To create a custom translation file just for the purpose of label changes, see my instructions in https://buddypress.org/forums/topic.php?id=1877#post-9927.
To be honest, that’s all I did with my translation was change “Wire” to “Wall” for the BuddyPress setup at Tucson Digital Arts Community.
@Trcwest
Here is how I did a custom translation to replace slugs and labels. I’m replacing my language name with spots so you can see how it would work for you.
1. First I opened the POT file, copied it to a .po version, and then made the changes I wanted in a text editor (most with search and replace, but also had to do some new lines by hand).
2. I uploaded the .po file to my web server, and ran this from a command line:
msgfmt -o buddypress-spots.mo buddypress-spots.po
3. In my bp-custom file (wp-content/mu-plugins/bp-custom.php) I added a language definition:
define( 'BPLANG', 'spots' );
if ( file_exists( ABSPATH . MUPLUGINDIR . '/bp-languages/buddypress-' . BPLANG . '.mo' ) ) {
load_textdomain( 'buddypress', ABSPATH . MUPLUGINDIR . '/bp-languages/buddypress-' . BPLANG . '.mo' );
}
4. Then I went into wp-content/mu-plugins/bp-languages and added the spots.mo file there.
This solution is better (in my opinion) than using the define (‘WPLANG’, ”); in your wp-config.php file, and won’t break when you upgrade BuddyPress.
The reason I suggested the translation route is that modifying the theme causes people to hesitate when upgrading. They don’t want to lose any custom they have. If I’m operating off a working copy of the svn trunk I can take my chances on an svn merge going ok. That it will skip my custom. However if my upgrade process is to replace the old code with the new code, just upload to the server, then I’m less likely to upgrade bp.
If it’s possible to achieve a solution without touching *any* code, I’m all for it. 
yes i want to doo this too andy…
You could create a custom translation file and rename everything how you like.
I am just wanting to know how to do it properly and as of yet i have not found a simple show how… that is how to edit the .pot and then impliment it..
im interested in using translation to change the words groups and group to spots and spot respectively..
so basically use the translation technique to change and customise what things are called on the site..
ipin, new translation files are generated frequently. Check the svn trunk for notifications such as this: POT, generated from r1247
I believe that one was generated this past Friday.
i made a french translation; Where can i give it to you ?
Dan
http://www.buddypress-fr.net
.mo and .po files downloadable from here:
http://buddypress-fr.net/bpdemo/2009/03/21/traduction-pour-buddypressdev/
The member theme and some core functions all refer to the main blog. The will use whatever translation is active on that blog.
Could this be done initially via a custom translation?
Hello all.
I had this same problem when I tried to use the Portuguese translation and this is how I fixed it.
1) Remove all your bp widgets.
2) Open translation.po
3) Find bp-core/bp-core-widgets.php (it is mentioned many times and write down the line numbers)
4) Open mu-plugins/bp-core/bp-core-widgets.php
5) Translate manually the lines where the translation file was supposed to do it.
6) re-upload mu-plugins/bp-core/bp-core-widgets.php
7) activate widgets that now will be named on your translation language e.g. “welcome” will be “Bienvenido”
send me a beer!
Voila!
I’ve updated the files as I found a small error (no space before “medlemmar”).
how are “the settings…” set??
I use the Poedit to do the translation. I always get this error message.
11:23:10: 
wampwww8phetwp-contentmu-pluginsbp-languagesbuddypress-vi.po:844: a format specification for argument 1 doesn’t exist in ‘msgstr’
11:23:10: wampwww8phetwp-contentmu-pluginsbp-languagesbuddypress-vi.po:2566: a format specification for argument 1 doesn’t exist in ‘msgstr’
11:23:10: msgfmt: found 2 fatal errors.
I believe that related to Settings…. But I don’t know how to set it.
Can someone help please.
thanks
Anybody have any suggestions on this? I’m just looking to change the term ‘Friends’ to ‘Contacts’ throughout the install. I’m not really in need of a ‘translation’ per se – just an update to the existing default terms. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
‘Trunk’ means the latest development build in the SVN repository, which you can access and ‘check out’ here:
https://svn.buddypress.org/trunk
More information about using SVN here: https://codex.wordpress.org/SVN
I have no idea what that means? 
Make sure you are using the trunk and not RC1.
You can send me those 2 files to me and I’ll check it on my server: lucifix[that@thing]slo-foto[thatDOTthing]net
thanks, but did not work… Same problem continues 
I had similar problems with translating, then I figure it out what I did wrong. You should uploaded these files to server:
1. /wp-content/mu-plugins/bp-languages/
– file: buddypress-***.mo
2. /wp-includes/languages/
– file: ***.mo
*** is the name of your language (etc. for Slovenian language: sl_SI)
I hope this helps 
Not sure why, but your register page is showing as:
http://nishinomiya.jp/ebi/wp-login.php?redirect_to=http://nishinomiya.jp/ebi/ebi/register
http://nishinomiya.jp/ebi/ebi/register when it should be:
http://nishinomiya.jp/ebi/register
It does work if you hit:
http://nishinomiya.jp/ebi/wp-signup.php
Not sure if it was the translation that screwed up your URL. Never saw that before. Anyone else have anything to add?
Trent
First of all, BuddyPress is so promising. Keep up the good work!
Currently, I’m involved in implementing BP for a local NGO, and I’m happy to share the translation files.
I’ve done translating the “Bahasa Indonesia” for the RC-1 version and posted on the codex page:
https://codex.buddypress.org/translations/indonesia-indonesian-id_id/
Feel free to comment and correct any error.
You should know that there is some people (like me), that is having this problems with the widgets using spanish translation. Widgets welcome, groups, site wide activity, blog recent post, and 2 o 3 more … they dissapear when we put the spanish translation as default.
Is a very big problem! we are sad!
ANDY HELP US!! = )
ANDY AYUDANOS! = )
Sorry for my bad english
Sorry, I’m done.
I just forgot to upload it. Will do asap.
Ok, uploaded to my server. Codex page here: https://codex.buddypress.org/translations/swedish-svenska-sv_se/
Let me know if there are any errors. I’m sure I missed something.
I see you added the ticket, so I “briefly” commented on it so that your translation went through fine.
Trent
Martin, how’s the Swedish Translation coming along for you? I’m personally at 29% (Just started today)..
