Convert Java Properties to PHP online

Upload a Java .properties file and download it as PHP array. Translation keys, plurals and placeholders are preserved. Free, no account needed.

Pick the source format or let the converter detect it from the file.

Used when the source format holds one language per file. Also used as the source language for XLIFF output.

Choose the format you want to download.

PHP array

A PHP file that returns an associative array of translations. Laravel, CakePHP and many custom PHP apps load language files in this form.

One file per language. Format documentation

Need it the other way round? Convert PHP to Java Properties.

From: Java .properties

Key=value resource bundles used by Java, Spring Boot and Kotlin backends. Each language lives in its own messages_xx.properties file next to the default bundle.

Used by: Java, Spring Boot, Kotlin, Thymeleaf. One language per file. Read the Java Properties format guide.

# example comment user.hello=Hello, {0} hello.world=Hello World!
# example comment
user.hello=Hello, {0}
hello.world=Hello World!

To: PHP array

A PHP file that returns an associative array of translations. Laravel, CakePHP and many custom PHP apps load language files in this form.

Used by: Laravel, CakePHP, PHP. One language per file. Read the PHP format guide.

<?php return [ "HELLO_WORLD" => "Hello world!", "MY_TRANSLATION_KEY" => "This is my translation message!" ]; ?>
<?php
return [
    "HELLO_WORLD" => "Hello world!",
    "MY_TRANSLATION_KEY" => "This is my translation message!"
];
?>

How to convert Java Properties to PHP

  1. Drop your .properties file into the converter above, or paste its content.
  2. Confirm the language of the file. It is guessed from the file name, for example de.json or messages_pt-BR.properties.
  3. Click Convert. You get one .php file per language.
  4. Preview the result, copy it or download the files.

What changes between Java Properties and PHP

  • Keys, texts, plural forms and placeholders are mapped one to one. Comments and descriptions are kept when both formats support them.

Convert and translate in one place

If you need the PHP file in more languages, the fastest route is a free SimpleLocalize project: import the Java Properties file, add languages, run auto-translation with DeepL, Google Translate, OpenAI, Claude or Gemini, and download the result as PHP. The CLI does the same from CI with upload and download commands, so the conversion becomes part of your build. See also translating Java Properties files.

Frequently asked questions

Is the converter free?

Yes. There is no signup and no limit on the number of conversions beyond a few requests per second.

Are my files stored?

No. The file is parsed in memory, converted and returned in the same request. Nothing is written to disk or a database.

What about plurals and placeholders?

Plural forms are normalized to ICU message syntax and written back in the native form of PHP. Placeholders are kept, and Apple and Android specific syntax is translated between platforms. Read more in the pluralization guide.

Translate your PHP files

  • Import Java Properties or PHP files into a free project
  • Auto-translate with DeepL, Google, OpenAI, Claude or Gemini
  • Download in any of the supported formats or publish to the CDN
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