Multilingual website: how to make Russian, Uzbek and English versions

My website and blog run in Russian, Uzbek and English, so I know this topic from practice. A multilingual website is not a "translate" button, but a set of decisions: which languages, how the addresses work, who translates and how the versions stay consistent. Below - step by step.

Why does a website need several languages?

A language version is needed if your clients search and read in that language. It is easier for a person to leave an inquiry in their native language, and a website in the client's language shows that you are ready to work with them.

If you are not sure whether you need Uzbek specifically, I wrote about it separately - in the article Does Your Site Need an Uzbek Version.

Which languages should you choose?

Choose based on your clients, not on the principle "the more, the better." Look at which language clients use when they write to you, call you and ask questions. If you have few English-speaking clients, a short page may be enough instead of a full version of the website.

An extra language is not only translation, but also support: edits will have to be made in several places.

How should you set up the language versions?

Technically, language versions should have their own addresses - for example, a separate path for the English and Uzbek versions. Then you can send a client the link to the right version, and a person does not see Russian text if they came for English.

You will also need:

Language switcher - visible, in a clear place in the header.

Consistent design - versions differ in language, not in structure.

Remembered choice - if a person has chosen a language, the website does not reset it when they move between pages.

Who should translate the texts?

Machine translation is a good draft, but not a finished text. It mixes up terms, misses the tone and sounds unnatural to a native speaker.

A workable approach: a draft through AI or a translation service, and then proofreading by a person who knows the language well. More about AI-written texts - in the article Can You Write Website Copy With AI.

Latin or Cyrillic for the Uzbek version?

Uzbek is written in Latin as well as Cyrillic script, so the choice depends on your audience. Look at how your clients write in messages and how competitor websites are set up.

It is important to choose an option and stick to it across the website. Mixing Latin and Cyrillic on neighboring pages looks careless. My website uses Latin script.

What should you translate besides the main text?

Small elements are easy to forget, and they are exactly what gives away an unfinished version:

Page titles and descriptions - what you see in the tab name and when sharing a link.

Buttons and menus - including labels like "Send" and "Learn more."

Inquiry form - fields, hints and the message after sending.

Photo captions - and alt text for images.

How do you keep the versions consistent?

The main risk of a multilingual website is versions that live their own lives. The price was changed in the Russian version, while the Uzbek version still shows the old price.

Agree on a rule: an edit is not done until it has been made in the other languages too. If a contractor runs the website, it is worth including this in support - I wrote about it in the article Website support after launch: what it includes.

How much does a website in several languages cost?

A landing page - from $190, a multipage website - from $490, a complex project - on request. I build language versions into the structure from the start, so a language can be added later without rebuilding the website. The article Landing page or multipage website: what your business needs will help you choose the format.

If you want to understand which languages your website needs, write to me - I will look at your audience and suggest a structure.