Hreflang Checker
Check language tags and hreflang destinations in the submitted page’s HTML.
Do I need en-US when I have one English version?
Connect existing equivalents. A Slovak article and its English translation. The English homepage is not a substitute for a missing article translation. General English content can use the language code en.
What to do step by step
- Pair equivalent pages, not an article with the other language’s homepage.
- Include self-referencing and reciprocal alternatives.
- Use sk for Slovak and en for general English.
- Add x-default only for a deliberately selected fallback.
- Check response codes, canonical URLs and the language picker.
How to fix relative URLs in hreflang tags
Teaching example; example.com addresses are illustrative.
Before
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="/en/bike">After
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://example.com/en/bike">
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="sk" href="https://example.com/sk/bicykel">The hreflang-url check expects an absolute URL. Put the same group on both language pages, then verify each page’s own canonical and the return links between versions.
A common mistake
Language is not location. Forced IP redirects can prevent access to a preferred version. Missing return links also break the relationship between alternatives.
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When to use language or regional hreflang codes
General English content can use en. Country-specific pages make sense when the offer, currency or conditions genuinely differ; a translated menu alone does not create a new market.
- Use sk for Slovak and en for a broadly applicable English version.
- Introduce a regional code only when you maintain that regional experience.
- Keep a visible way to choose another language without forced IP navigation.
How to connect language versions with return links
The English alternative of a service detail should open that service, not the homepage. Missing return links can invalidate the relationship for Google.
- List the current page and its real translations.
- Use complete absolute URLs for all alternatives.
- When a translated slug changes, update the pair and the language picker together.
How to keep hreflang and canonical URLs consistent
A fully translated article should not automatically canonicalise to the original-language homepage. Check page identity before diagnosing hreflang syntax.
- Open each language URL directly in a fresh browser session.
- Check its actual text, title, canonical and indexability.
- Use x-default for a deliberate fallback, not as a substitute for missing translations.
Where to implement hreflang and how to check it
Google supports HTML, HTTP headers and sitemap annotations. Pick the method your publishing system can maintain; three independent generators add opportunities for disagreement.
- Compare the complete alternative set on both pages.
- Test one article pair as well as the homepages.
- If Google shows another language, check indexing and content before changing every tag.
How to verify the result
Inspect the server HTML of both pages. Update the whole pair when a slug changes. Google identifies language from content; the lang attribute additionally supports accessibility.
Primary documentation developers.google.com ↗
Frequently asked questions
Do I need en-US when I have one English version?
Country-specific versions are useful when the offer or content genuinely differs by market. A single English page can use en and serve US readers too. Each language pair should connect equivalent content and link reciprocally, including self-references; x-default identifies a fallback version.
When the task is complete
Open both URLs without cookies and through the language picker. Verify HTML language, independent canonicals, and reciprocal alternates. Avoid automatic redirects that prevent a crawler from retrieving another language.
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