Write your PHP code. Extract the strings from the file, using the %xgettext(1)% program. ]$ xgettext -a gettext_ex.php Create the appropriate subdirectories, and place your portable object files there. ]$ mkdir -p en/LC_MESSAGES/ ]$ mv messages.po en/LC_MESSAGES/ ]$ mkdir -p de/LC_MESSAGES/ ]$ cp en/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po de/LC_MESSAGES/messages.po Translate it! Now compile all of your translations with %msgfmt(1)% ]$ msgfmt messages.po -o messages.mo