In a globalized world where international trade prevails, translating a website has become essential to reach a diverse audience. In 2024, translation technologies have evolved considerably. Indeed, we have more and more tools that make the task more accessible thanks to a multitude of methods. It is possible to distinguish two main stakeholders in the translation of a website: the business owner and the visitor.

For a business owner, offering their site in several target languages allows them to stand out and adapt their content to the language of their visitors. This way you can maximize engagement and understanding. On the other hand, website visitors today benefit from several tools allowing them to translate content into their own language. Although this automatic translation can sometimes alter the original message, it still provides a useful overview of the content offered.

In this article, we will explore 15 effective methods for translating a website , classifying them into two categories for better understanding. Follow us to learn how these techniques can help you make your website universally accessible.

Options available to owners to translate a website.

If you have a website, here are some tools that can help you easily translate your website.

1 – Translation plugins for CMS

There are several plugins that you can explain to translate your site. Indeed, depending on the CMS you use, you may be spoiled for choice. We can guide you by offering some options.

A – WordPress.

For translating websites using WordPress, there are several very effective plugins that can help manage translation and localization easily. Here are some of the most popular plugins:

WPML (WordPress Multilingual Plugin)

It is one of the best-known and most complete translation plugins for WordPress. It allows you to translate pages, articles, custom post types, taxonomies, menus, and even themes. WPML is compatible with most WordPress themes and plugins and supports over 40 languages.

Polylang

This plugin allows you to create a multilingual site by adding as many languages as necessary. Polylang makes it easy to translate content, menus, widgets, and even themes. It is less expensive than WPML and offers a simple and effective solution for small to medium projects.

TranslatePress

TranslatePress offers a visual translation interface directly from the front page of the site, allowing all visible content to be translated without changing the interface. It also supports automatic translation thanks to the integration of Google Translate or DeepL.

Weglot

Weglot is a translation service that integrates an easy-to-use WordPress solution. It automatically translates your site into multiple languages and allows you to customize translations via an intuitive dashboard. Weglot is particularly appreciated for its ease of installation and its compatibility with all WordPress themes and plugins.

MultilingualPress

This plugin uses a different approach by creating a multisite network for each language. This helps optimize site performance, as only the required language is loaded each time. MultilingualPress is ideal for large sites requiring a high-performance and scalable translation solution.

Loco Translate

Loco Translate offers an interface in WordPress for editing PO files and managing local translations of themes or plugins. It’s a handy tool for developers or those who prefer manual translation management.

Each of these plugins has its advantages and disadvantages, so the choice will depend on your specific needs, the available budget and the volume of content to be translated.

2 – Using Google Translate

You can integrate Google Translate on your website to allow your users to easily translate your content. Google offers JavaScript code that you can use for this purpose.

To integrate Google Translate on your website with HTML and JavaScript, you can use the official Google Translate widget. Here are the steps to add this widget to your site:

Step 1: Get widget code

Go to the official Google Translate page . You can search for “Google Translate widget” to find the appropriate page where Google provides the code for the widget.
Choose the language settings as needed. Google generally allows you to configure the languages you want to offer on your site.
Copy the code provided . Google will provide you with a code snippet that you can use directly on your site.

Step 2: Embed the code on your site

Open the HTML file of the page where you wish to integrate the translation widget.
Insert the widget code . It is usually recommended to place this widget in the <head> section or just before the closing </body> tag of your HTML document for better performance. Here is a basic example of the integration:


<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>Document</title>
</head>
<body>
    <h1>Bienvenue sur mon site</h1>
    <p>Ce paragraphe sera traduit dans différentes langues grâce à Google Translate.</p>
    
    <!-- Placez le code de Google Translate ici -->
    <div id="google_translate_element"></div>
    <script type="text/javascript">
        function googleTranslateElementInit() {
            new google.translate.TranslateElement({pageLanguage: 'fr', layout: google.translate.TranslateElement.InlineLayout.SIMPLE}, 'google_translate_element');
        }
    </script>
    <script type="text/javascript" src="//translate.google.com/translate_a/element.js?cb=googleTranslateElementInit"></script>
</body>
</html>

Code explanations:

googleTranslateElementInit : This function initializes the widget with the specified options. Here, pageLanguage: 'fr' determines the default language of the site and layout: google.translate.TranslateElement.InlineLayout.SIMPLE defines the display style of the widget.
src="//translate.google.com/translate_a/element.js?cb=googleTranslateElementInit" : This script loads the necessary resources for the widget from Google servers and specifies the callback function ( googleTranslateElementInit ).

Step 3: Test the widget

After adding the code to your site, open your page in a browser to see the widget in action. You should see a language switcher that allows visitors to translate the page into the language of their choice.

That’s all you need to add Google Translate to your website using HTML and JavaScript. Be sure to follow Google’s usage policies if you choose to use their translation service. If you want to learn more, check out our article on website translation with JavaScript and the API .

Other translation options

3. Neural Machine Translation Services

Services like DeepL offer high-quality machine translations, leveraging artificial intelligence for more natural and accurate rendering.

4. Translation APIs

Integrating translation APIs such as Microsoft Translator or Yandex Translate can automate your site’s translation process without administrative burden.

5. Human translation

Hiring professional translators guarantees superior quality, with attention to cultural and linguistic nuances.

6. Crowdsourcing

Using crowdsourcing for translation can be a cost-effective and engaging option, involving your community in the translation process.

7. Software localization tools

Tools like Crowdin or Transifex simplify the management of translation projects and support team collaboration.

8. Domain-specific AI multilingual translation

AI models trained specifically for certain domains can offer more accurate translations for specialized industries.

9. Review by native speakers

After an initial translation, revision by native speakers can significantly improve the quality of the text.

10. Progressive translation

Implementing progressive translation allows you to translate the most important content first and add languages over time.

11. Using subdomains for each language

Setting up specific subdomains for each language can improve SEO and provide a better user experience.

12. Multilingual A/B testing

Testing different versions of your translation with A/B testing can help you determine which version resonates best with your audience.

Options available to Internet users to translate a website.

If you are browsing online, you may come across content not in your native language. In this case, there are several options available to you. We look at some cases. Next, we will give you a practical example using the Google Translate solution (The website).

13 – Browser extensions for translation

Extensions like Google Translate or Microsoft Translator can be added to your browser. These extensions detect the language of the site visited and offer a one-click translation.

14- Online web page translation services

There are online services where you can paste the URL of the site you want to translate, and the service returns you a translated version of the page. DeepL and Bing Translator are examples of such services.

15 – Use translation features built into browsers

Browsers like Google Chrome have built-in automatic translation features that offer to translate foreign web pages as soon as you visit them.

Practical section: using the Google Translate website to translate a website

Google Translate offers a convenient solution for instantly translating entire websites. Here’s how you can use this tool:

Steps to translate a website with Google Translate:

First, visit the Google Translate site dedicated to websites : open your browser and go to Google Translate for websites .
Then, Enter the URL of the website to translate : in the field provided, type or paste the URL of the website you want to translate. Make sure you choose the correct source language (the original language of the site) if it is not correctly detected automatically.
Afterwards, Choose the translation language : select the language into which you want to translate the site.
Finally, Translate the site : click on the translate button so that Google Translate processes the website. The translated site will open in a new tab of your browser.

By following these steps, you can access the content of a website in the language of your choice, making it easier to understand and interact with the site.

Conclusion

Translating a website in 2024 offers many possibilities, from automated solutions to manual approaches. However, choosing the right method depends on your budget, your quality requirements, and your target audience. By leveraging these methods, you can expand your international reach and connect more effectively with your users around the world. You want to work with professionals, contact us .

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Gilblas Ngunte Possi

Founder and Full-Stack Developer at Prositeweb.

My proficiency with modern tools and a keen analytical sense regarding information technology enable me to provide superior guidance in the development and implementation of your web solutions.

How to translate a website in 2024: 15 easy methods