Ghost CMS Localization: How to Change Publication Language & Multilanguage Setup (2025 Guide)

Ghost CMS is a powerful platform for creators, but one of the most common questions new users ask is:

• “How do I change the language in Ghost"
• “Does Ghost support multiple languages?”
• “Can I translate my Ghost blog?”

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Ghost CMS localization: how to set your publication language, what “localization” means in Ghost, and the best options for creating a multilingual site.

Why Localization Matters in Ghost CMS

When you set the publication language in Ghost, it affects how search engines and readers understand your site.

• SEO Benefits: Search engines know what language your content is in, which improves your rankings in local search results.
• Reader Experience: Visitors see the correct language code in your site’s metadata, which helps browsers and accessibility tools.
• Future-Proofing: If you want to expand into multiple languages later, starting with the correct publication setting makes everything smoother.

How to Change the Publication Language in Ghost

Changing your publication language in Ghost is simple:

1. Log in to your Ghost Admin dashboard.
2. Navigate to Settings → General.
3. Scroll down to the Publication Language section.
4. Enter the ISO language code (for example: en for English, es for Spanish, fr for French, de for German).
5. Save your changes.

Now your publication language is set, and Ghost will include this code in your site’s metadata.

Does Ghost Support Multilingual Ghost Websites?

Here’s the honest answer: Ghost does not have native multilingual support.
That means you can’t simply “add another language” with one click.

But there are still ways to build a multilingual Ghost publication:

• Subdirectories or Subdomains: Create example.com/en/ and example.com/es/ or use en.example.com and es.example.com.
• Multiple Ghost Installations: Run separate Ghost sites for each language and link them together.
• Custom Routing: Use Ghost routes.yaml to direct readers to different language versions.
• Third-Party Tools: Combine Ghost with services like Weglot or custom translation setups.

Here you can find more about Ghost routes and how to use them.

Ghost CMS Translate vs Localization

It’s important to know the difference:

• Localization: Setting your publication’s primary language (the lang attribute in HTML). This tells browsers and search engines the language of your site.
• Translation: Actually writing and publishing your content in multiple languages.

Ghost handles localization out of the box, but translation requires extra setup.

Best Practices for SEO in Multiple Languages

If you decide to run a multilingual Ghost blog:

• Use separate URLs for each language (/es/, /fr/).
• Add hreflang tags in your theme for proper indexing.
• Translate slugs, titles, and metadata, not just the body text.
• Keep your navigation clear, so readers can easily switch between languages.

This ensures search engines like Google and readers both understand your site structure.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion

Ghost CMS makes it easy to set your publication language for SEO and accessibility.

Getting your Ghost CMS localization right might feel like a small detail, but it has a significant impact. Setting the correct publication language improves SEO, helps search engines understand your site, and gives your readers a smoother experience.

When I first worked on localizing a Ghost blog, I underestimated how much the language setting mattered. It felt like a tiny technical tweak, but once I saw the improvements in search results and how readers interacted with the site, I realized it was a foundation worth getting right.

If you’re starting, take the few minutes to set your publication language now — your future self (and your international audience) will thank you.

At the end of the day, Ghost’s simplicity is its greatest strength. And while it doesn’t yet offer one-click translation, that same simplicity means you can customize and grow it in the direction that makes sense for you.