---
id: oslo-i18n
version: "6.9.0"
license: Apache-2.0
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# oslo.i18n — Oslo i18n library

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 1.7M/mo

## What it is and what it does

oslo.i18n is a library from the OpenStack project that simplifies internationalization (i18n) work in Python applications. It wraps and extends standard translation utilities to make it easier to mark strings for translation and manage multiple languages in a codebase. The library is designed for applications that need to support users in different locales and languages, providing a consistent interface for marking translatable strings and accessing translations at runtime.

The package is part of the OpenStack infrastructure and is actively maintained. It has minimal dependencies—only pbr—and supports modern Python versions from 3.11 onward. It's typed, making it suitable for projects that use static type checking. The library is permissively licensed under Apache-2.0, so it can be used freely in both open-source and proprietary projects.

Use it for:

- Mark user-facing strings in a web application for translation into multiple languages.
- Build OpenStack-compatible services that need consistent i18n handling across components.
- Add multi-language support to a library or framework without heavy translation infrastructure.
- Integrate translation workflows into an existing Python project using standard gettext conventions.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

oslo.i18n provides utilities for handling internationalization and translation of text strings in Python applications, with support for multiple languages and locales.

Yes, if you are building an OpenStack service or need a lightweight, actively maintained i18n utility for a Python application. The low install friction, permissive license, and modern Python support make it a straightforward choice. If you need advanced translation features (pluralization rules, context-aware translations, or backend flexibility), verify that oslo.i18n provides them before committing.

## Install

pip install oslo-i18n
uv add oslo-i18n
poetry add oslo-i18n

## Installing oslo.i18n

Before you install: Low install friction with a single lightweight runtime dependency (pbr). Active maintenance status with a recent release 35 days ago. Supports current Python versions (3.11–3.14) and is typed.

License in practice: Apache-2.0 permissive license allows use in most projects without significant restrictions, including commercial and proprietary applications.

Quickstart:

pip install oslo.i18n

from oslo_i18n import _

translated_text = _("Hello, world!")

Requires Python 3.11 or later.

Verify before relying:

- Specific translation backend support (gettext, Babel integration, or other frameworks) not detailed in the fact sheet.
- Whether the package provides locale negotiation, pluralization, or context-aware translation features.
- Performance characteristics when handling large translation catalogs or many concurrent translations.

## Package facts

- License: Apache-2.0 (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 1.7M/month (top 5,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

i18n translation utilities, internationalization library python, text translation framework, locale and language support, gettext wrapper utilities, multi-language text handling, openstack, internationalization, translation

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