Translating a Wordpress theme
This is a short tutorial on how to properly translate a Wordpress theme. Mystique is used as example here. I will choose PoEdit as the translation application, since it’s the easiest to use because of the simple user interface.
…so, here are all the steps:
First download and install Poedit.
Select the theme you wish to translate and extract or copy the theme files into a new directory. In this example, I’m unzipping all the theme files inside the C:\mystique directory. Now open the PoEdit application, and create a new catalog (File > New catalog), or you can open an existing catalog from the theme directory, if the theme has one. For example, the en_US.po file for Mystique.
From the menu, select Catalog > settings and fill all the required information.
Don’t close the settings window yet. Click on the Paths tab and change the local path from 1st line with your path to the theme files, in our example C:\mystique
Click OK, then update the catalog (Catalog > Update from sources) to verify that your path to the theme is correct, and to update all the strings. You can also update the catalog from a existing .pot template, if the theme has one (that way you wouldn’t need to extract all the theme files on your computer).
If you don’t get any errors, you can start translating the theme by selecting each string in bold from the list, and typing the translation in editable area from the bottom. Here’s a sample phrase translated to French:
Be careful with the php values, such as %s, %2$s etc. Always include them in the translated string! If you want to hide some of them you can use html comments – for example if you want to hide the author link in Mystique (original string: Posted by %1$s in %2$s):
Posté <!-- par %1$s --> dans %2$s
When you’re finished, save your catalog by using the languagecode_COUNTRYCODE file naming convention, eg. as fr_FR, and upload the compiled catalog that was generated by PoEdit (eg. fr_FR.mo) to your server, in the appropriate theme language file directory. That’s it 
Related resources:
WordPress in Your Language
Belorussian translation of this article (by Patricia Clausnitzer)
Thanks for this tutorial, it helped me.
What youre saying is completely true. I know that everybody must say the same thing, but I just think that you put it in a way that everyone can understand. I also love the images you put in here. They fit so well with what youre trying to say. Im sure youll reach so many people with what youve got to say.
True, very true! I have never heard of PoEdit, but apart from that, this is the first “techy” article I understood completely. Keep up the good work!
I use this theme about 6 Mouthes or more in my site. My site language is Bengali. This theme translate from English to Bengali. Frenetically update the theme but each update. manually upload the mo and po file by ftp. I know many Bengali are use this theme. So, If you add the Bengali language in to this theme many person are happy and use this theme. If you want Bengali language support. I can help you for translate to Bengali language. Thanks
i try to translate in indonesian language..but didnt work at all…what wrong?
I know that everybody must say the same thing, but I just think that you put it in a way that everyone can understand.
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Couldn?t be written any better. Reading this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!
Great stuff from you, man. Ive read your stuff before and youre just too awesome. I love what youve got here, love what youre saying and the way you say it. You make it entertaining and you still manage to keep it smart. I cant wait to read more from you. This is really a great blog.
Could some one please tell me the name of the plugin to use to change the language? I have tried finding the file and cant.
Let me start by saying nice post. Im not sure if it has been talked about, but when using Chrome I can never get the entire site to load without refreshing many times. Could just be my computer. Thanks.
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I’m writing from Turkey. I like your themes. Keep up the good work! And thank You!
Thanks for tutorial
This is a great article.
What I would like to edit is the font selection and color and line height. Any suggestions in what template or how to do that? I’m using Fusion theme.
Thanks
FINALY SOMEONE THAT EXPLAINS IT WELL!!!
I HOPE YOU UPDATE ALL YOUR THEMES ONE DAY LIKE
MAKE ALL THE OLD THEMES YOU HAVE NOW BETTER ITS ALREADY PERFECT
EVEN AMAZING!! JUST MAKE THEM ALL GREATER THEN THEY WERE BEFORE! IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!!
beautiful programe thanks bro