Multilingual website in Andorra: Catalan, Spanish, French and English without losing rankings
A multilingual website in Andorra isn't a luxury: your customers search in Catalan, Spanish, French and English. But adding languages badly can confuse Google to the point where no version ranks. In this guide I explain how to get it right from the start.
Which languages your website needs
Catalan is the official language and the one many residents and public bodies expect. Spanish reaches most residents and the whole Spanish market. French is key if you get customers from the south of France. English covers international tourism and foreign residents.
You don't need to start with all of them. Prioritise based on who buys from you today and who you want buying from you tomorrow. Two flawless languages are better than four half-finished ones.
URL structure
Each language needs its own URL. There are three common approaches:
| Structure | Example | When it makes sense |
|---|---|---|
| Subfolders | yourcompany.ad/en/ | The simplest option and the best choice in most cases |
| Subdomains | en.yourcompany.ad | If each language is managed by a different team |
| Separate domains | yourcompany.es, yourcompany.fr | If you have very distinct market strategies |
For most Andorran businesses, a single domain with a subfolder per language concentrates authority and is easier to maintain.
The .ad domain
The .ad domain is run by Andorra Telecom as the registry and is purchased through accredited registrars. Today any individual or company that meets its usage rules can register one. It signals closeness to local customers; if you mainly sell abroad, consider a .com as well.
Hreflang: telling Google which version to show
Hreflang tags tell Google that a page has versions in other languages and which one to show each person. Without them, Google may show the wrong version or treat translations as duplicate content.
- Each page links to all its versions, including itself.
- Links are reciprocal: if page A points to page B, page B points to page A.
- A default version (x-default) is added for anyone who doesn't match any of the languages.
- URLs must be the final ones, with no redirects.
Translating isn't copy and paste
Machine translation has improved a lot, but a website that sells needs natural copy, using the words people actually type when they search in each language. What Spanish speakers search for as “gestoría” may be “gestoria” in Catalan, “cabinet comptable” in French and “accountant” in English.
Adapt what people don't see, too
- Titles and descriptions for Google in each language.
- Image alt text.
- Forms, error messages and automatic emails.
- Legal texts and the cookie banner.
- Structured data and your Google profile in each language.
Mistakes that cost you rankings
- Switching language only with a selector, without separate URLs.
- Redirecting automatically based on browser language without letting people choose.
- Mixing languages on the same page.
- Translating the website but not the titles or descriptions.
- Forgetting hreflang, or adding it to only some pages.
How to organise the translation work
- Finalise the copy in your main language first: translating text that's still changing is expensive.
- Prepare a keyword list for each language, based on how people really phrase things.
- Adapt, don't just translate: examples, prices and references may change from market to market.
- Have a native speaker review each language before publishing.
- Decide who will maintain each version when something on the website changes.
Pre-launch checklist
- Each language has its own URL and a visible language selector.
- Every page has reciprocal hreflang and an x-default version.
- Titles, descriptions and alt text are translated.
- Forms, automatic emails and legal texts exist in every language.
- The sitemap includes all versions.
- Your Google profile and structured data reflect the languages you serve customers in.
Before launching, check in Google Search Console that each version is indexed in its own language and that there are no hreflang errors.
Frequently asked questions
Which language should be the default?
Your main customer's language. Many Andorran websites use Catalan or Spanish as the default and offer the others in subfolders.
Does Google penalise having the same content in several languages?
No, as long as each version has its own URL and is properly marked up with hreflang. Google understands they're translations, not copies.
Can I start with two languages and add more later?
Yes. If the structure is planned properly from the start, adding a language is straightforward.
Do I need a .ad domain?
It's not mandatory, but it reinforces your local image. What matters is the quality of each version and how it's set up.
Languages are one of the things best planned from the start. If you're thinking about a new website or expanding yours, let's talk.
Kim CapelBuilding websites in Andorra since 2005. Today: signature websites, AI implementation and SEO. More about me