Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with providing query modes for translation-enabled XML documents are described. One method embodiment includes receiving an XPath query to an XML document that may store a translation for a data element. The method embodiment may also include automatically selecting a query mode for the XPath query. The method embodiment may also include querying the XML document using the XPath query and the selected query mode. The query mode may control, at least in part, the operation of an XML database logic.