds */
 :  PrefsPanel(parent, _("Quality"))
 {
    Populate();
@@ -168,6 +169,7 @@ void QualityPrefs::PopulateOrExchange(ShuttleGui & S)
                      mConverterLabels);
          S.SetSizeHints(mConverterNames);
 
+         /* i18n-hint: technical term for randomization to reduce undesirable resampling artifacts */
          S.TieChoice(_("&Dither:"),
                      wxT("/Quality/DitherAlgorithm"),
                      Dither::none,
@@ -190,6 +192,7 @@ void QualityPrefs::PopulateOrExchange(ShuttleGui & S)
                      mConverterLabels);
          S.SetSizeHints(mConverterNames);
 
+         /* i18n-hint: technical term for randomization to reduce undesirable resampling artifacts */
          S.TieChoice(_("Dit&her:"),
                      wxT("/Quality/HQDitherAlgorithm"),
                      Dither::shaped,
diff --git a/src/prefs/ThemePrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/ThemePrefs.cpp
index 9a15ba019..629777bcd 100644
--- a/src/prefs/ThemePrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/ThemePrefs.cpp
@@ -57,6 +57,10 @@ BEGIN_EVENT_TABLE(ThemePrefs, PrefsPanel)
 END_EVENT_TABLE()
 
 ThemePrefs::ThemePrefs(wxWindow * parent)
+/* i18n-hint: A theme is a consistent visual style across an application's
+ graphical user interface, including choices of colors, and similarity of images
+ such as those on button controls.  Audacity can load and save alternative
+ themes. */
 :  PrefsPanel(parent, _("Theme"))
 {
    Populate();
diff --git a/src/prefs/TracksBehaviorsPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/TracksBehaviorsPrefs.cpp
index 14f716522..47bb0c262 100644
--- a/src/prefs/TracksBehaviorsPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/TracksBehaviorsPrefs.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #include "../Experimental.h"
 
 TracksBehaviorsPrefs::TracksBehaviorsPrefs(wxWindow * parent)
+/* i18n-hint: two nouns */
 :  PrefsPanel(parent, _("Tracks Behaviors"))
 {
    Populate();
diff --git a/src/prefs/TracksPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/TracksPrefs.cpp
index 2015f6c79..438afb476 100644
--- a/src/prefs/TracksPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/TracksPrefs.cpp
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ namespace {
 
 
 TracksPrefs::TracksPrefs(wxWindow * parent)
+/* i18n-hint: "Tracks" include audio recordings but also other collections of
+ * data associated with a time line, such as sequences of labels, and musical
+ * notes */
 :  PrefsPanel(parent, _("Tracks"))
 {
    // Bugs 1043, 1044
diff --git a/src/prefs/WaveformPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/WaveformPrefs.cpp
index 373d9ec3c..ab7aa2be2 100644
--- a/src/prefs/WaveformPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/WaveformPrefs.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ Paul Licameli
 #include "../WaveTrack.h"
 
 WaveformPrefs::WaveformPrefs(wxWindow * parent, WaveTrack *wt)
+/* i18n-hint: A waveform is a visual representation of vibration */
 : PrefsPanel(parent, _("Waveforms"))
 , mWt(wt)
 , mPopulating(false)