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Many Gujarat business owners think in Gujarati and sell to people who may search in either language. So the choice isn't obvious. The good news is that you don't have to translate an entire site on day one, and a little planning can avoid a lot of rework.
Google's guidance was checked on 7 November 2026 and can change. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. The recommendations here are our opinion, and links show where they come from Google.
Should a business website be in Gujarati or English?
Use the language your buyer uses when deciding to buy. If it is both, start with your most important pages in each. Asking who your buyer is will usually answer this faster than any general rule.
| Your main buyer | Where to start | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Local shoppers, patients or parents | Gujarati first, with English contact details | Customers may understand details more easily in their own language |
| Traders in other states | English, with Hindi where your buyers prefer it | Gujarati may not be read by the person checking you |
| Export buyers | English | It is the language they are more likely to use for checking a supplier |
| Companies with purchase teams | English | Vendor checks and documents are often handled in English |
| A mix of local and outside buyers | English and Gujarati for key pages | Each buyer finds what they need without a full translation |
The same thinking applies to Hindi, which can help if many of your buyers are in Hindi-speaking states. Add it when real buyers need it, not just to have another language on the site.
If you are unsure, ask your last ten customers how they would search for a business like yours. Listen to the exact words they use, because that will also help you with your page wording.
Which pages should you translate first?
Translate the pages closest to an enquiry first. A short, accurate set of pages is more useful than a full site with careless translation. We would suggest this order:
- Home page: what you do, for whom, and how to contact you.
- Main service or product pages: the ones that bring in real work.
- Contact page: phone, WhatsApp, address or service area, and hours.
- Frequently asked questions: delivery, payment, timing and coverage.
- About page: who runs the business and why they can be trusted.
Blog posts and legal pages can often wait, with one caution: if a page involves a contract or policy, have a qualified person review the translation, because small wording changes can alter the meaning.
Before you start, write down your plan for each page. Our guide to planning a business website can help you decide what each page must do.
How should a website in two languages be set up?
Give each language its own page address, and link the versions together. These points come from Google's guidance on multi-language sites:
- Use separate addresses. Google recommends a different URL for each language, for example yoursite.com/gu/ for Gujarati. It advises against relying on cookies or browser settings to change the language.
- Add hreflang tags. These are small pieces of code that tell Google which pages are translations of each other, so people can be sent to the right version.
- Add a language link. Google suggests linking to the other versions so visitors can choose for themselves.
- Avoid automatic redirects. Sending people somewhere based on a guess can stop users and search engines from reaching every version.
- Translate the main content. Google warns against translating only the menus and leaving the page text in another language.
- Keep one language per page. Google uses the visible content to work out the language, so avoid placing two translations side by side.
Most of this is a job for your developer, so ask about it before the build begins. Adding a second language later is easier if the site was planned with it in mind. Our web development page explains how we plan sites.
How do you avoid a poor Gujarati translation?
Have a fluent person check each page, ideally someone who knows your trade. In our opinion, an awkward translation can make a business look careless, even if the English version is good.
- Write for a local reader. Translate the meaning, not word by word. Use the common word that people actually say, even if it is an English word such as "delivery".
- Check the numbers twice. Compare prices, phone numbers, dates and addresses against the English version.
- Read it on a phone. Make sure the Gujarati font displays clearly and that buttons do not overflow.
- Update both versions. If a price changes on only one page, you may have a dispute with a customer. Add this to your routine website maintenance.
- Match your other listings. Use consistent details in your Google Business Profile and other places customers find you.
If you can't keep a second language accurate, a small, well-kept Gujarati section is better than a large one going out of date.
Brand names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Criza Labs is not affiliated with the companies mentioned unless stated.
Sources
All pages were accessed on 7 November 2026.
- Managing multi-regional and multilingual sites, Google Search Central
Frequently asked questions
Can Google show Gujarati pages in search results?
Yes, Google can work with pages in different languages. It says it determines a page's language from the visible content, so a Gujarati page should have its main text in Gujarati, not just translated menus.
Should Gujarati words be typed in Gujarati script or English letters?
For the main content of a Gujarati page, use Gujarati script. Some people search in English letters, such as Roman-script spellings of a product name, so it can be useful to mention those naturally where they fit.
Can I use Google Translate for my website?
You can use it to create a first draft, but we would not publish that unchecked. Machine translation can get tone, trade terms and prices wrong. Ask a fluent person, ideally someone who knows your trade, to read every page.
Does a two-language website cost twice as much?
Not necessarily, but it adds work. Translation, review, layout checks and later updates all take time, so ask for that to be priced separately. Starting with a few key pages helps keep the cost under control.
Should the site detect the visitor's language automatically?
It is safer not to force it. Google advises against automatically redirecting people based on a guessed language, because this can stop users and search engines from reaching every version. Add a clear link to switch language instead.
