Translate Text from Shell Script - Complete Guide

Automate translations using the WhatsMate Translation REST API

Posted on February 4, 2026   Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Twitter Share on Google+

Last reviewed: March 12, 2026  

Automate Text Translation with Shell Scripts

Need to translate text programmatically from your terminal or automation scripts? This guide walks you through translating text using a simple shell script and the WhatsMate Translation REST API. Perfect for developers, system administrators, and anyone who wants to integrate automatic translations into their workflows.

📋 Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

  1. Basic shell scripting knowledge - Familiarity with terminal commands
  2. Language codes - Know the ISO language codes for source and target languages

ℹ️ Note: The trial account allows up to 10 translation API calls for learning purposes. Subscribe to a Premium plan for production use.

🎥 Video Walkthrough

📝 Step-by-Step Implementation

Follow these steps to perform your first text translation from a shell script:

1. Copy the Script Template

Start by copying the following source code into your script file:

2. Configure the Parameters

Customize these key parameters in the script:

  • Line 8: Replace with the source language code (e.g., en for English)
  • Line 9: Replace with the target language code (e.g., id for Indonesian)
  • Line 10: Provide the text you want to translate

🔍 Looking for language codes? See the complete listing of supported language codes.

3. Make the Script Executable

Set execute permissions on your script:

chmod 755 translate-text.sh

4. Run the Translation

Execute the script to see the translated result:

./translate-text.sh

🔧 Common Use Cases

This automation approach is ideal for:

  • Multi-language notifications - Translate alerts for international teams
  • Content localization - Automate translation of user-generated content
  • Data processing pipelines - Translate text data in batch workflows
  • Customer support automation - Translate support tickets or responses
  • Integration with cron jobs - Schedule regular translation tasks

🚀 Get Started Today

Ready to automate your text translations? You’ll need an account to access the API. Sign up for a Premium plan and start translating within minutes!

Next Steps: Once you’ve mastered basic text translation, explore translating text in other programming languages through the Translation API Getting Started Guide.