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Create one email in several languages and send it to your whole list. This article covers how to set up your languages, add translations, and what recipients receive.

Two Ways to Deliver Multi-Language Emails

ContactMonkey delivers multi-language emails in one of two ways. Your organization uses one or the other, not both.

To check which one you have: Click Actions beside any multi-language email, then click Edit Settings. If you see Default language, your organization uses Preferred Language Delivery. If you see Languages order and shortcuts, your organization sends all languages in one email.

To switch to Preferred Language Delivery, email support@contactmonkey.com or contact your Customer Success Manager.

Before You Start

• An admin must turn on multi-language emails in Settings. See Multi-Language Emails: Setup and Overview.
• Have translations ready for each language, or use Auto-Translation (Grow and Enterprise).
• For Preferred Language Delivery, your recipients need a preferred language. See How ContactMonkey Picks Each Recipient's Language.

Step 1: Create Your Email and Choose Your Languages

1. Click Emails at the top of your dashboard.
2. Click Create New Email.
3. Choose a template, upload a JSON file, or select Create from Scratch.
4. Toggle on Multi-Language email.
5. In Email languages, select each language. The first language you select is your primary language, the one you build first and translate from.
6. Complete the setting below Email languages:
   • Default language (Preferred Language Delivery): Choose the version for recipients whose preferred language is unknown or isn't in this email. It starts on the first language you selected.
   • Languages order and shortcuts (all languages in one email): Drag the languages into the order recipients will see them. Edit the shortcut text for each language if needed, for example "Read this email in Spanish". The preview below shows how the email will look.
7. Click Create.

Step 2: Build Your Primary Language

Build the full email in your primary language first. Include the subject line, preheader, text, images and alt text, buttons, links, and any surveys or RSVP events.

Step 3: Add Your Other Languages

1. Click the language drop-down at the top of the Email Builder.
2. Select the next language.
3. Paste the translated content into each content block, or click the world icon (🌐) and then Translate to auto-translate.
4. Update button labels and image alt text.
5. With Preferred Language Delivery, translate the subject line and preheader too.
6. Repeat for each language.

Step 4: Preview and Test

1. Switch between the languages in the drop-down to check each version.
2. Send a test email to yourself.
3. Check that all links, buttons, and surveys work in each language.

Step 5: Send Your Email

Send the email the same way you send any other email.

With Preferred Language Delivery, when you send to a Contact List or CSV Upload, the send page shows how many recipients will get the default language. You can still send, or update your list first.

How ContactMonkey Picks Each Recipient's Language

This section applies to Preferred Language Delivery. ContactMonkey uses the first match from:

1. A preferredLanguage column in the recipient CSV you upload. This applies to that send only.
2. The Preferred Language on the recipient's contact record, from your Azure AD or Workday sync, or a contact CSV import.
3. The email's Default language.

Most formats work, such as French, Français, fr or fr-CA. Regional versions get the main language, so French (Canada) gets your French version. See CSV Column Headers and Field Mapping for the full list.

To see which language each recipient got after sending, click Actions beside the sent email, then View Recipients. This is available for emails sent with Individual tracking.

What Recipients See

• Preferred Language Delivery: One language version, with that language's subject line and preheader. There's no language menu.
• All languages in one email: Every language, in the order you set, with a language menu at the top. The menu uses anchor links, which don't work in some mobile email apps, so mobile recipients may need to scroll to their language.

Troubleshooting

Problem: A recipient got the default language instead of their own.
Solution: Check that the recipient has a preferred language in your CSV or contact record, and that your email includes that language. For distribution lists, send with Individual tracking.

Problem: A recipient got every language in one email, with Preferred Language Delivery.
Solution: Emails sent from the Gmail extension or the Outlook desktop Add-in, posted to Teams or SharePoint, or created before Preferred Language Delivery was turned on include every language. Test emails also include every language.

Problem: Some content stays in the primary language.
Solution: Some content blocks don't support multiple languages. See Multi-Language Email Limitations and Workarounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a language after sending?
No. Add all languages before you send.

What happens if I miss translating a section?
That section shows in your primary language.

Do I need separate lists for each language?
No. Send to one list.