Site languages and the main language

Documentation / Languages and translations

The site's main language identifies its source content and default public language. Secondary languages identify additional content versions. This configuration is separate from the language used for CMS menus and buttons.

Review the language configuration

Open the site's Languages settings. Main Language identifies the source language, and the secondary-language area lists additional configured languages. The native picker offers a defined set of language codes rather than an unrestricted locale editor.

Language configuration changes save automatically after a short delay. Wait for the save result before leaving, then reload to confirm the persisted configuration. A visible language selection is not sufficient evidence if the settings request failed.

Understand what the setting changes

The main-language public address normally has no language prefix. Secondary-language addresses include their language code, with localized page and collection slugs where configured. Translations share the source page identity rather than becoming unrelated pages.

Choosing a language does not create translations. It also does not translate navigation copy, legal content, images containing text, or third-party widgets by itself. Each surface needs its own review.

Treat a change of main language on an established site as a content and URL change requiring careful planning. The verified language screen saves configuration; it is not evidence of an automatic migration of every source page, translation, and external link.

Validate the public result

Open the main-language homepage and an existing secondary-language page. Check their addresses, navigation labels, and language-selector destinations. Confirm that page counts correspond to actual translated pages.

See Getting started, Pages and navigation, and Search visibility and sharing for related launch checks.