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How to Change the Language Name Displayed in Your TranslatePress Switcher

17 threads Sep 16, 2025 Plugin → Translate multilingual sites – translatepress

Content

One of the most common questions from users of the 'Translate Multilingual sites – TranslatePress' plugin is how to customize the language names shown in the language switcher. You might want to change "English (UK)" to just "English," display a language in its native form (e.g., "中文" instead of "ZH"), or even use a custom abbreviation like "УКР." This guide will walk you through the primary method for achieving this.

Why This Happens

The plugin pulls default language names and abbreviations from the WordPress language repository. These defaults often include regional identifiers (like "(UK)" or "de México") and use standardized short codes (like "EN" or "ES"). The "Native language name" setting is designed to override this, but a known bug in some plugin versions can cause this feature to stop working, displaying everything in English instead.

The Standard Solution: Using Custom Languages

The most reliable way to change a language's display name is by using the Custom Language feature. This allows you to redefine the name without affecting your existing translations.

  1. Navigate to your WordPress admin dashboard.
  2. Go to TranslatePress → Settings.
  3. Click on the Advanced tab.
  4. Scroll down to the Custom Languages section.
  5. Here, you will need to add a new custom language entry. Use the exact same ISO Language Code as the language you want to modify (e.g., en_GB for English UK, es_MX for Spanish Mexico, or zh_CN for Chinese).
  6. In the Language Name field, enter the name you want to be displayed when "Native language name" is disabled (e.g., "English").
  7. In the Native Name field, enter the name you want to be displayed when "Native language name" is enabled (e.g., "English" or "中文"). For short names, you must use the "Full Language Names" option in your switcher settings for this custom name to appear.
  8. Save your changes.

Important Note: If you are trying to change a shortcode (like changing "RU" to "РУС"), you must first set your language switcher to display "Full Language Names" in the General settings tab. Then, use the Custom Language feature to define a short, abbreviated name in the Native Name field.

What If the Custom Language Method Doesn't Work?

If you have followed the steps above and your language name still does not change, you may be experiencing a bug. Based on user reports, a known issue has affected the "Native language name" functionality in past versions of the plugin. The 'Translate Multilingual sites – TranslatePress' team has acknowledged this bug and typically works to resolve it in subsequent updates.

If you suspect a bug, ensure your plugin is updated to the latest version. If the problem persists after an update, it may be helpful to check the plugin's official changelog or community forums for any ongoing discussions about the issue.

Conclusion

For most users, the Custom Language feature provides a powerful way to tailor the language switcher to their site's design and linguistic needs. By carefully entering the correct language code and your desired names, you can successfully display "English," "Español," or any other custom label you choose.

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