# Tip #7 — Item-name localization

**Date:** 2026-06-18  
**Category:** i18n  
**Source:** MC-Survival Wiki Daily Tip (backfilled from state.json)  
**Note:** *Title was truncated in the original state.json log. Body matches the 'Search-Synonyms alias table' variant of the same idea.*

## Item-name localization

Extend the Item model with a localized name field (or a sidecar de_names.json map) so German players see 'Schwert' instead of 'Sword', and other locales get the same treatment. It solves the immersion-breaking problem of seeing English names throughout a German-language wiki, which is the single most-complained-about UI issue in German-speaking Minecraft communities. The signal is clear: vanilla Minecraft ships official translations for every item, and players expect the wiki to follow suit. The fallback-to-English behavior is important because it keeps English-only content readable while we incrementally translate.

## Implementation tips

1. Extend the Item model with a nameDe: String? field, seed with the official Minecraft de_de.json translations.
2. In the UI, use the locale-aware name with fallback to the English canonical.
3. Cheap path: keep a separate de_names.json map and look up at render time — no schema change.