# Internationalization Functions
URL: /bengal/docs/reference/template-functions/i18n-functions/
Section: template-functions
Description: Translation, language detection, and localized formatting
---
# Internationalization (i18n)
These functions support multilingual sites with translations, language detection, and localized formatting.
## t
Translate UI strings using translation files.
```kida
{# Basic translation #}
{{ t('nav.home') }}
{# With interpolation parameters #}
{{ t('content.minutes_read', {'minutes': page.reading_time}) }}
{# Force specific language #}
{{ t('nav.home', lang='fr') }}
```
**Parameters:**
- `key`: Dot-notation path to translation (e.g., `'nav.home'`, `'errors.404.title'`)
- `params`: Optional dictionary for string interpolation
- `lang`: Optional language code override
**Translation Files:**
Place translation files in `i18n/` directory:
```yaml
# i18n/en.yaml
nav:
home: "Home"
docs: "Documentation"
content:
minutes_read: "{minutes} min read"
```
```yaml
# i18n/fr.yaml
nav:
home: "Accueil"
docs: "Documentation"
content:
minutes_read: "{minutes} min de lecture"
```
## current_lang
Get the current page's language code.
```kida
{% if current_lang() == 'fr' %}
{# French-specific content #}
{% end %}
{# Use in conditional logic #}
{% let is_english = current_lang() == 'en' %}
```
**Returns:** Language code string (e.g., `"en"`, `"fr"`) or `None`
## languages
Get list of all configured languages.
```kida
{# Language switcher #}
```
**Returns:** List of language objects with:
- `code` — Language code (e.g., `"en"`)
- `name` — Display name (e.g., `"English"`)
- `hreflang` — SEO attribute value
- `weight` — Sort order
## alternate_links
Generate hreflang links for SEO.
```kida
{# In #}
{% for alt in alternate_links(page) %}
{% end %}
```
**Output:**
```html
```
**Returns:** List of dictionaries with:
- `hreflang` — Language code for SEO
- `href` — Full URL to alternate version
## locale_date
Format dates according to locale.
```kida
{# Format with current locale #}
{{ locale_date(page.date, 'medium') }}
{# → "Dec 19, 2025" (English) or "19 déc. 2025" (French) #}
{{ locale_date(page.date, 'long') }}
{# → "December 19, 2025" or "19 décembre 2025" #}
{# Force specific locale #}
{{ locale_date(page.date, 'medium', lang='fr') }}
```
**Parameters:**
- `date`: Date object or string
- `format`: Format style (`'short'`, `'medium'`, `'long'`)
- `lang`: Optional language code override
:::{tip}
For full locale date formatting, install Babel: `pip install babel`
:::
## i18n Configuration
Configure languages in your site config:
```yaml
# config/_default/i18n.yaml
i18n:
strategy: "prefix" # URL prefix strategy (/en/, /fr/)
default_language: "en"
default_in_subdir: false # Default lang at root
languages:
- code: "en"
name: "English"
weight: 1
- code: "fr"
name: "Français"
weight: 2
```
:::{seealso}
See [[docs/content/i18n|Multilingual Sites Guide]] for complete i18n setup.
:::