Plural Form Handling
Correct plural forms generated automatically for every target language. Plural-Forms header and nplurals expression updated in the PO header.
Translate PO Files Online - Plurals, Context & Comments Preserved
Upload your .po file and get accurate translation in 100+ languages. Msgid, msgstr, plural forms, context, and comments - all preserved. Gettext compatible.
PO workflow
Translation example
A gettext .po catalogue, English to Spanish
A five-message catalogue written for this page. The msgid lines and file references are untouched, each msgstr is filled in, and the %(count)d placeholder survives.
Source
Result
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msgid, comments and file references untouched
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%(count)d placeholder kept in the translation
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Language header switched to the target language
2026-10-08 verified — Amanda Lee
PO features
Context & Comment Preservation
Message context (msgctxt), translator comments, extracted comments, and flags are preserved exactly as in the original catalog.
Lightning-Fast Results
Most PO files are translated in seconds. Cloud-based AI handles catalogs with thousands of strings and complex plural rules.
100+ Languages Supported
Translate PO files between 100+ languages including Spanish, French, German, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.
Why ForgeFile Is the Best PO Translator Online
Need to translate a PO file without losing plural forms, message context, or translator comments? ForgeFile is an AI-powered gettext PO translator that converts your localization catalogs into 100+ languages while preserving every msgid, msgstr, plural rule, msgctxt, and comment. Whether it's a WordPress plugin, a GNOME application, or a custom PHP project, your translated PO file compiles to MO and deploys without changes.
How ForgeFile Translates PO Files
Our translation engine understands the GNU gettext format natively. When you translate a PO file, ForgeFile:
- Parses all msgid/msgstr pairs, preserving message context (msgctxt) and translator comments
- Applies language-specific plural rules - generating the correct number of plural forms for each target language
- Protects printf-style placeholders (%s, %d, %1$s) and HTML markup within strings
The result is a valid PO file you can compile to MO and deploy directly - no manual editing of plural forms or placeholders needed.
Language-Aware Plural Form Handling
Plural rules vary dramatically across languages. ForgeFile handles them all:
- English/German (2 forms) → Russian/Polish (3 forms) → Arabic (6 forms)
- Plural-Forms header is updated automatically for the target language
- Each msgstr[N] entry is generated with the grammatically correct plural form
- Singular and plural source strings are both used as translation context
- nplurals and plural expression are set correctly in the PO header
Built for WordPress, PHP & Open-Source Projects
ForgeFile handles the PO files the open-source ecosystem relies on:
- WordPress Plugins & Themes - translate .po files for WP plugins and themes, ready for GlotPress or direct deployment
- PHP Frameworks - localize Laravel, Symfony, and CakePHP projects using gettext catalogs
- GNOME & Desktop Apps - translate GTK applications and GNOME desktop software
- Open-Source Projects - accelerate community translations by pre-translating PO/POT templates for contributors
Batch upload and API access are available for continuous localization pipelines. All files are encrypted in transit and at rest - fully GDPR-compliant.
Why Developers Choose ForgeFile for PO Translation
- Plural-Aware Translation - correct plural forms generated for every target language automatically
- Placeholder Protection - %s, %d, %1$s, and HTML markup preserved in every string
- 100+ Languages - including right-to-left scripts (Arabic, Hebrew) and CJK characters
- POT Support - translate from template files directly, no pre-processing needed
- No Software to Install - works entirely in your browser
The PO file format is documented in the GNU gettext manual.
How to Translate a PO File in 4 Steps
- 1
Upload Your PO or POT File
Drag and drop your .po or .pot file. We support gettext catalogs from WordPress, PHP frameworks, GNOME, and custom software projects.
- 2
Select Source & Target Language
Choose from 100+ languages. ForgeFile applies the correct plural rules and nplurals expression for your target language automatically.
- 3
Configure Translation Settings
Choose whether to translate only empty msgstr entries or all strings. Select whether to update the PO header metadata.
- 4
Download Your Translated PO File
Your translated PO file is ready in seconds. Compile to MO and deploy - all plurals, context, and comments are preserved.
PO Translation FAQ - Common Questions Answered
How do I translate a PO file online?
Upload your .po or .pot file to ForgeFile, select your target language, and click Translate. Our AI fills in msgstr entries while preserving all structure, plurals, and context - typically in seconds.
Are plural forms handled correctly?
Yes. ForgeFile generates the correct number of plural forms for each target language (e.g., 2 for English, 3 for Russian, 6 for Arabic) and updates the Plural-Forms header automatically.
Are printf placeholders preserved?
Absolutely. ForgeFile detects and protects %s, %d, %1$s, and other printf-style placeholders, as well as HTML markup within strings.
Can I translate a POT template file?
Yes. ForgeFile accepts both .po and .pot files. You can translate directly from a template file without creating a pre-filled PO file first.
Does it work with WordPress plugins and themes?
Yes. ForgeFile handles WordPress .po files natively. The output is compatible with GlotPress, Loco Translate, and direct deployment to wp-content/languages.
Can I translate only untranslated strings?
Yes. ForgeFile can selectively translate only empty msgstr entries, leaving already-translated strings untouched - perfect for incremental localization.
Is my PO file secure during translation?
Files are encrypted in transit and at rest. How long they are kept depends on your plan.
What is the difference between PO and XLIFF for localization?
PO (gettext) is the standard for PHP, WordPress, and GNU/Linux software. XLIFF is the industry standard for enterprise apps and TMS tools. ForgeFile handles both natively with full structure preservation.
Guides for this workflow
Ready to Translate Your Localization Catalog?
Upload your PO file and get gettext-compatible translated output in seconds. Plurals, context, and comments preserved, every time.