Set the site language#
Open Settings > General > Site Language and choose the locale required by the site. WordPress can download available language packs for WordPress, themes, and plugins. When more than one WordPress language is installed, the Language field under Users > Profile can set that user's dashboard language without changing the public Site Language.
Changing Site Language loads available WordPress, theme, and plugin interface translations. It does not automatically translate Elementor pages, posts, products, menus, or other customer-authored content, and it does not create a multilingual site.
Translate the DentalCare theme target#
The DentalCare theme uses the dental-care text domain and loads it from its languages directory. A POT file is a source template, not the finished translation. A PO file contains the editable translations and an MO file is the compiled runtime translation file.
| Target | Text domain | Standard WordPress location | Update behavior |
|---|---|---|---|
| DentalCare theme | dental-care | Runtime file: wp-content/languages/themes/dentalcare-{locale}.mo. The editable PO may use the corresponding dentalcare-{locale}.po filename. | Outside the DentalCare parent theme, so it survives normal parent-theme replacement. WordPress-managed translation or language-pack operations can modify files under wp-content/languages. |
| DentalCare CPT | dental-care | A complete standalone custom-file location is not established for this companion-plugin package. | Do not use the theme location for plugin strings; contact Stronghold Themes when an extension-owned frontend string remains untranslated. |
| Other repository plugins | The plugin's declared domain | wp-content/languages/plugins/{text-domain}-{locale}.mo where that plugin's loader and documented workflow support the WordPress plugin language directory. The editable PO may use the corresponding filename. | Plugin directories are replaceable, and WordPress-managed language operations can modify this location. Do not describe it as universally update-safe. |
The MO file is the runtime translation file. Keep separate backups of the PO and MO files. The WordPress language locations are outside replaceable theme and plugin directories, but they are not universally update-safe because WordPress-managed translation or language-pack operations can modify them.
Preserve placeholders and plural forms#
Keep visible placeholders such as %s, %d, and numbered forms such as %1$s in the translated sentence. Preserve required links, HTML structure, escaped characters, and line breaks. Translate singular and plural forms separately, and use a context description when the same source word has different meanings.
Know the support boundary#
DentalCare includes wpml-config.xml, which provides theme-level configuration for WPML. This configuration is not a blanket compatibility guarantee for every theme feature, companion plugin, or site-specific multilingual workflow. Follow WPML's current setup guidance and test the complete site on staging. DentalCare does not include an officially documented Polylang integration. DentalCare includes RTL-related styling, but complete RTL behavior has not been certified across all theme layouts. See Troubleshoot DentalCare translations when a string remains unchanged.
Expected result#
Supported theme and established plugin targets provide the expected interface translations, while pages, templates, forms, records, menus, and products are translated through their owning content or multilingual workflow without losing placeholders. DentalCare CPT remains subject to its documented translation limitation.
Related articles
How to translate DentalCare with Poedit
Use Poedit to create a DentalCare theme translation from its source template, preserve placeholders, save the correct locale files, and verify the result without placing custom files in the theme folder.
How to translate DentalCare with Loco Translate
Use Loco Translate's optional Custom location for theme strings, and keep its files and workflow separate from authored content.
How to update DentalCare safely
Use the bundled Envato Market plugin for ThemeForest or Envato builds when available, or use the update method supplied with your DentalCare package. Keep code-level customizations in a child theme or custom plugin.