A translated article is a separate page to Google. hreflang annotations tell it that the pages are versions of each other, so each searcher gets the one in their language.
Key points
- Each language version links to all the others, and to itself.
- Use language codes (and region codes only when you need them).
- Add an x-default for searchers whose language you don’t cover.
What hreflang does
It marks pages as alternates of one another. Without it, Google has to guess whether your Hungarian and Slovak pages are duplicates or different content.
The rules that break most setups
- Annotations must be reciprocal: if page A points to B, B must point back to A.
- Each page lists itself too.
- Codes follow ISO standards:
hu,sk,en— orde-ATwhen the region matters.
Language is not country
German is spoken in several markets; one language version can serve all of them. Add a region code only when the content really differs by country — prices, laws, delivery.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need x-default?
It is recommended: it names the page for searchers whose language you don’t have, often your English version or a language picker.
Sources
- Tell Google about localized versions of your page
Google Search Central