Help Us Translate TYPO3’s Backend Into Your Language

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Photo: Lara Jameson / Pexels
Using software in your native language often makes a huge difference in feeling at home with what you're doing. TYPO3’s backend is no different. With the help of Crowdin, a cloud-based localization technology, all TYPO3 backend labels can be translated into any language.

Using the TYPO3 backend in your own language makes editing content much easier, especially for new editors or casual users. After all, not everyone is fluent in English or understands all the technical terms used.

The Translation Workflow

For the last five years, TYPO3 has been using Crowdin, a software-as-a-service solution for the translation of all texts in the TYPO3 backend. The TYPO3 Core developers only have to take care of the English texts, which are stored in XLIFF files. These are then automatically transferred to Crowdin. The translation is then crowdsourced. Anyone can contribute to the translation. The only requirement is a free account on Crowdin. Once the translation has been approved by the reviewers, the translated XLIFF files are made available on localize.typo3.org. TYPO3 installations can then download the desired translations from there. It is also possible to provide editors with several different languages. This is especially useful in environments with many different editors and languages.

The TYPO3 Localization Team takes care of the technical infrastructure and coordinates all translation and proofreading efforts.

Some numbers: the TYPO3 Crowdin project currently has more than 70,000 words to translate and 250 members.

100% Challenge Until the Launch of TYPO3 v13 in October 2024

In October 2024 the next major TYPO3 version, 13.4, will be released. By then we want to have the TYPO3 backend translated into as many languages as possible (at least the main branch). To reach this goal we need YOUR help. Please contribute translations and ask your colleagues and friends to help with translations. With the help of many people, this huge task can be spread on many shoulders. Everyone can help, really!

Do you miss your language in Crowdin? Please drop us a note! See the help section for details.

By the way, last year Abdulhamid Kwieder received the prestigious Personality of the Year Award in recognition of his monumental contribution to the TYPO3 community for translating the entire TYPO3 Core into Arabic.

How To Contribute to Translations

At the time of writing, the TYPO3 Crowdin project is configured for more than 40 languages, eight of which are fully or almost fully translated. But for all the other languages we need your help! You don't need any technical skills! You just need to use a web interface and suggest translations. And it doesn't matter how much time you have. Just pick a file and start translating. If you can spare a few minutes a day or a few minutes a week, it really makes a difference and helps us get more translations done.

To help you get started, we have created a short tutorial video for you:

Summary:

  1. Create an account on Crowdin
  2. Either find the TYPO3 project or go directly to TYPO3 Core.
  3. Join the project
  4. Choose your preferred language
  5. Start translating

If you are very fluent in your language, contact us to be promoted to the role of proofreader.

Another way you can help is if you find a translation error in your daily work with the TYPO3 backend. Just go to Crowdin and suggest a better translation!

Get Help

The whole translation process is well documented on docs.typo3.org.

If you have any questions, please join the TYPO3 Slack channel #typo3-translations. The TYPO3 Localization Team is looking forward to exchanging ideas with you! Or send an email to localization(at)typo3.org.

Crowdin Is Also Available for Your Public Extensions

If you offer an extension in the TYPO3 extension repository or on GitHub or other public code repositories, you can also use the Crowdin infrastructure for your extension free of charge. The steps required for this are listed in our documentation.

Thank You!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Crowdin for providing their infrastructure for open source projects like TYPO3 for free!

And of course we would also like to thank Tom Warwick for creating the tutorial video! Thank you very much for your commitment, Tom!