> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://uxsmart.gitbook.io/velare/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://uxsmart.gitbook.io/velare/help-and-faqs/theme-translation.md).

# How do I translate my theme into another language?

### What you are seeing <a href="#what-you-are-seeing" id="what-you-are-seeing"></a>

Your products are in your own language, but the store's own wording is not: buttons such as *Add to cart*, the cart drawer labels, the search box and the footer links are all still in English. Or you sell to more than one country and want each visitor to read the store in their own language.

Theme text is separate content from your products, so it has to be translated on its own. There are two setups, depending on whether you need one language or several.

## 1. Single language <a href="#single-language" id="single-language"></a>

Use this when your whole store is sold in one language that is not English.

### Step 1: Set your published language <a href="#step-1-published-language" id="step-1-published-language"></a>

{% hint style="success" %}
**Steps:**

1. Go to **Settings > Languages**.
2. Click **Change default**.
3. Select the language your store is sold in.
   {% endhint %}

*Result:* your storefront is now served in that language, even though the theme text has not been translated yet.

### Step 2: Open the theme content editor <a href="#step-2-theme-content" id="step-2-theme-content"></a>

{% hint style="success" %}
**Steps:**

1. Go to **Online Store > Themes**.
2. On your current theme, click **Edit default theme content**.
   {% endhint %}

*Result:* you get the full list of theme text, grouped by where it appears in the store.

### Step 3: Translate the wording you care about <a href="#step-3-translate" id="step-3-translate"></a>

{% hint style="success" %}
**Steps:**

1. Find the string you want to change, for example the **Subscribe** button label.
2. Type the translated wording in the field next to it.
3. Click **Save**.
   {% endhint %}

*Result:* the new wording appears on your storefront immediately. You can translate everything, or only the strings customers actually read.

{% hint style="info" %}
Work through the checkout path first: product page buttons, cart drawer, and anything with a price next to it. Those are the strings that cost you orders when they are in the wrong language.
{% endhint %}

## 2. Multi-language <a href="#multi-language" id="multi-language"></a>

Use this when you sell into several countries and want each visitor served in their own language.

{% hint style="info" %}
Before you start, you need:

* The [**Geolocation**](https://apps.shopify.com/geolocation) app by Shopify, which shows visitors a language and country selector.
* The [**Translate & Adapt**](https://apps.shopify.com/translate-and-adapt) app by Shopify, which does the translating.
* Vélare theme is compatible with selling in multiple languages.
  {% endhint %}

### Step 1: Install the two apps <a href="#step-1-install-apps" id="step-1-install-apps"></a>

{% hint style="success" %}
**Steps:**

1. Install the [**Geolocation**](https://apps.shopify.com/geolocation) app by Shopify.
2. Install the [**Translate & Adapt**](https://apps.shopify.com/translate-and-adapt) app by Shopify.
   {% endhint %}

*Result:* both apps appear under **Apps** in your Shopify admin.

### Step 2: Add a market <a href="#step-2-add-market" id="step-2-add-market"></a>

{% hint style="success" %}
**Steps:**

1. Go to **Settings > Markets**.
2. Click **Add market**.
3. Name the market and pick the countries it covers.
   {% endhint %}

*Result:* the market exists but has no extra language attached to it yet.

### Step 3: Add the language <a href="#step-3-add-language" id="step-3-add-language"></a>

{% hint style="success" %}
**Steps:**

1. Go to **Settings > Languages**.
2. Click **Add a language** and pick the new language.
3. Click **Publish** so the language can be served to visitors.
   {% endhint %}

*Result:* the language is live, but not yet tied to your new market.

### Step 4: Attach the language to the market <a href="#step-4-attach-language" id="step-4-attach-language"></a>

{% hint style="success" %}
**Steps:**

1. Go to **Settings > Markets**.
2. Click **Manage** on the market you want, then open **Domains and languages**.
3. Tick the language you have just added.
4. Save, then click to install **Translate & Adapt** if you are prompted.
   {% endhint %}

*Result:* visitors in that market can now switch to the new language.

### Step 5: Auto translate the theme <a href="#step-5-auto-translate" id="step-5-auto-translate"></a>

{% hint style="success" %}
**Steps:**

1. Open the **Translate & Adapt** app.
2. Select the language you added.
3. Click **Auto-translate**.
   {% endhint %}

*Result:* the app translates your theme text. It can take around ten minutes. When it finishes, open your storefront and switch language to check the result.

### When to contact support <a href="#when-to-contact-support" id="when-to-contact-support"></a>

Contact support if translated wording breaks the layout, for example text that overflows a button or a menu item that wraps onto two lines, or if a piece of theme text has no field to translate anywhere in **Edit default theme content**. Translation accuracy itself comes from Shopify's app, not from the theme.

Send this with your first message:

* Your store URL, and the URL of a page showing the problem in the translated language.
* Which language and which market the visitor is in.
* A screenshot with the problem circled.
* Theme name and version: **Vélare 1.0.0**, shown under the theme name in **Online Store > Themes**.
* A [staff account](/velare/help-and-faqs/staff-account.md) for the support team.

### Related pages <a href="#related-pages" id="related-pages"></a>

* [How to translate a theme after adding a new default language?](/velare/help-and-faqs/how-to-translate-a-theme-after-adding-a-new-default-language.md): what to do when the auto translation refuses to run
* [Change currency](/velare/help-and-faqs/change-currency.md): setting the currency for each market
* [Staff account](/velare/help-and-faqs/staff-account.md): how to give the support team access to your store


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://uxsmart.gitbook.io/velare/help-and-faqs/theme-translation.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.