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[Resolved] Use /uk/ for King's English

This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.

Problem:
The client is creating a new website using WordPress and wants to use WPML to manage different versions for the US and UK. They are concerned about the URL structure because the language code 'uk' is typically used for Ukrainian, and they want to use it for the UK version of their site.
Solution:
We recommend not altering the WPML languages table to change the Ukrainian language code to something else and then creating a custom language for 'uk'. This is because 'uk' as a language code for Ukraine is an international standard. You can use "en" or "en-gb" for Great Britain. For the US version, you should use the custom language code "en-us".
Using incorrect language codes can negatively impact SEO by causing incorrect targeting, poor user experience, duplicate content issues, and hreflang tag errors. To avoid these issues, ensure you use the correct language codes and implement hreflang tags properly. This will help search engines understand which version of your content to show based on language and location.
For more details on setting up custom languages, visit:
WPML Custom Languages Setup Guide
For information on country codes, refer to:
Country Codes Reference

If this solution does not apply to your case, or if it seems outdated, we highly recommend checking related known issues at WPML Known Issues, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have installed the latest versions of themes and plugins. If further assistance is needed, please open a new support ticket.

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This topic contains 1 reply, has 2 voices.

Last updated by Andreas W. 5 months ago.

Assisted by: Andreas W..

Author Posts
September 11, 2024 at 11:35 pm #16168362

jordanP-2

Background of the issue:
My client currently has two versions of their site: hidden link and hidden link. The site is built in the Ingeniux CMS and we're creating a new website in WordPress. We want to use WPML to create a US and UK version of the site.

Symptoms:
The issue is the URL structure. I believe the language code uk is already taken by Ukrainian.

Questions:
Is there any way I can get around the issue with the language code uk being taken by Ukrainian?
Is the language code what dictates the URL structure, or is there another setting I missed?
September 12, 2024 at 1:06 am #16168445

Andreas W.
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) German (Deutsch )

Timezone: America/Lima (GMT-05:00)

Hello,

It is not recommended, but you could alter the WPML languages tables inside the database, change the registered language code for Ukranian to something else and then create a custom language inside WPML for "uk".

WPML Guide:
https://wpml.org/documentation/getting-started-guide/language-setup/editing-wpmls-languages-table/#add-custom-languages

Anyhow, I can recommend doing that, as the "uk" language code for Ukraine is a international standard:
hidden link

For the USA you would usually create a custom language using:

en-US

Guide:
hidden link

Using the wrong language code in your website’s HTML can significantly impact your SEO, especially for international audiences.

Here are some key points to consider:

Incorrect Targeting:
If the language code is wrong, search engines might show your content to the wrong audience. For example, if you use en instead of es for a Spanish page, Spanish-speaking users might not find your content.

Poor User Experience:
Users who land on a page in a language they don’t understand are likely to leave quickly, increasing your bounce rate. This can negatively affect your site’s ranking

Duplicate Content Issues:
Incorrect language codes can lead to duplicate content problems. Search engines might index multiple versions of the same content, thinking they are different pages, which can dilute your SEO efforts.

Hreflang Tag Errors: Hreflang tags are used to specify the language and regional targeting of a webpage. Incorrect hreflang tags can confuse search engines, leading to improper indexing and ranking.

To avoid these issues, ensure that you use the correct language codes and implement hreflang tags properly. This will help search engines understand which version of your content to show to users based on their language and location, improving your international SEO performance.

Best regards
Andreas