It is possible to start translating a WordPress site quickly, but a multilingual site should not be rushed blindly. The first choices, especially URL structure and translation workflow, affect SEO, caching, editorial maintenance, and analytics for years.
Choose the URL structure
Common options include subdirectories such as /es/, subdomains such as es.example.com, or separate domains. Subdirectories are often easiest for one brand and one WordPress install. Subdomains or separate domains may fit regional teams or different infrastructure.
Pick a translation workflow
Decide whether content will be translated manually, machine translated and reviewed, or managed by professional translators. Manual translation gives the most control. Automatic translation is faster but still needs human review for product, legal, and conversion pages.
Cache and language
Cache must vary by language. A page cache or CDN should not serve the English version to a visitor requesting Spanish, French, or German. Test each language while logged out and check that language switchers, hreflang output, menus, and canonical URLs stay consistent.
Bottom line
Quick translation is fine when the structure is sound. Decide URL format, workflow, SEO behavior, and cache rules before translating hundreds of pages.