# Language Files (Locales)

### **What You’ll Learn**

* What locale files are and where they live in your theme
* How to customize text labels throughout your storefront
* How to add new languages and manage translations

***

### 🧩 What Are Locale Files?

Locale files control all the translatable text in your Shopify theme. These are stored as `.json` files inside your theme's `locales` folder. Each file represents one language (e.g., `en.default.json` for English).

You’ll see translations for things like:

* Button labels (e.g., “Add to Cart”)
* Section headings
* System messages (e.g., “No products found”)

***

### 📁 File Location in Your Theme

```plaintext
plain-jane-theme
  └── locales
        ├── en.default.json
        ├── fr.default.json
        └── es.default.json
```

Each file contains a set of **key-value pairs**, where the key is the identifier and the value is the translatable text.

Example:

```json
"products": {
  "product": {
    "add_to_cart": "Add to Cart"
  }
}
```

***

### ✏️ How to Edit Text Labels

1. From your **Shopify Admin**, go to **Online Store > Themes**
2. Click **Customize** next to your current theme
3. In the theme editor, click the **three-dot menu (⋯)** > **Edit default theme content**
4. Use the search bar to find any text you want to update (e.g., “Sold Out”)
5. Change the value and click **Save**

> 💡 This is the easiest way to rename buttons like “Buy Now” or “Learn More” without touching code.

***

### 🌍 Adding or Managing Multiple Languages

To offer your store in more than one language:

1. Go to **Settings > Languages** in your admin
2. Add the languages you want to support
3. Shopify will automatically generate the new `.json` locale files in your theme
4. You can then translate content using:
   * Shopify’s admin UI
   * Translation apps (like Weglot or Langify)
   * Manually editing the `.json` files (developer-level)

> ⚠️ Be sure to update metafields and custom content for each language too if you're using those.

***

### 🧠 Developer Notes

You can access locale strings in Liquid using the `t` filter:

```liquid
{{ 'products.product.add_to_cart' | t }}
```

If you’re building or extending a theme, structure your locale keys by section or context (e.g., `header`, `footer`, `cart`, etc.) to keep things organized.

### **Need Help?**

* 💬 **Join our community on Discord:** <https://discord.gg/hcc2GvgZc6>
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