Translations and right-to-left languages

Chisel comes with English wording and with translated wording for about 40 languages. This guide explains how to change the wording the theme shows, such as replacing "tax" with "VAT", how to add a language, and how the theme handles right-to-left languages.

What the theme includes

• English (the default language) text for every storefront string.
• Translated text for about 40 languages, such as German, French, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese and Chinese. The theme uses the translation for a language once you add that language in Shopify.
• Check the translated wording on your own store before you publish, because you may want to change a word for your customers.
• The theme sets the page direction automatically. It switches to right-to-left layout for these languages: Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Urdu, Pashto, Sindhi, Uyghur, Yiddish, Dhivehi and Central Kurdish.

1. Change a word in the theme text

Use this route to change wording, such as the tax words, without touching code.

1. In the Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Themes.
2. On the Chisel theme, select Actions, then Edit default theme content.
3. Use the search box to find a word. For example, search for "tax".
4. Change the text in the field. For example, replace "inc. tax" with "inc. VAT".
5. Select Save.
6. Open the storefront and check the page where the text appears.

The tax words appear in several places. Search for each one and change it in each place:

• The word on product prices, for example "inc. tax" and "ex. tax".
• The cart label, for example "Tax" in the cart summary.
• The "Taxes included" note under prices and in the cart.
• The tax words in the header tax switch.

Change only the words. Keep the placeholders inside the text, such as the word or number in brackets or in curly braces. These are filled in by the theme. Removing them can break a sentence.

2. Add a language

1. In the Shopify admin, go to Settings > Languages.
2. Add the language you want to offer.
3. If the theme has no translation for that language, translate the storefront text, for example with Shopify's translation tools, or with a translation app from the Shopify App Store.
4. Turn on the language in the storefront.
5. Turn on the Show language selector setting in the header if you want shoppers to switch languages. The setting is in the header section of the theme editor.

Translate each language separately, so that the wording is right for each one.

3. Use a right-to-left language

When a right-to-left language is active, the theme:

• Sets the page direction to right-to-left.
• Flips the arrow icons in the pagination, so the arrows point the right way.

Check the following on a right-to-left store:

1. Open the home page and each main template: collection, product, cart and the search results page.
2. Check that the header menu, the index panel and the cart drawer read in the right order.
3. Check the prices, the product codes and the stock lines. These mix numbers and Latin letters with the surrounding text, so read each one on the page.

If a part of the layout does not look right, note the page and the section. That information helps when you ask for support. See the support guide.

4. Test before you publish

1. Open the store with each language on a computer and on a phone.
2. Check that no text is cut off in the buttons, the menu or the product cards.
3. Check that the language selector shows the right names.
4. Check that the tax words and the cart text read correctly.

Settings used

• Show country selector and Show language selector (Header section): show the selectors in the header.
• Text is changed in Edit default theme content in the Shopify admin, not in the theme settings.