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Localising UX/UI into French: A 5-Step Journey

Writer's picture: Samuel ArtemanSamuel Arteman

Updated: Oct 2, 2024

We live in an increasingly connected world, and if you're looking to expand internationally, adapting the UX/UI of your product or service to meet the expectations of your local audience is absolutely essential.


Forget just translating the words. You need to tweak your design, layout, and features to match the cultural sensitivities and ergonomic needs of your target market.


In this article, I'll guide you through a simple and effective process to localise your UX/UI content into French, making sure to consider linguistic differences, cultural expectations, and the technical quirks unique to French-speaking markets in Europe: France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.


1. Overcoming the Challenges of UX/UI Localisation


When you're gearing up to launch a product for an international market, one of the first hurdles you'll face is language adaptation.


Localising a user interface goes way beyond just translating words. Every language has its own nuances that directly influence how users interact with your website or mobile app.


In the French-speaking world, these nuances include terminology, communication styles (should you be formal or casual?), and specific design conventions.


1.1 Why is UX/UI Localisation So Important for Businesses Entering the French Market?


To make a successful splash in a local market, you need to give users an experience that feels as familiar as their favourite croissant. If your localisation is clunky, users will get frustrated, and guess what? Your product's adoption rate will nosedive.


On the flip side, nailing your localisation can skyrocket engagement, user satisfaction, and ultimately, loyalty and conversion rates.



Localising a user interface goes way beyond just translating words. Every language has its own nuances that directly influence how users interact with your website or mobile app.
Overcoming the Challenges of UX/UI Localisation

2. Understanding Cultural and Linguistic Differences


Step one in successfully localising your UX/UI content into French is understanding the cultural and linguistic differences across French-speaking markets.


French isn't a monolith – it varies by region (France, Belgium, Switzerland, Quebec...) and each version comes with its own quirks in vocabulary, grammar, and style.


2.1 Tailoring the Language


Avoid overly literal translations. Tone matters. As mentioned earlier, whether you choose to use vous or tu is a big deal: in France, vous is typically reserved for formal interactions (banking services, B2B), while tu is more common with younger audiences.


In Belgium and Switzerland, however, vous is still more widely used than in France. This kind of subtlety is key if you don't want to accidentally alienate your potential users.


2.2 The Importance of Culturalising the Interface


It’s not just about the language – visual elements are at the heart of UX localisation. Icons, symbols, date formats, and currencies all need to reflect local norms.


For example, in Belgium, the building number comes after the street name, unlike in France where it's the other way around: 115 rue de la Tour becomes Rue de la Tour 115.


Colours also carry different cultural meanings. Red might scream "danger" in the West, but in other parts of the world, it can symbolise luck or prosperity. Adapting these visual cues based on the local context makes your interface more relevant and helps users quickly grasp your product.



French isn't a monolith – it varies by region (France, Belgium, Switzerland, Quebec...) and each version comes with its own quirks in vocabulary, grammar, and style.
Understanding Cultural and Linguistic Differences


3. Adjusting Design and Ergonomics


For the love of all things user-friendly, simplify your design during localisation.


French is usually longer than English, which can wreak havoc on your layout if you're not prepared for it. Bad ergonomic choices can make your interface look cluttered and far from user-friendly!


3.1 Handling Text Length


French is a wordy language, and translations from English to French can be up to 20% longer!


If you’re launching your software or website in a French-speaking market, make sure your interface is designed with flexible text spaces. You don’t want translations spilling out or getting cut off.


Dynamic fields and shorter phrases can save the day, allowing you to convey the same message without sacrificing meaning.


3.2 Fonts that Work


French is loaded with accents (é, è, ê, à, etc.). Make sure the font you choose supports these characters without any weird distortions. A poor font choice could hurt readability and ruin the overall look of your interface.


Also, in general, stick with fonts that are easy on the eyes. And for mobile interfaces, don’t shrink the text too much – the screen is already small enough!


3.3 A/B Testing: A Must


Once you've made your linguistic and ergonomic adjustments, it’s time to test your interface with real French speakers.


These tests help ensure that users understand every instruction, the interface feels intuitive, and navigation is smooth. A/B tests are particularly useful for fine-tuning content and tweaking elements like CTA buttons or navigation menus.


4. Accessibility and Inclusivity: Don’t Leave Anyone Behind


Localisation isn’t just about language and design – it’s also about ensuring your interface is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.


4.1 Accessibility: Adapting for All


Countries like France and others in Europe have strict laws around digital accessibility. For instance, the RGAA (General Accessibility Improvement Guidelines) sets rules about colour contrast, compatibility with screen readers, and keyboard navigation.


If you ignore these standards, you’re not only shutting out potential users, but you could also face legal consequences.


4.2 Inclusivity: Don’t Forget Linguistic Diversity


The French-speaking world is diverse, with regions that have their own dialects or regional variations. Don’t limit your localisation efforts to France alone.


Make sure you're not using phrases or terms that are too specific to one region – they could confuse users from other French-speaking areas. Someone from Brussels, Montreal, or Dakar won’t use the exact same French as someone from Paris!


  • Take numbers, for example: a Belgian user might cringe at hearing quatre-vingt-dix-sept when seeing the number 97, while a French audience would find nonante-sept utterly bizarre (or even amusing!).


  • If your product revolves around telephony, and you're targeting a younger audience, knowing the difference between a cellulaire, a natel, or a GSM is critical depending on whether you're marketing in France, Switzerland, or Belgium.


  • When defining your brand's tone of voice, it’s useful to know that French audiences may appreciate a more polished and elegant tone, whereas Belgian audiences tend to prefer a straightforward, no-nonsense approach. Understanding these preferences will help you decide how to communicate with potential clients.


5. Tools and Resources to Streamline Localisation


There are tons of tools and resources to make the process of localising UX/UI into French a breeze.



Tools like MemoQ, Trados, or Lokalise are incredibly useful for managing text strings and maintaining linguistic consistency.
Tools and Resources to Streamline Localisation


5.1 Translation Management Systems (TMS)


Tools like MemoQ, Trados, or Lokalise are incredibly useful for managing text strings and maintaining linguistic consistency.


These platforms also allow for seamless collaboration between translators, developers, and designers. And with translation memory integration, you can ensure consistency across all your projects.


5.2 Partnering with Localisation Experts


To guarantee top-notch localisation, I highly recommend working with linguists who specialise in UX/UI localisation.


At Le French Content, I understand the cultural and ergonomic nuances that will help you tailor your interface for each French-speaking market in Europe: France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.


A Simple but Essential Process


Consider linguistic and cultural differences, and adapt your interface to meet the specific expectations of each French-speaking market to seamlessly localise your UX/UI content.


With the right tools and an expert in your corner, the process, while technical, can be managed smoothly – ensuring your product's interface offers a truly localised experience, which is the key to conquering new markets and making your product or service a global success.


Need help tailoring your UX/UI content for a French-speaking audience?


Drop me a line at lefrenchontent@gmail.com, and I'll help you create a flawlessly localised interface, so you can make your mark in French-speaking markets across Europe!



With the right tools and an expert in your corner, the process, while technical, can be managed smoothly
Le French Content helps you create a flawlessly localised interface

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