How to Build a Multilingual WordPress Website (Step-by-Step Guide)

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Expanding your WordPress website into multiple languages is a smart way to connect with a global audience. Whether you’re targeting new regions or improving accessibility, a multilingual site can open doors to wider reach and engagement.

The good news? You don’t need to be a developer or language expert to make it happen. In this guide, we’ll walk you through creating a multilingual site using TranslatePress, a powerful WordPress plugin that supports both manual and automatic translations.

🧠 What Does a Multilingual Site Do?

A multilingual website presents content in more than one language. Users can switch between versions to view the site in their preferred language—improving user experience and trust.

You’ll need to translate:

• Page content
• Product info (if using WooCommerce)
• Metadata (SEO titles and descriptions)
• Menus, image captions, and more

There are two translation methods:

• Manual Translation – You or a hired translator enter text manually for each language.
• Automatic Translation – Tools like Google Translate or DeepL generate translations for you.

Each approach has its pros and cons:

🔧 How to Create a Multilingual WordPress Site with TranslatePress

🔌 Step 1: Install and Activate TranslatePress

1. From your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New
2. Search for TranslatePress

1. Click Install Now, then Activate

Once activated, find the settings under Settings → TranslatePress.

🌐 Step 2: Select Your Target Language

Under the General tab:

• Keep your site’s default language (e.g., English)
• Choose the second language you’d like to add (e.g., Spanish)

🆓 The free version lets you add one additional language. To add more, you’ll need to upgrade.

You can also set locale preferences (e.g., Spanish – Mexico vs. Spanish – Spain).

Click Save Changes when done.

⚙️ Step 3: (Optional) Enable Automatic Translation

To automate the process:

1. Head to the Automatic Translation tab
2. Enable the feature via dropdown
3. Choose your engine (Google Translate or DeepL)

For Google Translate, you’ll need a valid API key from your Google Cloud Console. TranslatePress provides clear instructions to guide you through setup.

If you’re on the Pro version, you can:

• Use DeepL for more accurate results
• Translate SEO slugs, page URLs, and more
• Limit daily translated characters to manage cost

🎌 Step 4: Set Up the Language Switcher

By default, TranslatePress adds a floating switcher to the bottom-right corner of your website. But you can fully customize this!

Navigate to:

Settings → TranslatePress → General tab → Language Switcher section

Options include:

• Display flags only, names only, or both
• Choose short (EN, ES) or full names (English, Español)
• Set position: menu, widget, footer, or floating

To manually place the switcher, you can also use:

[language-switcher]

Or use the Language Switcher block in the Gutenberg editor.

✍️ Step 5: Start Translating Your Content

Now the fun begins!

1. Visit any page on your site
2. In the admin top bar, click Translate Page

You’ll be taken to a live preview editor. From there:

• Select your target language in the dropdown
• Click on any visible element on the page
• Add the translated version manually in the field provided
• Hit Save to apply your change

If automatic translation is enabled, the fields may already be pre-filled for you—review and edit as needed.

You can translate:

• Page titles and paragraphs
• Menu items and buttons
• Image alt texts and captions
• Post metadata (with the SEO Pack add-on)

Repeat the process for each page or post. Want to translate blog articles? Open the post, click Translate Page, and go through the same steps.

💼 Bonus: SEO Translation (With Pro Version)

To fully optimize your site for multilingual SEO:

• Enable the SEO Pack add-on (Pro users only)
• Translate SEO titles, meta descriptions, and URLs
• Improve visibility in international search results

🚀 Ready to Go Multilingual?

Creating a WordPress multilingual site is easier than ever. Whether you translate manually or use tools like Google Translate or ChatGPT, plugins like TranslatePress make it simple and visual.

📝 Recap:

• Install TranslatePress
• Select your additional language(s)
• Enable automatic translation (optional)
• Customize the language switcher
• Translate your site’s content using the visual editor

Want more options? Explore our [top translation plugin comparison guide] for alternatives to TranslatePress.

❓Need Help?

Have questions about multilingual WordPress setups? Drop them in the comments, and we’ll be happy to assist.