For instance, if you see ru_RU.po file, your theme is already translated into the Russian language. In some cases, you may find already translated files in your theme. Depending on the theme, POT file can be provided with a number of PO and MO files, and README.TXT instruction for translators. Usually, translation-ready themes contain POT, PO and MO files in language folder of a theme. POT file created by theme developers is used as a start point for theme localization. As a rule, it is in the English language.ĭevelopers use special tools, such as gettext, to run PHP source analysis and create POT file containing all text elements to be translated.

PO is the main file used to create localized versions of themes. POT usually contains a list of all text strings used in theme files. Using PO Files to Translate a WordPress Theme A major part of free WordPress themes and almost all premium themes can be translated. Before you purchase a theme, look through a theme description and make sure that it is ready for translation. However, you should take into account that not all developers provide translation-ready solutions.

This method is applied for translation of WordPress CMS, themes, and plugins. GNU gettext framework is used to translate WordPress themes. In this article, I will show you how to translate a WordPress theme text strings using Poedit, but before we start, let’s see what files do we need to fulfill translation. There are also premium solutions for translation of themes, plugin and websites in general, for instance, WPML. Such tools as Poedit (which is free) or plugins like Loco Translate (also free) allow translating text strings from WordPress files. “Number of posts to show:” (settings page text line).“Ready to publish your first post?” (welcome page text line).“Top primary menu” (Appearance => Menus).

“Nothing found” (empty search results).

Text strings can be found both in admin and user sections of a website. Getting back to our main topic, WordPress theme files contain text strings that need to be translated. Poedit also offers a premium version with additional functions like extended support, word count, translation suggestions and more. You may download this program free from Poedit website. Poedit is a software tool available for Windows, Mac OS and Linux that is used for translation of themes and plugins into the required language. In this article, you will learn how to translate a WordPress theme using Poedit. Therefore, translating WordPress themes into other languages can be profitable both for theme developers who can reach a wider non-English audience and for translators who can offer WordPress theme translation services. However, there are many users who just don’t know English. English is one the most popular languages on the web while WordPress CMS is used by 25% of all websites around the world.

Poedit tutorial wordpress