WCAG 3.1.1 Language of Page: what it means and how to fix it
Short answer: Declare the page language with a lang attribute on the <html> tag, so screen readers pronounce the text correctly.
What it requires
The default human language of each page must be programmatically determinable, which in HTML means <html lang="en"> or the appropriate language code.
Who it affects
Screen reader users. Without a language, the screen reader guesses, and it may read English with the pronunciation rules of another language.
How it shows up in ADA website claims
A missing lang attribute is a common automated finding and is routinely listed among the violations in complaints.
How to check your site
View the page source and look at the first html tag. It should have a valid lang value such as en or en-US.
How to fix it
<html lang="en">For passages in another language, mark them: <p lang="es">Envío gratis</p>. That is 3.1.2, Level AA.
Frequently asked questions
en or en-US?
Both are valid. Use en unless you have a reason to specify a region.
My builder does not let me edit the html tag. What now?
Most platforms set it from the store or site language setting. Check that setting first.
Is this a quick fix?
Yes, it is usually one line in the theme layout file.
Automated rules that test this (axe-core): html-has-lang, html-lang-valid, html-xml-lang-mismatch. Our scanner runs these checks.
Other commonly cited criteria
- 1.1.1 Non-text Content
- 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded)
- 1.3.1 Info and Relationships
- 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum)
- 1.4.4 Resize Text
- 2.1.1 Keyboard
- 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks
- 2.4.2 Page Titled
- 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context)
- 2.4.7 Focus Visible
- 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions
- 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value
Read the official WCAG 2.1 specification at W3C.
Proof of Access provides technical accessibility assessments. We are not a law firm and nothing on this page is legal advice. If you have received a demand letter or a lawsuit, talk to an attorney.