While global reach is essential, there’s an undeniable charm in feeling ‘at home’ when browsing a site. This sentiment, rooted in language and culture, underscores the importance of localization. Platforms like WordPress recognize this need and provide tools for easy content translation. WordPress already comes translated in more than 100 languages.
Changing WordPress to your local language is done via WP Dashboard > Settings > General > Site Language option and swapping the language. But what about text strings from themes and plugins? This is where PoEdit comes in handy. PoEdit is an excellent tool for WordPress localization. In this tutorial, we’ll provide the ultimate resource for anyone needing to translate their WordPress website with PoEdit.
Here’s the article summary:
- Understanding PoEdit: A Brief Overview
- The Basics of WordPress Localization
- Step-by-Step Guide: Translating Your Site with PoEdit
- Conclusion
Understanding PoEdit: A Brief Overview
What is PoEdit? PoEdit is a translation editor that provides an easy and intuitive platform for translating software. It was created to help developers manage their translation processes, and has since become popular with WordPress website translators across the globe.
The Basics of WordPress Localization
Before we dive into translating WordPress with PoEdit, let’s first explore WordPress localization and the role of .po and .mo files. Localization is the process of adapting software to meet a particular location, culture, or language. WordPress operates on the gettext framework, which specifies how to translate strings from one specific language file to another. PoEdit makes this process easy for WordPress website owners and developers by creating .po and .mo files. The .po file contains all human-readable translations of your website’s text, while the .mo file is what WordPress uses to load the translations.
On our portfolio WordPress themes those files are located in the theme’s languages folder.
Step-by-Step Guide: Translating Your Site with PoEdit
Now that we’ve got a basic understanding of WordPress localization and PoEdit, let’s get into the practical part of our tutorial – translating your site with PoEdit. To illustrate this, we’ll use our Caverta theme.
Step 1:
First make sure your site has your local language selected. For that go into your website’s WordPress dashboard > Settings > General > Site Language option and select your language.
Step 2:
Go to PoEdit website, download and install it on your preferred operating system.
Step 3:
Open the POEdit editor, go to File > New from POT/PO file… and select it. Navigate to the Caverta theme languages folder and select the “caverta.pot” file. A new pop-up window will appear “Translation Language”. Select the language that match with your site language from WP Dashboard > Settings > General > Site Language option.
Step 4:
Fill in the translations, and save the changes. When you first save the file, make sure you save it in the WordPress locale language code (e.g.: for French language the code is fr_FR ). So the saved file name should look like this: fr_FR.po . View all WordPress locale language codes.
Step 5:
In your Caverta theme’s languages folder you should see 2 new files: fr_FR.po and fr_FR.mo. Upload them to your server in wp-content/themes/caverta/languages folder.
Congratulations! Your website is now translated into your local language.
Alternatives to PoEdit: WordPress Translating Plugins
While PoEdit, or “po edit” as it is commonly referred to, remains a popular choice for translating WordPress websites, it’s worth noting that there are numerous alternatives available for those who prefer different tools like translation plugins. Translating your WordPress site can be accomplished using various methods, and one such alternative is the Loco Translate plugin. Loco Translate, an effective and widely-used free translation plugin, can be seamlessly integrated into your WordPress dashboard, offering a hassle-free approach to translating your WordPress themes and plugins.
Another option to consider is WPML. WPML is a premium plugin prides itself on providing a comprehensive and efficient translation management system for your WordPress website. With WPML, you gain access to a multitude of translation options, allowing you to effortlessly translate every facet of your site. This includes everything from posts and pages to menus and even custom post types, ensuring a streamlined process.
Polylang, yet another free plugin translation that deserves recognition. Boasting a simple and user-friendly interface, Polylang makes translating your WordPress site a breeze. Supporting multiple languages and being compatible with the majority of WordPress themes and plugins, Polylang is a flexible choice for those seeking an all-encompassing translation solution.
As you weigh your options, it’s crucial to consider the unique features and functionalities that each of these PO Edit alternatives brings to the table. By assessing your specific translation needs, you can confidently select the right tool for your WordPress website.
Conclusion
PoEdit is an excellent translation tool for WordPress website owners and developers. In this guide, we’ve provided detailed information on the basics of WordPress localization and a step-by-step guide to translating WordPress with PoEdit. Remember to stay up to date with your WordPress, and back up your website regularly. Best of luck translating your WordPress website with PoEdit!
