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Jun 25, 2025 09:35 PM
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multilingual fonts
squarespace
google fonts
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AI summary
Choose multilingual fonts in Squarespace carefully by testing actual phrases for character support, using Google Fonts, and ensuring backup options. For RTL languages, manual alignment or custom CSS may be needed. Always verify font compatibility with your content before finalizing your design.
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Multilingual Fonts on Squarespace: What Actually Works
TL;DR
- Not all Squarespace fonts support every alphabet - test before you commit
- Use Google Fonts to find fonts that support your language
- Test actual phrases from your site, not just sample text
- For RTL languages, you'll need right alignment or custom code
- Always have a backup font ready
Finding Fonts That Actually Work
Building a website in languages other than English means font choice isn't just about looks. Each font supports different character sets, and if your chosen font doesn't include the characters you need, they simply won't display properly.
How to Find Compatible Fonts
Start with Google Fonts
- Go to Google Fonts and use the 'Languages' dropdown to filter fonts that support your alphabet
- Don't just look at the samples - type in actual phrases from your website to see how they render
- Make a shortlist of 3-4 fonts that work well with your content
Test with real content
Sample text like "Lorem ipsum" won't tell you if accented characters or special symbols display correctly. Copy and paste actual headings and paragraphs from your site to test properly.
Adding Your Font to Squarespace
Once you've found a font that handles your content properly:
- Open your site styles panel and navigate to the Fonts section
- Search for your chosen font - not all Google Fonts are available in Squarespace, which is why having alternatives matters
- Apply the font to different text elements (headings, body text, navigation)
- Save and check your live site to make sure everything displays correctly
Pro tip: Always set a backup font. If Squarespace doesn't have your first choice, you won't be scrambling to find an alternative.
Handling Special Characters and RTL Text
Special Characters Not Displaying?
If accented letters or symbols aren't showing up correctly, try pasting your text as plain text. This strips out any hidden formatting that might interfere with character display.
Right-to-Left (RTL) Languages
Squarespace doesn't have built-in RTL support, but you have options:
For short sections: Paste your text into a text block and manually align it to the right. This works for headings or brief paragraphs.
For extensive RTL content: You'll need custom CSS code. This requires technical knowledge and can affect other parts of your site, so test thoroughly or get help from someone experienced with code.
Common Questions
Do all Squarespace fonts work with different languages?
No. Each font includes specific character sets. A font might have beautiful English letters but be missing the accented characters you need for French or German.
How do I add RTL text properly?
For basic needs, right-align your text blocks manually. For full RTL implementation, you'll need custom CSS - consider getting help with this as it can be tricky.
My special characters look wrong or don't appear. What now?
First, try pasting the text as plain text. If that doesn't work, your font probably doesn't support those characters - time to try a different font from your shortlist.
Key Terms
RTL Text: Text that reads from right to left, used in languages like Arabic, Hebrew, and Persian.
Character Set: The collection of letters, numbers, and symbols included in a font file.
Plain Text: Text without any formatting, which can help resolve display issues.
Bottom Line
Getting multilingual fonts right in Squarespace comes down to testing early and often. Don't assume a font will work - verify it with your actual content before you build your entire design around it. Having backup options saves you from having to redesign everything if your first choice doesn't work out.