React Native Localization Made Easy with i18n and Claude Code

Expanding your React Native app to global markets requires proper internationalization (i18n). Here's our streamlined approach using i18n, structured locale files, and AI-powered translation for rapid multi-language deployment.

Setting Up the Foundation

Installation & Configuration

First, install the necessary i18n packages:

npm install react-i18next i18next react-native-localize

Initialize i18n in your app's entry point:

import i18n from 'i18next';
import { initReactI18next } from 'react-i18next';
import * as RNLocalize from 'react-native-localize';

import en from './assets/locales/en.json';
import es from './assets/locales/es.json';
import fr from './assets/locales/fr.json';

const resources = {
  en: { translation: en },
  es: { translation: es },
  fr: { translation: fr },
};

i18n
  .use(initReactI18next)
  .init({
    resources,
    lng: RNLocalize.getLocales()[0].languageCode,
    fallbackLng: 'en',
    interpolation: {
      escapeValue: false,
    },
  });

export default i18n;

Structuring Locale Files

JSON Organization Strategy

We organize translations in assets/locales/ with structured JSON files:

// assets/locales/en.json
{
  "navigation": {
    "home": "Home",
    "profile": "Profile",
    "settings": "Settings"
  },
  "common": {
    "save": "Save",
    "cancel": "Cancel",
    "loading": "Loading..."
  },
  "auth": {
    "login": "Sign In",
    "register": "Create Account",
    "forgot_password": "Forgot Password?"
  },
  "errors": {
    "network": "Network connection failed",
    "validation": "Please check your input"
  }
}

This nested structure keeps translations organized and maintainable as your app grows.

Implementation in Components

Using the useTranslation Hook

The useTranslation hook provides seamless access to localized strings:

import React from 'react';
import { View, Text, TouchableOpacity } from 'react-native';
import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';

const LoginScreen = () => {
  const { t } = useTranslation();

  return (
    <View>
      <Text>{t('auth.login')}</Text>
      <TouchableOpacity>
        <Text>{t('common.save')}</Text>
      </TouchableOpacity>
      <Text>{t('auth.forgot_password')}</Text>
    </View>
  );
};

Dynamic Content with Interpolation

Handle dynamic values seamlessly:

// Locale file
{
  "welcome": "Welcome back, {{name}}!",
  "items_count": "You have {{count}} items"
}

// Component usage
const WelcomeScreen = ({ userName, itemCount }) => {
  const { t } = useTranslation();

  return (
    <View>
      <Text>{t('welcome', { name: userName })}</Text>
      <Text>{t('items_count', { count: itemCount })}</Text>
    </View>
  );
};

Language Switching

Runtime Language Changes

Implement language switching with automatic UI updates:

import React from 'react';
import { View, TouchableOpacity, Text } from 'react-native';
import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';

const LanguageSelector = () => {
  const { i18n, t } = useTranslation();

  const changeLanguage = (lng) => {
    i18n.changeLanguage(lng);
  };

  return (
    <View>
      <TouchableOpacity onPress={() => changeLanguage('en')}>
        <Text>English</Text>
      </TouchableOpacity>
      <TouchableOpacity onPress={() => changeLanguage('es')}>
        <Text>Español</Text>
      </TouchableOpacity>
      <TouchableOpacity onPress={() => changeLanguage('fr')}>
        <Text>Français</Text>
      </TouchableOpacity>
    </View>
  );
};

AI-Powered Translation with Claude Code

The Game-Changer: Automated Translation

Once you have your base English locale file ready, Claude Code transforms the translation process:

1. Prepare your base locale: Ensure assets/locales/en.json is complete and well-structured

2. Use Claude Code for translation: Simply ask:

   Please translate my en.json locale file to Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified), and Arabic. Maintain the JSON structure and keep interpolation variables unchanged.
   

3. Instant multi-language support: Claude Code generates all locale files in minutes, maintaining:

   • JSON structure integrity
   • Interpolation variable preservation
   • Cultural context awareness
   • Technical terminology accuracy

Quality Assurance

Claude Code's translations consider:

• Context preservation: Technical terms remain consistent
• UI constraints: Translations fit mobile interface layouts
• Cultural adaptation: Messages feel natural to native speakers
• Variable safety: Interpolation syntax stays intact

Production Deployment

Build Optimization

Configure Metro bundler to include locale files:

// metro.config.js
module.exports = {
  resolver: {
    assetExts: ['json', 'png', 'jpg', 'jpeg', 'gif'],
  },
  transformer: {
    assetPlugins: ['react-native-asset-plugin'],
  },
};

App Store Localization

Prepare localized app store metadata:

• App names and descriptions
• Screenshot captions
• Keyword optimization per market
• Privacy policy translations

Best Practices

Performance Optimization

• Lazy loading: Load only active language resources
• Namespace splitting: Separate translations by feature/screen
• Caching: Store user language preference locally

Maintenance Strategy

• Centralized updates: Maintain English as the source of truth
• Version control: Track translation changes with meaningful commits
• Testing: Verify layouts across different text lengths

Results

This approach enables:

• Rapid deployment: From single language to 10+ languages in hours
• Consistent quality: AI maintains translation standards across languages
• Easy maintenance: Single source file updates propagate efficiently
• Cost effectiveness: Eliminate manual translation overhead

The combination of structured i18n implementation and Claude Code's translation capabilities transforms localization from a complex, time-consuming process into a streamlined workflow that scales with your global ambitions.

Ready to expand your React Native app globally? Start with a solid i18n foundation, then let Claude Code handle the heavy lifting of multi-language translation.

Interested in building a globally-ready mobile app? Check out our portfolio to see our localized applications in action, or contact us to discuss your international expansion project.