How to Easily Create a Multilingual WordPress Site
Not all websites are in English or just a single language. Are you looking to have your site boe more than one language? W’ve helped many users understand the tools to make their sites multilingual. In this video, we will show you how to easily create a multilingual WordPress site.
For our first recommended method we will be using the polylang plugin that you are able to find here:
The plugin will add a Languages section to your site where you can select the languages to list as available to your visitors. Start by adding the native language as you want all languages including the language your posts are originally in. There will be no posts set to either languange and you should have an option at the top of the page to include all of the posts into the default language.
With that set up you can begin editing the posts to have a version in a different language. There are two methods to begin setting up the posts in your other languages you can either edit the post and on the top right there will be a plus icon next to the language flag or you can click the plus icon on the post you want to add to when viewing the list of your posts.
The second method you could use to translate your site would be the Google Language Translator plugin found here:
With the plugin installed and activated you would want to go under Settings, Google Language Translator and ensure that the Plugin status is checked for it to be active for the plugin to work properly. From that settings page you will be able to select the languages you want to translate your site into for your visitors. The translations for your site to become multilingual are automatically generated by Google with this method.
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Great tutorial, thanks! A question in regards to method 2, it’s possible for Google translator to be a bit inaccurate sometimes. Is it possible to correct the translations within a page or post where needed?
You can correct the translation using: https://support.google.com/translate/answer/2534530?hl=en
I think by google translation it will be global. However, for using own style of translating polylang or Wpml plugin would be right choice.
Thank you so much!!!! Excellent tutorial!
Thanks for this good introduction.
But I have one problem. I have to languages…German and English. I have a german menu where I put the language switcher in. when I click the “english” button, the side content changes correctly but in the menu I only see the english translated pages but not the language switcher, do you or have anybody a solution for this?
Because when I check the checkbox in the menu setting that both are primary menüs , I only see the german one and not the translated pages.
It would depend on which plugin you are using, for the specifics but if it is disappearing from your menu you may need to reach out to the plugin’s support to ensure there is not an issue.
I use the polylang plugin like you did in the video, not the google translator. I dont understand why the language switcher disappear when I switch to englisch because german is my standard. I really hate wordpress *argh*
It may be an issue with polylang itself, you would want to reach out to them using: https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/polylang
I really liked this small video. Very well explained. Congratulations!
I didn’t understand how users will be able to change language when using the first option (the manual one)?
With Polylang they have a language switcher in the menu or a widget: https://polylang.wordpress.com/documentation/frequently-asked-questions/the-language-switcher/
thanks for this information.
Glad you found it helpful 🙂
GREAT, THANKS
Glad it was helpful 🙂
Syed, thank you for this very insightful video. A couple of questions:
1) the first plug in also works for pages and listings (i.e. real estate listings)?
2) can we correct the automatic translation of the google plugin? sometime these automatic translations are not quite correct…?
Thanks for your reply.
1. If it is created through a plugin then you may need to check with Polylang for how well it works together.
2. You would want to reach out to the plugin for that as well
Thanks for this tutorial !!!
Glad you liked our tutorial 🙂
Thanks a lot for this tutorial. In need to translate my wpsite and this video is a very good start.
Glad our video could help 🙂
Thanks for this tutorial
You’re welcome 🙂
Thank you, I have done this and it worked, but the only problem is that even when I am on the 2nd language of one of my pages, when I click on the menu, it takes me to the 1st (original) language page. So for example, I am on my page with the 1st language, then I click on the flag and it takes me to the 2nd language (works perfect), then I click on my menu to take me to the start page, but it takes me to the 1st language start page. Somehow the menu is only linked to the 1st language. Is there any way to fix this?
Thank you.
For that error, you would want to reach out to the plugin’s support and they should be able to assist.
you didnt even finish the tutorial for polylang !!
Apologies that you feel that way, we’ll be sure to work on improving clarity in our videos
Thanks great toturial
Thank you for watching it 🙂
I didn’t understand this for the Polylang plugin: how does the site visitor switch languages, and how can I customize/control the buttons/menus for this.
For this, you would want to take a look at Polylang’s documentation here: https://polylang.pro/doc/the-language-switcher/
Excellent, so easy to follow! Thank you!
Glad our guide could be helpful 🙂
Thank you for this great tutorial. Does this Google Translate Plug In translates all the plugins as well? Thank you in advance.
If you mean what the plugins show on the front of your site then normally it would be a yes
Really well explained! Thank you very much!
You’re welcome, glad it was helpful 🙂
Great video, it helped me alot. I can’t even have imagine!
Glad our video was helpful 🙂
Hey, is it true that I need the business plan in order to install this plug in? or is there another way? I have the Premium Plan…
It sounds like you are on WordPress.com, you would want to take a look at our page here: https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/self-hosted-wordpress-org-vs-free-wordpress-com-infograph/