---
title: "Liquid filters: translate"
description: Returns a string of translated text for a given translation key from a [locale file](/themes/architecture/locales).
api_name: liquid
source_url:
  html: https://shopify.dev/docs/api/liquid/filters/translate
  md: https://shopify.dev/docs/api/liquid/filters/translate.md
---

# translate

```oobleck
string | t
```

returns [string](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/liquid/basics#string)

Returns a string of translated text for a given translation key from a [locale file](https://shopify.dev/themes/architecture/locales).

The `translate` filter has an alias of `t`, which is more commonly used.

***

Tip

To learn more about using the `t` filter, refer to [storefront locale file usage](https://shopify.dev/themes/architecture/locales/storefront-locale-files#usage) or [schema locale file usage](https://shopify.dev/themes/architecture/locales/schema-locale-files#usage).

***

### Section locales vs. theme locales

The `t` filter can also reference keys defined in the [`locales` object](https://shopify.dev/themes/architecture/sections/section-schema#locales) of section file's `schema` tag. Content that you put in the `schema` under the `locales` object is only accessible to that section. This is useful if you need to make a standalone section that you want to share between themes.

Content that is global to a theme should be placed in the theme's `locales` directory. For example, you could include the expression "See more" in your `locales` directory to create a single translation. You could then use the translation in a blog post and on the product details page.

***

Note

Translations in the section's `schema` tag that aren't part of the `locales` object are used for merchant-facing text shown in the theme editor. These translations don't use the `t` filter.

***