6.0 How to translate theme and plugins

Important

Translation files can sometimes be deleted when you update the theme, you have to keep the translation file in your computer to reupload it when updating the theme.

The translation method is useful also to change text strings of the theme or plugins even if you are in the same language of the theme, as you can create a translation for your same language, example en_EN or en_US.

Translations and Child themes

If using the child theme as per documentation, please make sure to copy the translation files in kentha-child/languages.

How to create a translation

Language translation is possible using the standard WordPress translation function and the free plugin PoEdit. Not every string needs to be translated, you can create only the strings you want.

This theme is very easy to translate as the .mo .po (pot) files are provided within the language sub folder of the theme.

  1. Unzip or copy the theme folder locally
  2. In the main theme folder in wp-content/themes/kentha you’ll find a “languages” folder.It contains a model to translate the theme using Poedit or other .mo .po translation softwares. The model is the .pot file
  3. Start up Poedit.
  4. In Poedit goto File -> New from POT/PO file…
  5. Select and Open the pot file from the languages folder.
  6. Enter your name, email address, your language and country (i.e. French fr_FR, German de_DE) to the setting form. For the correct language identifier chech the column WP Locale at this page
  7. Click the Update button in the main Poedit UI.
  8. Save the file:
    1. For a plugin like filename-xx_XX.po with xx_XX for your language and country.
    2. For a theme xx_XX.po
  9. Click File > Create .mo
  10. In WordPress Admin,  settings -> general set the language of your country.
  11. Optionally copy the files in kentha-child/languages
  12. That’s it, go to your WordPress blog and see your translation in action. Enjoy your blogging!!!

 

Plugins translation

Some plugins may have language translation capability. In this case you will find a languages folder in the plugins.

– Save it as plugins-name-XX_xx.po with xx_XX for your language and country.

For more information please visit: https://codex.wordpress.org/Translating_WordPress

You can download Poedit here:

https://poedit.net/

You don’t need to purchase the Pro version of Poedit.

Translation issues:

There are many translation plugins out there, like Loco Translate. They are fancy and fast to use, but are known to be trouble-makers. Often they cause malfunctionings and can’t properly translate all of the strings, even though they say they do.

We do NOT support the usage of such plugins, but only the standard official PoEdit translation method.