Localization Services: How Do They Translate Right-to-Left Languages?

When a popular app translated its content and launched it in the Arab world, something felt off. Although all in-app content was in Arabic, customers found it difficult to navigate and use. The result: fewer downloads and loss of potential revenue from rich land. Soon, the app makers realized that their issue didn’t lie in the linguistic translation but in the lack of localization.

Word-for-word conversion isn’t enough while translating into right-to-left languages like Arabic, Hebrew, or Urdu. Adapting the entire user experience to fit the reading direction and script is equally essential. This is where expert localization services come in. These professionals not only translate the language but also adapt the design and cultural nuances to make the content “feel right” for the native users.

In this blog, we will explore how localization services tackle the unique challenges presented by right-to-left languages.

What Are Right-to-Left Languages?

First, let’s identify what these languages are and why they are so tricky to localize. As the name suggests, the language is written from the right-to-left direction—an uncommon feature of writing a language. However, several widely spoken right-to-left languages often require translation and localization services.

Some of these languages are:

• Arabic: Spoken by over 400 million people across the Middle East and North Africa.
• Farsi (Persian): Spoken by 100 million people in Afghanistan, Iran, and Tajikistan.
• Urdu: As the official language of Pakistan, it is spoken by over 100 million people globally.
• Hebrew: A native language of Israel, spoken by 9 million people.

RTL languages open doors to vast, culturally rich markets in the Middle East, North Africa, and Western Asia. Any business that aims to expand into these lands must partner with Middle East language translation services to gain higher returns.

Out of all the RTL languages we discussed above, Arabic stands out as one of the most prominently used languages, especially Modern Standard Arabic. Check out this blog to know more about this highly touted version of Arabic: Modern Standard Arabic: The Rising Language of the Middle East!

Challenges Faced by Localization Services with RTL Languages

Converting content from LTR to RTL isn’t as simple as switching the alignment of the text. It involves several levels of tweaking, which can give birth to some hurdles.

• Text Direction and Layout Mirroring

Most of the website and app’s UI/UX designs are created for LTR languages, majorly for English. A basic RTL language translation changes the entire layout, causing some problems, like:

• The menu dropdown buttons shift to the right side.
• Navigation bars go in the reverse direction.
• Scrollbars follow the opposite direction.

To tackle this, professional localization services employ skilled linguists who are trained to translate the content while mirroring the original layout.

• Font Compatibility and Ligatures

Many modern fonts used in websites do not support RTL scripts. Furthermore, the Arabic script contains ligatures, which means that combined or joined letters flow into one another and change the entire meaning of the word.

Let’s take this example of a ligature, which is difficult to translate.

The ligature “لا,” or Lam-Alif, consists of two different words, Lam (ل) and Alif (ا). When used for the phrase “I don’t know” or “لا أعرف”, Lam-Alif comes at the end as an individual word. However, for other words like “except” or “إلا”, Lam-Alif comes in front as a joined word.

These words are not just complicated to translate but also difficult to appropriately use on web pages. The same applies to Persian and Urdu with different characters and numerals.

• Numerals and Mixed Content

RTL languages generally use native Arabic-Indic numbers; however, in digital content, it is vital to use Western numbers. For linguists, it often becomes difficult to mix RTL and LTR content in the same sentence.

Without careful consideration,

• Phone numbers, email addresses, and URLs can appear jumbled.
• Sentence structures can break, affecting readability.
• Context becomes complicated to understand.

• Images and Icons

Even in RTL language localization, not every content needs to be flipped. Icons with directions, like arrows, must be reversed, but logos, product images, and other symbols often stay the same.

This is where cultural sensitivity during localization is important.

For LTR languages, certain rules must be followed:

• Avoid using left-pointing icons in Arabic website localization.
• Always use editable files for translation in place of text-based graphics.
• Ensure images used are culturally appropriate. (Certain hand gestures or dresses are deemed offensive in Arabic culture.)

• Document Formatting and Binding

An often-overlooked element of RTL language localization is that, in printed content like user manuals, the binding direction must also be on the right side. This is also important for e-learning translation services, as they need every element, like text flow and quiz interface, to follow RTL rules for smooth learning experiences.

Rely on Professional Localization Services

To sidestep these challenges, it is essential to rely on professional linguistic agencies for localization. Somya Translators, India’s leading translation and localization ISO 17100:2015 certified service, offers a global network of expert linguists and skilled translators.

By partnering with us, you will get:

• Professional Middle East language translation expertise.
• Curated and diverse solutions, like e-learning translation services.
• Localization in 170+ languages, including the RTL languages.
• Culturally relevant content translations.
• Stringent quality assurance steps.

From Arabic websites to Persian apps and Urdu brochures to Hebrew manuals, Somya Translators ensures your message flows perfectly—no matter which direction it is written in.

Contact us today to get a free quote and localize content correctly!