Building Multilingual Websites

In our connected world, reaching a global audience means supporting multiple languages. Here's how to build professional multilingual websites.

The Challenge

Building for multiple languages isn't just translation—it involves:

  • Managing content in different languages
  • Organizing URLs logically for each language
  • Switching between languages seamlessly
  • Ensuring consistent design across all languages

URL Structure Matters

The foundation of a multilingual site is its URL structure. We recommend language-prefixed URLs:

/en/     → English content
/de/     → German content
/pt/     → Portuguese content
/es/     → Spanish content

This approach is SEO-friendly and clearly indicates which language users are viewing.

Managing Translations

Organize translations in a structured data file:

{
  "en": {
    "nav": {
      "home": "Home",
      "blog": "Blog"
    }
  },
  "de": {
    "nav": {
      "home": "Startseite",
      "blog": "Blog"
    }
  }
}

Access in templates: ``

Content Organization

Keep content organized by language:

src/content/
├── en/
│   ├── pages/
│   └── blog/
├── de/
│   ├── pages/
│   └── blog/
├── pt/
│   └── ...
└── es/
    └── ...

Language Switcher

Add a language selector in your header so users can easily switch between language versions:

<select onchange="window.location.href = '/' + this.value + '/pages/'">
  <option value="en">English</option>
  <option value="de">Deutsch</option>
  <option value="pt">Português</option>
  <option value="es">Español</option>
</select>

Best Practices

  1. Consistent Structure: Keep the same page structure across all languages
  2. Default Language: Set a default language for root URL redirects
  3. Language Detection: Detect user's browser language and suggest appropriate version
  4. Translation Quality: Use native speakers for translations, not just automated translation
  5. Testing: Test all language versions thoroughly to ensure consistency

Conclusion

Building multilingual websites requires thoughtful planning, but the results are worth it. When done well, you create genuine connections with users worldwide.