Translate Custom Labels in your WordPress Theme's Functions.php File
One of the most common challenges WordPress developers face is properly translating custom labels and text strings that are not part of the core WordPress or WooCommerce codebase. These custom labels are often added directly in the functions.php file of a theme or plugin, making them difficult to localize.
In this article, we'll explore two approaches to translating these custom labels – a free alternative using the Loco Translate plugin, and a more comprehensive commercial solution with WPML.
The Free Alternative: Loco Translate
The first step when translating custom labels in your functions.php file is to change the gettext domain name. By default, WordPress uses the 'woocommerce' domain for WooCommerce-related strings, but since your custom labels are not part of the WooCommerce codebase, you'll want to use a more relevant domain name, such as the name of your theme or something more custom.
Here's an example of how you might modify the gettext domain in your functions.php file:
/**
* Translate custom labels
*/
function my_theme_translate_custom_labels() {
$domain = 'my-theme-domain';
_e('Custom Label 1', $domain);
_e('Custom Label 2', $domain);
_e('Custom Label 3', $domain);
}
add_action('init', 'my_theme_translate_custom_labels');
In this example, we've set the gettext domain to 'my-theme-domain', which is more appropriate for custom labels that are part of our theme's functionality.
Now that we've set the correct domain, we can use the free Loco Translate plugin to handle the translation process. Loco Translate provides in-browser editing of WordPress translation files, making it easy to create and update language files directly within your theme or plugin.
Here's how to use Loco Translate to translate your custom labels:
- Install and activate the Loco Translate plugin.
- Go to the Loco Translate dashboard in your WordPress admin.
- Click "Create new translation" and select your theme from the list.
- Choose the language you want to translate to, then click "Create & edit" to open the translation editor.
- Locate the custom labels you added in the functions.php file and provide the translations.
- Save your changes, and Loco Translate will automatically generate the necessary .mo and .po files for your theme.
Loco Translate also provides advanced features for developers, such as extracting strings and generating translation templates, making it a valuable tool for managing multilingual WordPress sites.
The Commercial Complete Way: WPML
While the Loco Translate plugin is a great free option, some WordPress developers may prefer a more comprehensive solution, especially if they're building a multilingual website. In this case, the WPML plugin is a popular commercial alternative that offers a complete set of tools for translating WordPress sites, including WooCommerce.
WPML provides a user-friendly interface for managing translations, and it includes features like:
- In-context editing for quick translations
- Automatic detection of translatable strings
- Support for custom post types and custom fields
- Seamless integration with WooCommerce for translating products, orders, and more
- Automatic language switching based on user location
To use WPML for translating your custom labels in the functions.php file, follow these steps:
- Install and activate the WPML plugin.
- Configure your language settings and create the necessary language sites.
- Navigate to the WPML String Translation module.
- Click "Add new string" and enter the custom labels from your functions.php file.
- Provide the translations for each language, then save your changes.
WPML will handle the rest, automatically generating the necessary translation files and ensuring that your custom labels are properly displayed in the correct language.
While WPML is a paid plugin, the investment can be worthwhile for businesses that require a comprehensive multilingual solution. The plugin's robust features and seamless integration with WooCommerce make it a popular choice for many WordPress developers.
Conclusion
Translating custom labels in your WordPress theme's functions.php file can be a bit tricky, but with the right tools, you can easily manage this process. The Loco Translate plugin is a great free option, providing in-browser translation editing and advanced features for developers. For a more comprehensive multilingual solution, the WPML plugin offers a complete set of tools for translating your entire WordPress site, including WooCommerce integration.
Whichever approach you choose, the key is to ensure that your custom labels are properly translated, providing a seamless experience for your international users. By following the steps outlined in this article, you'll be well on your way to creating a truly multilingual WordPress website.
To learn more about how Flowpoint.ai can help you identify and fix technical issues that impact your website's conversion rates, visit our website today
Get a Free AI Website Audit
Automatically identify UX and content issues affecting your conversion rates with Flowpoint's comprehensive AI-driven website audit.