How do I change the language of moment.js?

Question

I am trying to change the language of the date which is being set by moment.js. The default one is English, but I want to set the German language. These is what I tried:

var now = moment().format("LLL").lang("de");

It’s giving NaN.

var now = moment("de").format("LLL");

This isn’t even reacting.

var now = moment().format("LLL", "de");

No change: this is still producing a result in English.

How is this possible?

github.com/moment/moment/issues/2962#issuecomment-1116439746 — Silvan
– Silvan, Commented Sep 5, 2022 at 21:14

vvvvv · Accepted Answer · 2019-07-08 09:17:41Z

You need moment.lang (WARNING: lang() is deprecated since moment 2.8.0, use locale() instead):

moment.lang("de").format('LLL');

http://momentjs.com/docs/#/i18n/

As of v2.8.1, moment.locale('de') sets the localization, but does not return a moment. Some examples:

var march = moment('2017-03') console.log(march.format('MMMM')) // 'March' moment.locale('de') // returns the new locale, in this case 'de' console.log(march.format('MMMM')) // 'March' still, since the instance was before the locale was set var deMarch = moment('2017-03') console.log(deMarch.format('MMMM')) // 'März' // You can, however, change just the locale of a specific moment march.locale('es') console.log(march.format('MMMM')) // 'Marzo'

In summation, calling locale on the global moment sets the locale for all future moment instances, but does not return an instance of moment. Calling locale on an instance, sets it for that instance AND returns that instance.

Also, as Shiv said in the comments, make sure you use "moment-with-locales.min.js" and not "moment.min.js", otherwise it won't work.

In the docs, you can create language specific instances of moment by doing that. If you format first, the language won't process. Alternatively, you could do something like var deMoment = moment(); deMoment.lang('de') and reuse deMoment instead of moment throughout your script.
If you use "moment.min.js" it won't work; you need "moment-with-locales.min.js"
update: Deprecation warning: moment().lang() is deprecated. Instead, use moment().localeData() to get the language configuration. Use moment().locale() to change languages. Arguments: fr
you need to import the wanted language other wise this wont work: import moment from 'moment'; import localization from 'moment/locale/de' moment().locale("de", localization).format('LLL')

Agu Dondo · Accepted Answer · 2022-03-13 13:26:28Z

413

I had to import also the language:

import moment from 'moment' import 'moment/locale/es' // without this line it didn't work moment.locale('es')

Then use moment like you normally would

console.log(moment(date).fromNow())

edited Mar 13, 2022 at 13:26

answered Jul 1, 2017 at 18:09

Agu Dondo

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7 Comments

Kas Elvirov Over a year ago

Your answer more helpful than other because you've mentioned about import 'moment/locale/es'

Maniaque Over a year ago

Yes this is the correct answer... thanks, I was pulling my hair out wondering why it wasn't working. But this is a real pain having to import for any language type that might be used. There has to be a better way.

MKY Over a year ago

according to the documentation if someone wants all the locales to be included then he/she can use this require("moment/min/locales.min"); or using import import 'moment/min/locales.min'

Hamid Shoja Over a year ago

howmoment/locale/es can be used with i18next lib ?

tharinduPro Over a year ago

Use import 'moment/min/locales'; for all the languages.

|

Cloudscape Germany · Accepted Answer · 2014-10-15 08:14:01Z

Fastest method: Install with Bower

I just installed moment with bower and linked de.js as javascript resource in my html project.

bower install moment --save

You can also manually download the moment.js and de.js.

Link 'de.js' in your project

Linking the de.js in my main project file automatically changed the locale for all accesses to the moment class and its methods.

There will be no need anymore to do a moment.locale("de"). or moment.lang("de"). in the source code.

Just link your desired locale like this:

<script src="/bower_components/moment/moment.js"></script> <script src="/bower_components/moment/locale/de.js"></script>

Or you can link the libraries without the bower_components path, if you downloaded moment.js 1990ies-style via right-click, which still works fine in most scenarios.

This should be the correct answer. Just link the desired local with <script src="/bower_components/moment/locale/de.js"></script>.It works for me right now.
"There will be no need anymore to do a moment.locale("de"). or moment.lang("de"). in the source code.". I think this is still useful for dynamic apps that change the locale. Like you can theoretically change the locale in my app via a lang/country dropdown in my angular app and then moment should change formats dynamically which I would do I think with moment.locale($lang)
Sure, but you still need to load the javascript file in your index.html in my tests. This is still an issue in May 2017, maybe moment should include this in their docs.

Nashenas · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-05 20:54:11Z

44

With momentjs 2.8+, do the following:

moment.locale("de").format('LLL');

http://momentjs.com/docs/#/i18n/

answered Aug 5, 2014 at 20:54

Nashenas

1,7411 gold badge22 silver badges26 bronze badges

5 Comments

omninonsense Over a year ago

It should work; can you provide an example of where it doesn't work, also how are you using moment (did you install it via npm, etc)?

apadana Over a year ago

With recent moments (I tested in 2.18.1) use this: moment.locale("de"); var m = moment().format("LLL")

WesternGun Over a year ago

apadana is right: you set locale with moment.locale('de'), and you create a new object representing the date of now by moment() (note the parenthesis) and then format('LLL') it. The parenthesis is important. Tested in 2.20. Also, remember to use moment-with-locale.js and if necessary, change the name to be moment.js. Django just refuse to load moment-with-locale.js in my case.

Anthony Kal Over a year ago

if this one is not working, try this one : moment().locale('de').format('LLL');

Jeroen Crevits Over a year ago

This one is coorect, just don't forget to import te locale you want to use (cfr. Agu Dondo's answer).

Alan P. · Accepted Answer · 2022-09-02 18:06:03Z

After struggling, this worked for me for moment v2.26.0:

import React from "react"; import moment from "moment"; import frLocale from "moment/locale/fr"; import esLocale from "moment/locale/es"; export default function App() { moment.locale('fr', [frLocale, esLocale]) // can pass in 'en', 'fr', or 'es' let x = moment("2020-01-01 00:00:01"); return ( <div className="App"> {x.format("LLL")} <br /> {x.fromNow()} </div> ); }

You can pass in en, fr or es. If you wanted another language, you'd have to import the locale and add it to the array.

If you only need to support one language it is a bit simpler:

import React from "react"; import moment from "moment"; import "moment/locale/fr"; //always use French export default function App() { let x = moment("2020-01-01 00:00:01"); return ( <div className="App"> {x.format("LLL")} <br /> {x.fromNow()} </div> ); }

-- UPDATE --

In one case, importing all the locale files like above would resort in the last imported locale always being used (i.e. "es" in the above example), even though I was setting it to "fr". The solution that seems to work is:

import moment from 'moment'; import 'moment/min/locales'; ... moment.locale('fr');

stackdave · Accepted Answer · 2019-10-09 03:03:11Z

end 2017 / 2018: the anothers answers have too much old code to edit, so here my alternative clean answer:

with require

let moment = require('moment'); require('moment/locale/fr.js'); // or if you want to include all locales: require("moment/min/locales.min");

with imports

import moment from 'moment'; import 'moment/locale/fr'; // or if you want to include all locales: require("moment/min/locales.min");

Use:

moment.locale('fr'); moment().format('D MMM YY'); // Correct, set default global format // moment.locale('fr').format('D MMM YY') //Wrong old versions for global default format

with timezone

*require:

require('moment-range'); require('moment-timezone');

*import:

import 'moment-range'; import 'moment-timezone';

use zones:

const newYork = moment.tz("2014-06-01 12:00", "America/New_York"); const losAngeles = newYork.clone().tz("America/Los_Angeles"); const london = newYork.clone().tz("Europe/London");

function to format date

const ISOtoDate = function (dateString, format='') { // if date is not string use conversion: // value.toLocaleDateString() +' '+ value.toLocaleTimeString(); if ( !dateString ) { return ''; } if (format ) { return moment(dateString).format(format); } else { return moment(dateString); // It will use default global format } };

The only thing worked for me was change moment import to: import moment from 'moment/min/moment-with-locales';
@leojnxs yes, if you want to include all locales, but it's possible to work only with one or more specific locales doing a import for every language

Smart Coder · Accepted Answer · 2015-07-10 17:26:29Z

You'd need to add moment.lang(navigator.language) in your script.

And must also add each country locale you want to display in : for example for GB or FR, you need to add that locale format in moment.js library. An example of such format is available in momentjs documentation. If you don't add this format in moment.js then it'd ALWAYS pick up US locale as that's the only one that I currently see.

what if their browser is in 'en' and they are reading in 'es' then it will only show the the time in 'en'

mwarren · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-16 10:59:21Z

FOR METEOR USERS:

moment locales are not installed by default in meteor, you only get the 'en' locale with the default installation.

So you use the code as shown correctly in other answers:

moment.locale('it').format('LLL');

but it will remain in english until you install the locale you need.

There is a nice, clean way of adding individual locales for moment in meteor (supplied by rzymek).

Install the moment package in the usual meteor way with:

meteor add rzymek:moment

Then just add the locales that you need, e.g. for italian:

meteor add rzymek:moment-locale-it

Or if you really want to add all available locales (adds about 30k to your page):

meteor add rzymek:moment-locales

@AntonAL Good thing you sent me your comment, I've just noticed that the question wasn't actually for meteor. However my answer's pretty useful I reckon. I've edited my answer to reflect this.

apadana · Accepted Answer · 2017-11-28 13:31:48Z

7

With moment 2.18.1 and onward:

 moment.locale("de"); var m = moment().format("LLL")

edited Nov 28, 2017 at 13:31

answered Jul 21, 2017 at 8:36

apadana

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3 Comments

zeleven Over a year ago

Must include the locale files, otherwise it will not work.

Maniaque Over a year ago

This was already mentioned as not working unless the associated specific moment locale module was imported as well.

fedeteka Over a year ago

@Maniaque I didn't install nothing special just npm install --save moment and it works fine

Mussa Charles · Accepted Answer · 2020-01-05 12:09:07Z

This one just works by auto detecting the current user location.

import moment from "moment/min/moment-with-locales"; // Then use it as you always do. moment(yourDate).format("MMMM Do YYYY, h:mm a")

Taha · Accepted Answer · 2022-05-02 09:55:27Z

5

I am not sure what changed but importing the language file like this worked for me

import 'moment/src/locale/fr'; moment.locale('fr')

Notice the src in the import statement

edited May 2, 2022 at 9:55

answered Feb 21, 2020 at 11:51

Taha

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2 Comments

Husniddin Qurbonboyev Over a year ago

You missed single quote('fr) -> ('fr')

Taha Over a year ago

Thanks. Added the missing single quote.ss

Francisco Costa · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-11 20:50:52Z

for momentjs 2.12+, do the following:

moment.updateLocale('de');

Also note that you must use moment.updateLocale(localeName, config) to change an existing locale. moment.defineLocale(localeName, config) should only be used for creating a new locale.

Anil Nankar · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-25 07:26:33Z

Change the moment js language as per Version

Version: 2.8+

moment.locale('hi');

Version: 2.5.1

moment.lang('hi');

Claudio Scheuermann · Accepted Answer · 2017-06-04 03:28:20Z

4

work fine like that: return moment(status.created_at).locale('es').fromNow();

answered Jun 4, 2017 at 3:28

Claudio Scheuermann

911 bronze badge

1 Comment

Badacadabra Over a year ago

While this code may answer the question, providing additional context regarding how and/or why it solves the problem would improve the answer's long-term value.

Ram Pukar · Accepted Answer · 2016-06-05 03:42:19Z

<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <title>MomentJS</title> <script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.2.2/jquery.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="moment.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="locale/ne.js"></script> </head> <body> <script> jQuery(document).ready(function($) { moment.locale('en'); // default the locale to English var localLocale = moment(); moment.locale('ne'); // change the global locale to Nepalese var ne1 = localLocale.format('LLLL'); var ne2 = moment().format('LLLL'); $('.ne1').text(ne1); $('.ne2').text(ne2); }); </script> <p class="ne1"></p> <p class="ne2"></p> </body> </html>

Demo

GameScripting · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-01 14:12:43Z

As I was using webpack with gulp and friends (this generator set up everything for me) I had to make a change to the bower.json file. I had to override the default import for the moment package and select the file that comes with all the languages:

"overrides": { "moment": { "main": [ "min/moment-with-locales.min.js" ] } }

This is my full bower.json file:

{ "name": "html5", "version": "0.0.0", "dependencies": { "angular-animate": "~1.4.2", "angular-cookies": "~1.4.2", "angular-touch": "~1.4.2", "angular-sanitize": "~1.4.2", "angular-messages": "~1.4.2", "angular-ui-router": "~0.2.15", "bootstrap-sass": "~3.3.5", "angular-bootstrap": "~0.13.4", "malarkey": "yuanqing/malarkey#~1.3.1", "angular-toastr": "~1.5.0", "moment": "~2.10.6", "animate.css": "~3.4.0", "angular": "~1.4.2", "lodash": "^4.13.1", "angular-moment": "^0.10.3", "angularLocalStorage": "ngStorage#^0.3.2", "ngstorage": "^0.3.10" }, "devDependencies": { "angular-mocks": "~1.4.2" }, "overrides": { "bootstrap-sass": { "main": [ "assets/stylesheets/_bootstrap.scss", "assets/fonts/bootstrap/glyphicons-halflings-regular.eot", "assets/fonts/bootstrap/glyphicons-halflings-regular.svg", "assets/fonts/bootstrap/glyphicons-halflings-regular.ttf", "assets/fonts/bootstrap/glyphicons-halflings-regular.woff", "assets/fonts/bootstrap/glyphicons-halflings-regular.woff2" ] }, "moment": { "main": [ "min/moment-with-locales.min.js" ] } }, "resolutions": { "angular": "~1.4.2" } }

After this, you still have to declare/set the moment locale before outputting a date, right?
Of course :) This just ensures you have the translated phrases available so you can switch to another language (on the fly)

Dmitry · Accepted Answer · 2017-01-09 10:06:43Z

I'm using angular2-moment, but usage must be similar.

import { MomentModule } from "angular2-moment"; import moment = require("moment"); export class AppModule { constructor() { moment.locale('ru'); } }

WesternGun · Accepted Answer · 2018-01-14 22:30:49Z

For me, there are some changes to make(ver. 2.20)

You set locale with moment.locale('de'), and you create a new object representing the date of now by moment() (note the parenthesis) and then format('LLL') it. The parenthesis is important.

So that means:

moment.locale('de'); var now = moment(); now.format('LLL');

Also, remember to use moment-with-locale.js. The file contains all locale info and has a larger file size. Download the locale folder is not enough. If necessary, change the name to be moment.js. Django just refuses to load moment-with-locale.js in my case.

EDIT: It turned out that renaming the file is not necessary. I just forgot to invoke it in the page so Django does not think loading it is necessary, so my fault.

Oscar Javier Jimenez · Accepted Answer · 2023-08-19 01:53:09Z

Please try:

import moment from 'moment/moment';
import 'moment/locale/es';

I found the solution from https://es.stackoverflow.com/questions/117997/c%C3%B3mo-utilizar-momentjs-con-fechas-en-espa%C3%B1ol

For some reason, this is the only version that worked for me out of all those old answers. Thanks!

Rob Jens · Accepted Answer · 2015-12-03 20:34:03Z

Whoops slip of the pen. I'd solve this: var moment = function(x) { return moment(x).locale('de'); } The other ways don't really seem to stick/hold under conditions (for me).

Yanick Rochon · Accepted Answer · 2020-02-04 16:28:39Z

For those working in asynchronous environments, moment behaves unexpectedly when loading locales on demand.

Instead of

await import('moment/locale/en-ca'); moment.locale('en-ca');

reverse the order

moment.locale('en-ca'); await import('moment/locale/en-ca');

It seems like the locales are loaded into the current selected locale, overriding any previously set locale information. So switching the locale first, then loading the locale information does not cause this issue.

Bhanu pratap · Accepted Answer · 2021-05-03 07:23:30Z

To change the locale using moment (version later then 2.8.0) perform below steps.

load moment locale files in index.html as below <script src="../node_modules/moment/locale/it.js"></script>
Set locale as required - moment.locale('it');
Now moment.locale() will return "it"
You can use moment with any language like - JavaScript, Angular, node etc.

Ashik Mahmud · Accepted Answer · 2021-01-21 04:03:47Z

First Call , p5.js and moment-with-locales.js and then do code like below and you will get your result.

In this result I have showed Month Name in different language :)

Check code please :

 var monthNameEnglish = moment().locale('en-gb').format('MMMM'); document.getElementById('monthNameEnglish').innerHTML = monthNameEnglish; var monthNameGerman = moment().locale('de').format('MMMM'); document.getElementById('monthNameGerman').innerHTML = monthNameGerman;

<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <title>P5.js and Moment.js</title> <script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/p5.js/0.5.16/p5.js"></script> <script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/moment.js/2.19.4/moment-with-locales.js"></script> <h3>English Version Month Name</h3> <p id="monthNameEnglish"></p> <h3> German Version Month Name</h3> <p id="monthNameGerman"></p> </head> <body> </body> </html>

What's the reason for importing p5.js? I don't think it's related
@Andra, you put a negative review , but even you don't know the answer ?

KARTHIKEYAN.A · Accepted Answer · 2022-07-22 11:18:43Z

We can use moment.locale() method to pass your own language ex. I'm using window.navigator.language (ex.en-US) to pass lange at run time.

const formatDate = date => moment(date).locale(window.navigator.language).format('LL')

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