PyMOTW: gettext

The gettext module provides an all-Python implementation compatible with the GNU gettext library for message translation and catalog management. The tools available with the Python source distribution enable you to extract messages from your source, build a message catalog containing translations, and use that message catalog to print an appropriate message for the user at runtime.

Message catalogs can be used to provide internationalized interfaces for your program, showing messages in a language appropriate to the user. They can also be used for other message customizations, including “skinning” an interface for different wrappers or partners.