If you are looking for ways to translate WordPress plugins then, reading this post can be a great help for you. I know using WordPress can be a little challenging if you are a non-English speaker. In fact, if you look around, you will find that not only WordPress plugins, but also WordPress themes as well, are available mostly in the English language only. So, what about those who are not well familiar with the English language? Well, you don’t have to worry about them because there are several plugins that can help you translate WordPress plugins. So, in this guide, I will walk you through the process to translate WordPress plugins using a plugin. No coding required! So, let’s dive right in!

When you create a website that too a WordPress website you have to use lot of plugins. If you are a plugin author, it makes sense to translate the WordPress plugin so that every WordPress user can use them without a hitch. So, let’s dig a little deeper and learn how to translate WordPress plugins.

How to Translate WordPress Plugins

There are various methods to translate WordPress plugins. But I will show you the two most commonly used and effective methods to translate WordPress plugins.

Method 1: Translate WordPress Plugins Using Loco Translate Plugin

Let’s just quickly take a look at the Loco Translate plugin and what it has to offer you. Loco Translate Loco Translate WordPress plugin is a free solution that comes with in-browser editing capability. It also permits integration with automatic translation services. This WordPress plugin is especially useful for developers seeking some extra functionality. It comes with localization tools for extracting strings and producing templates. Some of the notable features of the Loco Translate plugin are as follows.

  • It comes with a built-in translation editor.
  • Native MO file compilation feature.
  • It supports PO features.
  • Loco Translate allows you to create and upload language files directly in your plugin or theme.
  • Built-in WordPress locale codes.
  • It also has a PO file editor along with keyboard shortcut support.

All-in-all the Loco Translate plugin is a powerful option to translate WordPress themes and plugins directly from your WordPress admin dashboard. Like when you customize your WordPress dashboard you are free to beautify your dashboard the way you like it to be. Similarly, you can use the Loco Translate plugin and translate the WordPress plugin into any language you want.

Steps to Translate WordPress Plugins

First thing first, download and install the Loco Translate WordPress plugin to your website. It’s pretty simple to install a WordPress plugin though.

Step 1: Now, from your WordPress admin dashboard navigate to Plugins → Add New, and then search for the Loco Translate plugin here. Plugins → Add New

Step 2: From there, choose the Install Now option and then click on the Activate button to activate the plugin. In other words, your plugin will now be ready to use after you activate it. After you have successfully activated the plugin, you shall now see the new WordPress dashboard menu item named Loco Translate.

Step 3: From the WordPress dashboard go to Loco Translate → Plugins, to begin the translation.

Select a Language and Create a PO File for Your Plugin

Step 4: You shall see a list of plugins that are installed on your website.

Step 5: Select the target plugin that you wish to translate.

Step 6: On the very next screen, you will be provided with a list of available languages for the plugin. Also, you will notice a PO file associated with every language suffix with PO. Note: PO files contain plugin translations in plain ‘strings’ that further allows WordPress to pull the text it needs based on the language you picked for your website.

Step 7: If you see the language in the list in which you wish to translate into then choose that language. Whereas, on the other hand, if the language you are about to translate the plugin in is not there then, click on the ‘New Language’ button given there at the top.

Step 8: Next, select the language for your translation and also choose where you wish your WordPress should store the new PO file. However, it’s a good practice to use a custom location so that your PO files never get overwritten whenever you update your plugin.

Step 9: Click on the Start Translating button.

Start Translating WordPress Plugin’s Strings

Step 10: As mentioned above in the Loco Translate features that it offers you its own built-in editor. Once you have selected a language for your new PO file, Loco Translate will compile a list of strings for the selected plugin (one that you wish to translate), and then it will send you to the editor.

Step 11: Click on the string and add the translation.

Step 12: The comments section can be used to save notes that will help you to bring about the changes in a more informed way. This editor is pretty simple to use. The only thing you need to be careful about is to keep clicking on the Save button at the top. This will help you keep your copy safe. Because if any time by mistake you close the tab, you might lose all your data. So, that should not happen. This plugin will keep a count on how many strings you have translated and how many more you are left with.

Step 13: Make sure you have changed your dashboard’s language to use any of your translated plugins. Well, to do that, all you have to do is go to the General → Settings tab and search for the Site Language setting.

Step 14: Now, select the language you like from the drop-down menu, and hit the Save button to confirm your choice. If in case your plugins have translations available for a new language, WordPress will by default use it. That’s it! You have now successfully translated your WordPress plugin. Happy WordPress Translation!

Method 2: Help Translating a WordPress Plugin in Your Native Language

This method is a pretty simple one. With this, you can translate a plugin manually to your language and use it. In the same vein, other users will also be able to use it in their choice of language too. WordPress.org offers you a web-based translation tool that permits anyone to contribute translations for any WordPress plugin they want. Provided it should be hosted on WordPress.org only. Make sure you are not mixing WordPress.org vs WordPress.com and facing any challenges. When you go to the WordPress plugins repository and search for a plugin and you visit the plugin page. You will see a notification that includes a request for translating the plugin into your language. However, there can be chances where you do not see this message. In that case, you can search for the option. Generally, you will find it on the right side under the languages option. When you will click on the ‘see all’ option then, it will show you the list of languages it is already supporting as well as the message at the bottom asking for the ‘Translate into Your Language’ option.

Why You Should Translate WordPress Plugin?

WordPress has a massive user-base. It is one of the well-known and frequently used content management systems available. With over 60% of web dominance, it has become the best open-source content management system around the globe. It’s a common notion that everybody from beginner to professional web developer looks for the best option to build a website for your business. When you create a website that too a WordPress website, you have a pool of options. They will work as the roadmap for your website creation process. You are free to choose the best WordPress theme, essential WordPress plugins for a website, engage your target audience with content, track visitors in WordPress to create better marketing strategies. As a result, you can easily drive traffic to your website. And that’s where you realize the benefits of using a content management system such as WordPress.

Well, before we learn how, we should know why. Simply put, it makes sense to know why you should translate WordPress plugins before you know how to translate WordPress plugins. Let’s first figure out what exactly makes you translate WordPress plugins. WordPress is available in multiple languages already and you can translate it to many others too. There are plugins available in the WordPress plugins library, from where you can select a plugin and create a multilingual website without any issues. WordPress offers you tons of plugins to use. Every plugin is available in at least more than one or two languages. And if you wish you can help them translate the plugin in any other language as well. So, by translating a plugin, you can make it accessible for many people at once. of course, this way a plugin will become more useful if it is available in multiple languages. Having said that, let us now learn how to translate WordPress plugins. You can read about how to Remove Malware from a WordPress Website.

Translate WordPress Plugins – In Conclusion

WordPress is a well-developed platform. Thus, it has a solution for every problem. The popularity of WordPress is also one of the reasons to translate WordPress plugins. The above-mentioned method is really helpful if implemented correctly. WordPress is a great software and so are its responsibilities. With its huge worldwide presence, it is even important to make everything easily accessible to every user. Since WordPress is an open-source content management system, therefore, anybody can make their contribution to the betterment of this platform. After all, sharing is caring! If you have any other better idea to translate WordPress plugins or related to any WordPress aspects, or any other query, please feel free to share with me in the comments below. I will get back to you with possible solutions as soon as possible.