Adding Luxembourgish to a website should be straightforward. Choose the language, add your translated content and let visitors browse in the language they prefer.
On Santa.lu, we got stuck at the first step. WPML, the WordPress plugin used to manage multiple languages, couldn’t find Luxembourgish. When we tried to add it manually, it said the language was already supported.
So why couldn’t we select it?
The language was there, but hidden from the list
Luxembourgish was already working on CloudHosting.lu. Comparing the two sites helped us find the difference: Santa’s saved language settings were preventing Luxembourgish from appearing in the selection list.
WPML recognised the language, but didn’t offer it as an option. That explains the two contradictory messages.
We corrected the affected settings, then added Luxembourgish through WPML’s normal language screen. After saving and reopening the settings, Luxembourgish was still active. The site’s existing languages stayed in place.
What this means for your website
If you run a WordPress website in Luxembourg, you may want visitors to choose between Luxembourgish, French, German and English. A missing option in the language list doesn’t necessarily mean the language can’t be used.
In our case, the issue was in the plugin’s saved settings. Moving the website to another server wasn’t needed to resolve it.
If you see the same problem, tell whoever looks after your website exactly what happens: Luxembourgish is missing from search, but adding it manually produces an “already supported” message. That’s a useful starting point for checking whether your site has the same issue.
Adding a language is only the first step
Activating Luxembourgish makes it available on the website. It doesn’t translate your pages or menus for you.
The next step is to write or translate that content, check that it sounds natural, and make sure visitors can switch languages easily. A translation should read as though it was written for the person using it.
Need a hand with a multilingual WordPress site?
You shouldn’t have to understand how a plugin stores its settings to add a language to your website. If Luxembourgish is missing from your language options, get in touch with CloudHosting.lu. We can help you work out what’s happening and what needs to change.
