How do I make my site multilingual?
Install the languages, turn on the Language Filter plugin, create a home page per language, and add the Language Switcher module.
How Joomla does it
Joomla handles several languages in the core. Each article, menu and module gets a language, a filter plugin picks the right ones for the visitor, and associations link translations so the language switcher goes to the same page in the other language.
Steps
- Install the languages: System → Install Languages.
- Publish them as content languages: System → Manage → Content Languages.
- Enable the System - Language Filter plugin (and System - Language Code if you want).
- Create one menu per language, each with its own home page (Default Page: Yes, language set). Set the original home page to language All.
- Publish a Language Switcher module.
- Create the content in each language and link translations in the Associations tab of each article, category and menu item.
Good to know
- Fastest start: with at least two languages installed, use Multilingual Sample Data on the Home Dashboard on a fresh site.
- Custom fields and language overrides can be translated too.
Sources
- Setup a Multilingual Site – Joomla User Guide
- Multilingual Associations – Joomla User Guide
