There are a number of tools you can use to translate WordPress projects. Each tool has different features and options that may help you to find your ideal translation workflow.
However, please remember that localeLocale Locale = language version, often a combination of a language code and a region code, for instance es_MX denotes Spanish as itās used in Mexico. A list of all locales supported by WordPress in https://make.wordpress.org/polyglots/teams/ packages and language packs are always built from approved translations on translate.wordpress.org. Because of this, no matter which tool you use to translate stringsString A string is a translatable part of the software. A translation consists of a multitude of localized strings., you will eventually need to import the strings or relevant format files (e.g. gettext files with a .po or .mo extension) to translate.wordpress.orgtranslate.wordpress.org The platform for contributing to the translation of WordPress core, themes and plugins..
For Translators
translate.wordpress.org
translate.wordpress.org is our main translation management system powered by GlotPress, a pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party for WordPress. This is a place where the WordPress polyglots teamPolyglots Team Polyglots Team is a group of multilingual translators who work on translating plugins, themes, documentation, and front-facing marketing copy. https://make.wordpress.org/polyglots/teams/. translates the coreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress. software, plugins, themes, various metaMeta Meta is a term that refers to the inside workings of a group. For us, this is the team that works on internal WordPress sites like WordCamp Central and Make WordPress. projects, and mobile apps.
Translation Consistency Tool
Translation Consistency Tool is a tool to help analyze if an original stringString A string is a translatable part of the software. A translation consists of a multitude of localized strings. is translated consistently throughout projects in your locale. You can enter a term and you will see a list of its different uses in your language. Ideally, a term should be added to a localeās Glossary and used consistently across the whole project.
Glossaries
Each team needs to have its own glossary to help new translators get started and keep the translations of WordPress, plugins, and themes consistent. GlotPressGlotPress GlotPress is the translation management software that powersĀ Translate.WordPress.org. More information is available at glotpress.org. has a built-in glossary feature that allows translators to see the proper translation of an original term while translating. See the list of glossaries and style guides per locale and how to create one.
Browser Addons
These are third-party browser add-ons (extensions) that extend translate.wordpress.org developed by active WordPress translators.
- GlotDict: Glossary integration, alert for missing placeholders and punctuation, and custom shortcuts.
- WordPress Translation Filler: Indication of the quality of the translations, machine translation integration.
- WPGP Tools: Consistency tools, Translation history lookup, missing punctuation alert and other general checks.
- SPTE: Detects style guide and glossary errors for French locale.
For Translation Teams
Translation Stats Overview
Translation Status Overview is a page that shows you an overview of the progress of each locale for WordPress, the WordPress meta projects (like the plugin and theme directories and the RosettaRosetta The code name of the theme for the local WordPress sites (eg. bg.wordpress.org is aĀ āRosettaā site). All locale specific WordPress sites are referred to as āRosetta sites.ā The name was inspired from the ancient Rosetta Stone, which contained more or less the same text in three different languages. sites), and mobile apps.
Third-Party Products/Services
- WP Polyglots facilitator by JesĆŗs Amiero makes it possible to use an existing translation of a plugin or theme in a different locale as a template for your own locale. As an example, you could import a translation for es_ES to es_AR and then just adjust for the differences in the new target locale. Itās described more in detail in a post made by the author.
- Gutenberg String Comparator is a consistency checker specific to core and GutenbergGutenberg The Gutenberg project is the new Editor Interface for WordPress. The editor improves the process and experience of creating new content, making writing rich content much simpler. It uses āblocksā to add richness rather than shortcodes, custom HTML etc. https://wordpress.org/gutenberg/ plugin. It lets you find out if there are any differences in those two projects.
For Translators and Managers of Non-English Sites
WP-CLI commands
WP-CLI wp language is a handy command for Installing, activating, and managing language packs.
The wp i18n command can help you generate a PO, MO, POT, or JSONJSON JSON, or JavaScript Object Notation, is a minimal, readable format for structuring data. It is used primarily to transmit data between a server and web application, as an alternative to XML. file,
Not a part of official WP-CLIWP-CLI WP-CLI is the Command Line Interface for WordPress, used to do administrative and development tasks in a programmatic way. The project page is http://wp-cli.org/ https://make.wordpress.org/cli/ distribution, but there is a third-party add-on called PO Merger for merging PO filesPO files PO files are human readable files which contain translations we use. These files are not used by WordPress itself. Each language will have its own PO file, for example, for French there would be a fr_FR.po file, for german there would be a de_DE.po, for British English there might be en_GB.po., created by the SatelliteWP team. It lets you bring in the translations of a similar locale when your locale’s translation is not complete.
Third-Party Products/Services
Translation Tools (plugin)
Translation Tools is a plugin created by Pedro MendonƧa, which allows you to change your site language to any locale that exists, even if a language pack has not yet been generated for that locale. This is particularly helpful for translators or developers who would like to use existing WordPress core, plugin, or theme translations, even if the projects haven’t met the related threshold for a language pack.
This tool also allows you to manually update, on-demand, any translations you want in WordPress core, plugins, or themes. With one click, you can download all the .po translation files and generate all the needed .moMO files MO, or Machine Object is a binary data file that contains object data referenced by a program. It is typically used to translate program code, and may be loaded or imported into the GNU gettext program. This is the format used in a WordPress install. These files are normally located inside …/wp-content/languages/ and .json files, in just a few seconds. The plugin also adds some WP core translations tests and debug info to Site Health.
Translation Stats (plugin)
Also created by Pedro MendonƧa, the Translation Stats plugin adds a column that shows translation stats in the plugin list screen.
Force Update Translations (plugin)
Force Update Translations plugin by Mayo Moriyama downloads theme/plugin translation files (note: JSON files are not supported yet) with existing Waiting and Current translations.
String locator (plugin)
String locator plugin by Marius L. J. can help you find a piece of text used in all theme/plugin/core files within your install.
Other Translation Tools and Platforms
There are a number of other tools that can be useful in various ways for the translation of WordPress projects, some of them are listed below. Keep in mind that if you translate outside our main platform then after you finish your translation, you will need to go to translate.wordpress.org and import the relevant gettext files, as the language packages are built from there.
Also note: a translation editorTranslation Editor Translation editors can approve translations for projects. The GTE (General Translation Editor) and LM (Locale Manager) roles can add new users with the “Project Translation Editor” role that can approve translations for specific projects. There are two different Translation Editor roles: General Translation Editor and Project Translation Editor must perform translation review directly in translate.wordpress.org and never in external systems. The reason for this is in order to correctly preserve translation credit for the user who submitted the translation.
- GNU gettext: The official gettext tools package contains command-line tools for creating POTs, manipulating POs, and generating MOs. This tool is for those comfortable with a command shell.
- Poedit: An open sourceOpen Source Open Source denotes software for which the original source code is made freely available and may be redistributed and modified. Open Source **must be** delivered via a licensing model, see GPL. program for Windows, Mac OS X and UNIX/Linux which provides an easy-to-use GUI for editing PO files and generate MO filesMO files MO, or Machine Object is a binary data file that contains object data referenced by a program. It is typically used to translate program code, and may be loaded or imported into the GNU gettext program. This is the format used in a WordPress install. These files are normally located inside …/wp-content/languages/.
- Loco: A PO file editor that works directly in your browser.
- Transifex: A localizationLocalization Localization (sometimes shortened to “l10n“) is the process of adapting a product or service to a particular language, culture, and desired local “look-and-feel.” platform which offers a free version for open source projects.
- OmegaT: An open source translation memory desktop app.
