---
title: Translate Related Categories with WPML and Polylang
description: Translate the WooCommerce related categories heading and resolve manual relations across WPML and Polylang languages.
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/related-categories-multilingual-wpml-polylang/"
updated: "2026-09-27"
category: How to
---

# Translate Related Categories with WPML and Polylang

To translate related categories with WPML or Polylang in Related Categories for WooCommerce, use the [alg_wc_related_categories_translate] shortcode in the Header or Custom templates under Template Options at WPFactory > Related Categories. For manually related categories, set the Multi-language option on the Advanced sub-tab to WPML or Polylang.

### Translate the heading and labels

Use the `[alg_wc_related_categories_translate]` shortcode inside the **Header** or Custom templates to output text for the active language. Find the templates under **Template Options** at **WPFactory > Related Categories** (also reachable at **WooCommerce > Settings > Related Categories**).

Attribute form:

```
[alg_wc_related_categories_translate lang="DE" lang_text="Verwandte Kategorien" not_lang_text="Related categories"]
```

Wrapping form, combining two calls so each language gets its own text:

```
[alg_wc_related_categories_translate lang="DE"]Verwandte Kategorien[/alg_wc_related_categories_translate][alg_wc_related_categories_translate not_lang="DE"]Related categories[/alg_wc_related_categories_translate]
```

`lang` shows the text only for the listed languages; `not_lang` shows it for every language except those listed. Both accept a comma-separated list of language codes.

### Resolve manual relations to the default language

When you hand-pick related categories in Pro (Per category, Per tag, Per custom taxonomy or Per product), the categories are stored against the default-language product or term. So visitors on a translated page get the same relations, set the **Multi-language** option on the **Advanced** sub-tab.

| Label | Option ID | Choices | Default |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Multi-language | `alg_wc_related_categories_multi_language` | Disabled, WPML, Polylang | Disabled |

Set it to **WPML** or **Polylang** to match your translation plugin. It tells Related Categories to use the default-language product or term ID when reading the **Per category**, **Per tag**, **Per custom taxonomy** and **Per product** relations, so you assign categories once and they carry across languages.

### Get more control

The translation shortcode and multi-language handling are free. Hand-picked related categories (the relations this option maps across languages) are part of [Related Categories for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/related-categories-for-woocommerce/) Pro. [See what Pro unlocks](https://wpfactory.com/item/related-categories-for-woocommerce/).

Related articles

- [Display Related Categories with the Widget](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-related-categories-widget/)
- [Relate Options: How Related Categories Are Chosen](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-related-categories-relate-options/)
- [Archives Options: Related Categories on Shop and Category Pages](https://wpfactory.com/docs/improving-shop-archives/)
- [Single Product Page Options for Related Categories](https://wpfactory.com/docs/single-product-settings/)
- [Related Categories Shortcodes](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-related-categories-shortcodes/)