Learn how to translate your entire website in a few easy steps using both human and machine translation.
Translating your website is a non-negotiable if you want to expand your reach and cater to a global audience. However, with so many translation tools promising quick and convenient translations, finding the right option can feel overwhelming.
In this article, we explore the various options available for translating your website, from human translation to machine translation. We also provide step-by-step instructions for translating entire websites and individual web pages with popular tools like Google Translate and Weglot.
Let’s dive into the world of website translation and discover how you can make your online presence truly global.
When it comes to translating your website, there are two main options available to you: human translation and machine translation.
Human translation is when professional human translators translate web pages from one language to another. Many agencies provide human translation services in exchange for a fee.
The key benefit of human translation is that it takes the context, structure, and language nuances into account. In addition to this, human translation typically involves procedures like proofreading and quality assurance.
Machine translation, also called automated translation, translates the content on a page from one language to another using artificial intelligence. Google Translate, for example, uses a neural machine translation system to convert text on a page into other languages.
Unlike human translation, machine translation doesn’t take context or language nuances into account, which often leads to inaccurate translations.
You’re probably most familiar with Google Translate as an option for translating the whole of your website. It lets you translate your entire website into different languages in a few simple steps:
You should be able to view the translated version of your website from the native language (e.g., English) into a foreign language, and the Translate toolbar on the top lets you quickly change the translation language using the dropdown menu.
Recommended reading: How to Add Google Translate to a WordPress Website
However, some words and phrases may remain untranslated because Google Translate ignores text in images. Additionally, Google Translate's website translations can be inaccurate and lack support, as it doesn’t offer human translation.
For a better solution, consider using services like Weglot, which provides both machine and human translations along with expert human support.
Weglot is a complete multilingual solution that lets you automatically translate your entire website into over 110 languages. It uses a combination of Google, Microsoft, and DeepL translation services, depending on the language pair – to deliver the most accurate results.
The Weglot translation solution offers a mix of both human and machine translation. It translates your entire website content using machine translation and then lets you manually edit the automated translations using its in-context editor or translations list – depending on your preference.
In summary, Weglot provides:
As the most popular CMS out there, we’ll show you how to translate your entire WordPress website using Weglot.
But, if you’ve used a different CMS or built your site without the help of a CMS you can check out all our integrations here. All our integrations have been created so literally, anyone can add multilingual capabilities to their website – there’s no need for the help of a developer.
Search for the Weglot Translate plugin and install and activate it to your WordPress website.
If you haven’t done so already, create a new Weglot account. You’ll need to enter your email address and create a password. Once this is done, you’ll receive a confirmation email to verify your account and get your API key.
Go to the Weglot menu item from the WordPress dashboard sidebar menu.
From the same screen, you can configure additional options for language switcher widget style and location based on your preferences.
Additionally, you can also choose to exclude certain pages from being translated or choose to enable auto-detection of visitors’ language based on their web browser settings.
Click the Save button to continue. When you preview your website’s front end, you’ll see the language switcher widget that lets visitors translate your entire website at the click of a button.
Weglot automatically generates the first round of machine translation for your entire website. However, you can edit and manage the language translations using Weglot’s built-in editing interfaces.
The Visual Editor offers a live preview of your WordPress website. This allows you to modify your translations as you view them on the web page while keeping in mind the context and design.
You can edit translations by clicking on the blue pencil icon. This will open a pop-up window that lets you edit the translation.
The Translations List editor provides a side-by-side view of your original content along with machine-generated translations for the chosen language. Any changes made to the translations are automatically saved.
The search bar on the top allows you to quickly find translations and content you would like to modify. You can also click on the Translation options button to set up rules for your translations.
It’s also worth mentioning that Weglot helps you connect with professional translation agencies directly from within the web app as an add-on service. Simply select the pages you want to have professionally translated to get started.
If you don’t own or run a site, as a website visitor, navigating a website in a foreign language can be a cumbersome experience. Fortunately, most modern web browsers come with built-in translation features that are useful if you want to translate individual web pages as opposed to translating your whole website.
In this section, we'll guide you through the simple steps to translate a website directly within popular browsers like Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge.
Google Chrome is one of the most popular web browsers and comes with a built-in translation feature that can automatically or manually translate a webpage. Here's how you can use this feature on both your desktop browser and Android device:
Automatic Translation
Manual Translation
Settings Adjustment
Firefox doesn't have a built-in translation feature like Google Chrome, but it offers robust support for extensions that can easily handle website translation. One popular extension for this purpose is To Google Translate. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use it:
Installing the Extension
Translating a Website
Using Extension Icon
For Mac users, Safari offers a simple and intuitive way to translate web pages, although the feature is currently limited to a few languages and available only on macOS Big Sur or later. Here's how you can translate a website in Safari using either your Mac or iPhone:
Enabling Translation
Manual Translation
Review Translation
Settings Adjustment
Preferences: If you want to customize translation settings, you can go to Safari > Preferences > Websites > Page Translation to enable or disable automatic translation for specific websites or languages.
Microsoft Edge, based on the Chromium engine, comes with a built-in translation feature that's both convenient and straightforward to use. This guide will walk you through the process of translating a website in Edge:
Automatic Translation
Manual Translation
Changing the Target Language
Translation Settings
Navigating through a web page written in a foreign language can be a daunting task. Luckily, popular mobile browsers like Google Chrome and Safari offer built-in translation features that can convert the text into a language of your choice.
Again, this is a solution to consider if you'd prefer to translate each page of your site individually.
Here's a detailed step-by-step guide on how to utilize these features on both Android and iOS devices.
Sometimes, a web page may not trigger the translation notification in Chrome, or the translation icon might be absent in Safari. This could be due to various reasons like website settings or browser compatibility issues. Always ensure that your browser is updated to the latest version to access all the available features and ensure smooth functionality.
If you want to easily and seamlessly translate your entire website, a basic browser extension isn't going to cut it.
That's why (in most cases), we recommend relying on a user-friendly translation tool like Weglot, which lets you quickly and easily translate your entire website into your preferred languages.
Tools like Weglot make the process easier and more effective, offering both machine and human translation to ensure the nuanced accuracy that resonates with your target audience.
If you're seeking to cultivate a global presence and create a more inclusive, user-friendly experience, it’s time to put website translation on your strategic roadmap.
Choose a Weglot plan to get started today!
Here's why translating your website should be on your strategic roadmap: