how to create multilingual WordPress site without plugin

Creating a multilingual WordPress site without relying on a plugin requires a systematic approach that ensures your content is accessible to a global audience. This multiphase process involves setting up language-specific subdirectories, localizing content manually, employing HTML lang attributes, and implementing a navigational structure that guides international visitors with ease.

Step 1: Planning Your Language Structure

Before diving into the technicalities, you must decide how you want to structure your website’s languages. The most common approach is using subdirectories for each language. For instance, your English content would be under example.com/en/, Spanish under example.com/es/, etc. This strategy benefits SEO by retaining the main domain authority across all languages and provides a clear site structure for both users and search engines.

Step 2: Localizing Content

The core of a multilingual site is localized content. Begin by deciding which pages, posts, and elements need translation. Prioritize key content that generates traffic and engagement. For accurate and culturally relevant translations, you might consider hiring professional translation services or fluent speakers, as automatic translations can be imprecise and lack local nuances.

Step 3: Modifying the WordPress Configuration

WordPress, by default, is not set up to handle multilingual content without a plugin. However, by tweaking some settings and manipulating your theme files, you can serve different languages:

1. WordPress Language Files: Ensure WordPress itself speaks your users’ languages. Download the necessary WordPress language packs through the dashboard under Settings > General > Site Language.

2. Multisite Setup: Consider using WordPress Multisite to manage each language version. Each site in your network can be set to a different language, providing full control over themes and specialized content per language.

Step 4: Using HTML Lang Attributes

Proper use of HTML lang attributes is crucial for SEO and accessibility. These tags tell browsers and search engines what language a webpage is using. Modify the HTML lang attribute dynamically based on the content being served:

function set_html_lang_attribute() {
    $lang = determine_page_language(); // Implement this function based on URL or other logic
    echo '';
}
add_action('wp_head', 'set_html_lang_attribute');

Step 5: Implement Language Switcher

Users need a straightforward way to switch between languages. You can create a simple language switcher manually by adding links to the language-specific versions of each page in a visible site location, such as the header or navigation menu:

    
English
    
Español

Style the switcher with CSS for better integration with your site’s design.

Step 6: Adjusting Permalinks and Slugs

Ensure your URLs are also localized for better user experience and SEO. Adjust the permalink structure in WordPress settings and include language-specific slugs for your content:

1. Go to Settings > Permalinks.
2. Opt for a URL structure that includes category base or post name which can be translated.
3. Manually adjust slugs per page or post to reflect the content’s language.

Step 7: SEO Considerations

For SEO optimization in multiple languages:

• Use hreflang tags to help Google understand the language and regional URLs for the same content. This tag can be added in the section of your HTML.
• Optimize SEO metadata and social media tags per language, adjusting titles, descriptions, and keywords to suit cultural and linguistic contexts.

Step 8: Maintain and Update Content

Lastly, running a multilingual site without plugins means vigilantly maintaining consistency across languages. Regularly update translations, check links between language versions, and ensure all multimedia elements like images and videos are culturally appropriate and properly translated.

By following these steps, you can successfully create a multilingual WordPress website tailored to your global audience’s needs without relying on plugins. This approach offers greater flexibility and control over your website’s multilingual SEO strategy, user experience, and overall content management.