1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
|
---
title: Multilingual Mode
linktitle: Multilingual and i18n
description: Hugo supports the creation of websites with multiple languages side by side.
date: 2017-01-10
publishdate: 2017-01-10
lastmod: 2017-01-10
categories: [content management]
keywords: [multilingual,i18n, internationalization]
menu:
docs:
parent: "content-management"
weight: 150
weight: 150 #rem
draft: false
aliases: [/content/multilingual/,/tutorials/create-a-multilingual-site/]
toc: true
---
You should define the available languages in a `languages` section in your site configuration.
> Also See [Hugo Multilingual Part 1: Content translation](https://regisphilibert.com/blog/2018/08/hugo-multilingual-part-1-managing-content-translation/)
## Configure Languages
The following is an example of a site configuration for a multilingual Hugo project:
{{< code-toggle file="config" >}}
DefaultContentLanguage = "en"
copyright = "Everything is mine"
[params]
[params.navigation]
help = "Help"
[languages]
[languages.en]
title = "My blog"
weight = 1
[languages.en.params]
linkedin = "https://linkedin.com/whoever"
[languages.fr]
title = "Mon blogue"
weight = 2
[languages.fr.params]
linkedin = "https://linkedin.com/fr/whoever"
[languages.fr.params.navigation]
help = "Aide"
[languages.ar]
title = "مدونتي"
weight = 2
languagedirection = "rtl"
{{< /code-toggle >}}
Anything not defined in a `languages` block will fall back to the global value for that key (e.g., `copyright` for the English `en` language). This also works for `params`, as demonstrated with `help` above: You will get the value `Aide` in French and `Help` in all the languages without this parameter set.
With the configuration above, all content, sitemap, RSS feeds, paginations,
and taxonomy pages will be rendered below `/` in English (your default content language) and then below `/fr` in French.
When working with front matter `Params` in [single page templates][singles], omit the `params` in the key for the translation.
`defaultContentLanguage` sets the project's default language. If not set, the default language will be `en`.
If the default language needs to be rendered below its own language code (`/en`) like the others, set `defaultContentLanguageInSubdir: true`.
Only the obvious non-global options can be overridden per language. Examples of global options are `baseURL`, `buildDrafts`, etc.
### Disable a Language
You can disable one or more languages. This can be useful when working on a new translation.
```toml
disableLanguages = ["fr", "ja"]
```
Note that you cannot disable the default content language.
We kept this as a standalone setting to make it easier to set via [OS environment](/getting-started/configuration/#configure-with-environment-variables):
```bash
HUGO_DISABLELANGUAGES="fr ja" hugo
```
If you have already a list of disabled languages in `config.toml`, you can enable them in development like this:
```bash
HUGO_DISABLELANGUAGES=" " hugo server
```
### Configure Multilingual Multihost
From **Hugo 0.31** we support multiple languages in a multihost configuration. See [this issue](https://github.com/gohugoio/hugo/issues/4027) for details.
This means that you can now configure a `baseURL` per `language`:
> If a `baseURL` is set on the `language` level, then all languages must have one and they must all be different.
Example:
{{< code-toggle file="config" >}}
[languages]
[languages.fr]
baseURL = "https://example.fr"
languageName = "Français"
weight = 1
title = "En Français"
[languages.en]
baseURL = "https://example.com"
languageName = "English"
weight = 2
title = "In English"
{{</ code-toggle >}}
With the above, the two sites will be generated into `public` with their own root:
```bash
public
├── en
└── fr
```
**All URLs (i.e `.Permalink` etc.) will be generated from that root. So the English home page above will have its `.Permalink` set to `https://example.com/`.**
When you run `hugo server` we will start multiple HTTP servers. You will typically see something like this in the console:
```bash
Web Server is available at 127.0.0.1:1313 (bind address 127.0.0.1)
Web Server is available at 127.0.0.1:1314 (bind address 127.0.0.1)
Press Ctrl+C to stop
```
Live reload and `--navigateToChanged` between the servers work as expected.
### Taxonomies and Blackfriday
Taxonomies and [Blackfriday configuration][config] can also be set per language:
{{< code-toggle file="config" >}}
[Taxonomies]
tag = "tags"
[blackfriday]
angledQuotes = true
hrefTargetBlank = true
[languages]
[languages.en]
weight = 1
title = "English"
[languages.en.blackfriday]
angledQuotes = false
[languages.fr]
weight = 2
title = "Français"
[languages.fr.Taxonomies]
plaque = "plaques"
{{</ code-toggle >}}
## Translate Your Content
There are two ways to manage your content translations. Both ensure each page is assigned a language and is linked to its counterpart translations.
### Translation by filename
Considering the following example:
1. `/content/about.en.md`
2. `/content/about.fr.md`
The first file is assigned the English language and is linked to the second.
The second file is assigned the French language and is linked to the first.
Their language is __assigned__ according to the language code added as a __suffix to the filename__.
By having the same **path and base filename**, the content pieces are __linked__ together as translated pages.
{{< note >}}
If a file has no language code, it will be assigned the default language.
{{</ note >}}
### Translation by content directory
This system uses different content directories for each of the languages. Each language's content directory is set using the `contentDir` param.
{{< code-toggle file="config" >}}
languages:
en:
weight: 10
languageName: "English"
contentDir: "content/english"
fr:
weight: 20
languageName: "Français"
contentDir: "content/french"
{{< /code-toggle >}}
The value of `contentDir` can be any valid path -- even absolute path references. The only restriction is that the content directories cannot overlap.
Considering the following example in conjunction with the configuration above:
1. `/content/english/about.md`
2. `/content/french/about.md`
The first file is assigned the English language and is linked to the second.
The second file is assigned the French language and is linked to the first.
Their language is __assigned__ according to the content directory they are __placed__ in.
By having the same **path and basename** (relative to their language content directory), the content pieces are __linked__ together as translated pages.
### Bypassing default linking.
Any pages sharing the same `translationKey` set in front matter will be linked as translated pages regardless of basename or location.
Considering the following example:
1. `/content/about-us.en.md`
2. `/content/om.nn.md`
3. `/content/presentation/a-propos.fr.md`
```yaml
# set in all three pages
translationKey: "about"
```
By setting the `translationKey` front matter param to `about` in all three pages, they will be __linked__ as translated pages.
### Localizing permalinks
Because paths and filenames are used to handle linking, all translated pages will share the same URL (apart from the language subdirectory).
To localize the URLs, the [`slug`]({{< ref "/content-management/organization/index.md#slug" >}}) or [`url`]({{< ref "/content-management/organization/index.md#url" >}}) front matter param can be set in any of the non-default language file.
For example, a French translation (`content/about.fr.md`) can have its own localized slug.
{{< code-toggle >}}
Title: A Propos
slug: "a-propos"
{{< /code-toggle >}}
At render, Hugo will build both `/about/` and `/fr/a-propos/` while maintaining their translation linking.
{{% note %}}
If using `url`, remember to include the language part as well: `/fr/compagnie/a-propos/`.
{{%/ note %}}
### Page Bundles
To avoid the burden of having to duplicate files, each Page Bundle inherits the resources of its linked translated pages' bundles except for the content files (markdown files, html files etc...).
Therefore, from within a template, the page will have access to the files from all linked pages' bundles.
If, across the linked bundles, two or more files share the same basename, only one will be included and chosen as follows:
* File from current language bundle, if present.
* First file found across bundles by order of language `Weight`.
{{% note %}}
Page Bundle resources follow the same language assignment logic as content files, both by filename (`image.jpg`, `image.fr.jpg`) and by directory (`english/about/header.jpg`, `french/about/header.jpg`).
{{%/ note %}}
## Reference the Translated Content
To create a list of links to translated content, use a template similar to the following:
{{< code file="layouts/partials/i18nlist.html" >}}
{{ if .IsTranslated }}
<h4>{{ i18n "translations" }}</h4>
<ul>
{{ range .Translations }}
<li>
<a href="{{ .Permalink }}">{{ .Lang }}: {{ .Title }}{{ if .IsPage }} ({{ i18n "wordCount" . }}){{ end }}</a>
</li>
{{ end }}
</ul>
{{ end }}
{{< /code >}}
The above can be put in a `partial` (i.e., inside `layouts/partials/`) and included in any template, whether a [single content page][contenttemplate] or the [homepage][]. It will not print anything if there are no translations for a given page.
The above also uses the [`i18n` function][i18func] described in the next section.
### List All Available Languages
`.AllTranslations` on a `Page` can be used to list all translations, including the page itself. On the home page it can be used to build a language navigator:
{{< code file="layouts/partials/allLanguages.html" >}}
<ul>
{{ range $.Site.Home.AllTranslations }}
<li><a href="{{ .Permalink }}">{{ .Language.LanguageName }}</a></li>
{{ end }}
</ul>
{{< /code >}}
## Translation of Strings
Hugo uses [go-i18n][] to support string translations. [See the project's source repository][go-i18n-source] to find tools that will help you manage your translation workflows.
Translations are collected from the `themes/<THEME>/i18n/` folder (built into the theme), as well as translations present in `i18n/` at the root of your project. In the `i18n`, the translations will be merged and take precedence over what is in the theme folder. Language files should be named according to [RFC 5646][] with names such as `en-US.toml`, `fr.toml`, etc.
{{% note %}}
From **Hugo 0.31** you no longer need to use a valid language code. It can be anything.
See https://github.com/gohugoio/hugo/issues/3564
{{% /note %}}
### Query basic translation
From within your templates, use the `i18n` function like this:
```
{{ i18n "home" }}
```
The function will search for the `"home"` id from `i18n/en-US.toml` file:
```
[home]
other = "Home"
```
The result will be
```
Home
```
### Query a flexible translation with variables
Often you will want to use to the page variables in the translations strings. To do that, pass on the `.` context when calling `i18n`:
```
{{ i18n "wordCount" . }}
```
The function will pass the `.` context to the `"wordCount"` id in `i18n/en-US.toml` file:
```
[wordCount]
other = "This article has {{ .WordCount }} words."
```
Assume `.WordCount` in the context has value is 101. The result will be:
```
This article has 101 words.
```
### Query a singular/plural translation
In order to meet singular/plural requirement, you must pass a dictionary (map) with a numeric `.Count` property to the `i18n` function. The below example uses `.ReadingTime` variable which has a built-in `.Count` property.
```
{{ i18n "readingTime" .ReadingTime }}
```
The function will read `.Count` from `.ReadingTime` and evaluate where the number is singular (`one`) or plural (`other`). After that, it will pass to `readingTime` id in `i18n/en-US.toml` file:
```
[readingTime]
one = "One minute to read"
other = "{{.Count}} minutes to read"
```
Assume `.ReadingTime.Count` in the context has value of 525600. The result will be:
```
525600 minutes to read
```
If `.ReadingTime.Count` in the context has value is 1. The result is:
```
One minutes to read
```
In case you need to pass custom data: (`(dict "Count" 25)` is minimum requirement)
```
{{ i18n "readingTime" (dict "Count" 25 "FirstArgument" true "SecondArgument" false "Etc" "so on, so far") }}
```
## Customize Dates
At the time of this writing, Go does not yet have support for internationalized locales for dates, but if you do some work, you can simulate it. For example, if you want to use French month names, you can add a data file like ``data/mois.yaml`` with this content:
~~~yaml
1: "janvier"
2: "février"
3: "mars"
4: "avril"
5: "mai"
6: "juin"
7: "juillet"
8: "août"
9: "septembre"
10: "octobre"
11: "novembre"
12: "décembre"
~~~
...then index the non-English date names in your templates like so:
~~~html
<time class="post-date" datetime="{{ .Date.Format '2006-01-02T15:04:05Z07:00' | safeHTML }}">
Article publié le {{ .Date.Day }} {{ index $.Site.Data.mois (printf "%d" .Date.Month) }} {{ .Date.Year }} (dernière modification le {{ .Lastmod.Day }} {{ index $.Site.Data.mois (printf "%d" .Lastmod.Month) }} {{ .Lastmod.Year }})
</time>
~~~
This technique extracts the day, month and year by specifying ``.Date.Day``, ``.Date.Month``, and ``.Date.Year``, and uses the month number as a key, when indexing the month name data file.
## Menus
You can define your menus for each language independently. Creating multilingual menus works just like [creating regular menus][menus], except they're defined in language-specific blocks in the configuration file:
```
defaultContentLanguage = "en"
[languages.en]
weight = 0
languageName = "English"
[[languages.en.menu.main]]
url = "/"
name = "Home"
weight = 0
[languages.de]
weight = 10
languageName = "Deutsch"
[[languages.de.menu.main]]
url = "/"
name = "Startseite"
weight = 0
```
The rendering of the main navigation works as usual. `.Site.Menus` will just contain the menu in the current language. Note that `absLangURL` below will link to the correct locale of your website. Without it, menu entries in all languages would link to the English version, since it's the default content language that resides in the root directory.
```
<ul>
{{- $currentPage := . -}}
{{ range .Site.Menus.main -}}
<li class="{{ if $currentPage.IsMenuCurrent "main" . }}active{{ end }}">
<a href="{{ .URL | absLangURL }}">{{ .Name }}</a>
</li>
{{- end }}
</ul>
```
## Missing Translations
If a string does not have a translation for the current language, Hugo will use the value from the default language. If no default value is set, an empty string will be shown.
While translating a Hugo website, it can be handy to have a visual indicator of missing translations. The [`enableMissingTranslationPlaceholders` configuration option][config] will flag all untranslated strings with the placeholder `[i18n] identifier`, where `identifier` is the id of the missing translation.
{{% note %}}
Hugo will generate your website with these missing translation placeholders. It might not be suitable for production environments.
{{% /note %}}
For merging of content from other languages (i.e. missing content translations), see [lang.Merge](/functions/lang.merge/).
To track down missing translation strings, run Hugo with the `--i18n-warnings` flag:
```
hugo --i18n-warnings | grep i18n
i18n|MISSING_TRANSLATION|en|wordCount
```
## Multilingual Themes support
To support Multilingual mode in your themes, some considerations must be taken for the URLs in the templates. If there is more than one language, URLs must meet the following criteria:
* Come from the built-in `.Permalink` or `.RelPermalink`
* Be constructed with the [`relLangURL` template function][rellangurl] or the [`absLangURL` template function][abslangurl] **OR** be prefixed with `{{ .LanguagePrefix }}`
If there is more than one language defined, the `LanguagePrefix` variable will equal `/en` (or whatever your `CurrentLanguage` is). If not enabled, it will be an empty string (and is therefore harmless for single-language Hugo websites).
[abslangurl]: /functions/abslangurl
[config]: /getting-started/configuration/
[contenttemplate]: /templates/single-page-templates/
[go-i18n-source]: https://github.com/nicksnyder/go-i18n
[go-i18n]: https://github.com/nicksnyder/go-i18n
[homepage]: /templates/homepage/
[i18func]: /functions/i18n/
[menus]: /content-management/menus/
[rellangurl]: /functions/rellangurl
[RFC 5646]: https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5646
[singles]: /templates/single-page-templates/
|