How to Translate UI Text with Claude
Translate app UI strings with Claude and ToolRouter. Software localization without leaving your IDE.
Tool
Claude integrates translation into a terminal workflow where you can handle localization alongside development tasks. Translate strings iteratively, discuss the nuances of specific phrases that resist direct translation, and batch-process entire locale files without leaving your session. The conversational depth is particularly useful when working with marketing copy or UI text where cultural context matters -- Claude can explain why a specific phrasing works better in the target language and suggest alternatives when a direct translation would lose impact.
Connect ToolRouter to Claude
1Open connector settings Open Settings
2Add a custom connector with these details
Name
ToolRouterURL
https://api.toolrouter.com/mcp3Let Claude set you up Open Claude
Steps
Once connected (see setup above), use the Translate tool:
- Ask Claude: "Translate these UI strings to Korean using the translate tool"
- Claude translates each string with awareness of UI context (buttons, labels, errors)
- Ask: "Flag any translations that are significantly longer than the English original"
- Claude outputs a complete locale file ready for integration
Example Prompt
Try this with Claude using the Translate tool
Translate our app's en.json locale file to Korean, Japanese, and Chinese. Keep all {{variable}} placeholders intact. Flag strings that expand more than 40% in length.
Tips
- Provide UI context (button, tooltip, error message) for each string when possible
- Ask Claude to check for text expansion issues that might break layouts
- Use list_languages to verify target language support before starting