Multi-language Setup

We support multiple languages with authentic cultural voices. Here's how it all works.

Current Languages

We currently support:

• English (default) - Hey there!
• Portuguese (Portugal) - Tá tudo?
• Italian - Bella!
• French - Salut!

Our Translation Philosophy

We don't do corporate translations. Each language should feel authentic and use real cultural expressions:

• Portuguese: "cenas bueda fixes", "tá a andar de mota", "malta da equipa"
• Italian: "roba figata", "che spacca", Roman casual expressions
• French: "des trucs de fou", "c'est ouf", "hyper vite"

Always use informal "you" (tu/tu/tu) not formal (vous/voi/vocês).

Adding a New Language

1. Update config.toml

Add your language to the config:

[languages.es]  # Spanish example
title = "Manual MeetBall (MeetBall Handbook)"

2. Create Homepage Translation

Create content/_index.es.md:

+++
title = "Manual MeetBall (MeetBall Handbook)"

[extra]
lead = '<b>¡Hola! Bienvenido a la base de conocimientos de MeetBall (MeetBall Handbook).</b> Todo lo que necesitas saber sobre nuestro equipo, procesos y cómo construimos cosas increíbles juntos.'
url = "/docs/getting-started/introduction/"
url_button = "Empezar"
repo_url = "https://github.com/thesummeet/handbook"
+++

3. Add Navigation

The menu structure is copied from the homepage front matter, so just translate the button labels.

Translation Workflow

1. Start with key pages: Homepage, getting started, FAQ
2. Use authentic expressions: Research how people actually talk in that language
3. Test locally: zola serve to see how it looks
4. Get native speaker review: Don't rely on Google Translate

File Structure

content/
├── _index.md          # English (default)
├── _index.pt.md       # Portuguese  
├── _index.it.md       # Italian
├── _index.fr.md       # French
├── _index.es.md       # Your new language
└── docs/
    ├── page.md        # English version
    └── page.es.md     # Translated version

Language-Specific Examples

Portuguese (Portugal)

• Greeting: "Tá tudo?" (very casual)
• Cool stuff: "cenas bueda fixes"
• Team: "malta da equipa"
• Done: "tá feito", "tá a andar de mota"

Italian (Roman style)

• Greeting: "Bella!"
• Cool stuff: "roba figata"
• Awesome: "spacca"
• Fast: "in un lampo"

French (casual)

• Greeting: "Salut!"
• Cool stuff: "des trucs de fou"
• Fast: "hyper vite", "en deux secondes"

Translation Tips

• Research slang: Look up how young people actually talk
• Avoid formal language: We're friends here, not a corporation
• Keep MeetBall branding: Always include "(MeetBall Handbook)" after translated titles
• Test on mobile: Check how longer translations look on small screens
• Ask for feedback: Get native speakers to review before publishing

URL Structure

Zola automatically creates language-specific URLs:

• English: handbook.meetball.fun/docs/guide/
• Spanish: handbook.meetball.fun/es/docs/guide/
• Portuguese: handbook.meetball.fun/pt/docs/guide/

Not Sure About Something?

Just ask! We'd rather have authentic translations than perfect grammar. The goal is to make people feel welcome in their own language 🌍