# Is it best practice to use English for Model and Fieldnames?

**URL:** <https://forum.djangoproject.com/t/is-it-best-practice-to-use-english-for-model-and-fieldnames/18786>\
**Category:** Getting Started\
**Created:** [February 11, 2023, 5:39pm UTC](https://forum.djangoproject.com/t/is-it-best-practice-to-use-english-for-model-and-fieldnames/18786 "2023-02-11T17:39:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Artur](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/forum.djangoproject.com/artur/32/11321_2.png) [@Artur](https://forum.djangoproject.com/u/Artur)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2023, 5:39pm UTC](https://forum.djangoproject.com/t/is-it-best-practice-to-use-english-for-model-and-fieldnames/18786/1 "2023-02-11T17:39:37Z")

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Hello,

I’m doing a project that will have a Dutch audience and Dutch admin users. Is it best practice to still use English for app, model and fieldnames? Is it possible to translate the models and attributes to Dutch in the admin if the original models and fieldnames are written in English?

Artur

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**Author:** ![KenWhitesell](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/forum.djangoproject.com/kenwhitesell/32/280_2.png) [@KenWhitesell](https://forum.djangoproject.com/u/KenWhitesell)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2023, 7:59pm UTC](https://forum.djangoproject.com/t/is-it-best-practice-to-use-english-for-model-and-fieldnames/18786/2 "2023-02-11T19:59:54Z")

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> [@Artur](#):
>
> Is it best practice to still use English for app, model and fieldnames?

That’s really up to you and your target audience. I’ve seen a lot of examples posted in this form using non-English names for models and field names. I think the real decision needs to be based on who’s going to work on this project months and years down the road.

> [@Artur](#):
>
> Is it possible to translate the models and attributes…

Yes, in a number of different ways.

See:

- [Model Meta options | Django documentation | Django](https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/4.1/ref/models/options/#verbose-name)
- [Model field reference | Django documentation | Django](https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/4.1/ref/models/fields/#verbose-name)  
There’s also a lot you can do to customize the admin site itself, see [The Django admin site | Django documentation | Django](https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/4.1/ref/contrib/admin/#adminsite-objects).

Finally, Django provides a lot of “pre-translated” text and messages along with the ability for you to add your own. See:

- [Settings | Django documentation | Django](https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/4.1/ref/settings/#language-code)
- [Translation | Django documentation | Django](https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/4.1/topics/i18n/translation/)