python · StanFromIreland · Aug 26, 2026 · Sep 13, 2026 · Sep 13, 2026 · Sep 13, 2026
@@ -2688,12 +2688,48 @@ These modified docstrings are created automatically together with the function
 definitions that are derived from the methods at import time.
 
 
+.. _turtle-docstring-translation:
+
 Translation of docstrings into different languages
 --------------------------------------------------
 
-There is a utility to create a dictionary the keys of which are the method names
-and the values of which are the docstrings of the public methods of the classes
-Screen and Turtle.
+The docstrings of the public methods of the Screen and Turtle classes, and of
+the functions derived from them, can be replaced by translations, so that
+:func:`help` and IDE tooltips are shown in another language.
+
+Translation catalogues can be installed from PyPI using the
+:pypi:`turtle-translations` package, which holds the docstring dictionaries
+for various languages. To use it, you must first install it with :program:`pip`::
+
+   python -m pip install turtle-translations
+
+The language is taken from the :envvar:`PYTHON_TURTLE_LANG` environment
+variable, or, if that is unset, from the ``language`` entry of the
+:file:`turtle.cfg` file. If no docstring dictionary is found for it, the
+English docstrings are kept.
+
+.. envvar:: PYTHON_TURTLE_LANG
+
+   The name of the language to read the docstring dictionary for.
+   Ignored when the :option:`-E` or :option:`-I` command line options are used.
+
+   .. versionadded:: 3.16
+
+A docstring dictionary is a module defining a dictionary named ``docsdict``,
+the keys of which are method names such as ``Turtle.forward`` and the values of
+which are the translated docstrings. It is looked up on :data:`sys.path`, first
+as the submodule of that name of a package named :mod:`!turtle_translations`,
+then as a top-level module named :samp:`turtle_docstringdict_{language}.py`,
+and is read in at import time. Entries naming a method which does not exist in
+the running version are ignored.
+
+.. versionchanged:: 3.16
+   The docstring dictionary may also be provided as a submodule of a
+   :mod:`!turtle_translations` package, and entries naming an unknown method
+   are ignored instead of reported.
+
+To translate the docstrings into a language which is not available yet, write
+out a template with :func:`write_docstringdict` and translate its values.
 
 .. function:: write_docstringdict(filename="turtle_docstringdict")
 
@@ -2705,17 +2741,6 @@ Screen and Turtle.
    Python script :file:`{filename}.py`.  It is intended to serve as a template
    for translation of the docstrings into different languages.
 
-If you (or your students) want to use :mod:`!turtle` with online help in your
-native language, you have to translate the docstrings and save the resulting
-file as e.g. :file:`turtle_docstringdict_german.py`.
-
-If you have an appropriate entry in your :file:`turtle.cfg` file this dictionary
-will be read in at import time and will replace the original English docstrings.
-
-At the time of this writing there are docstring dictionaries in German and in
-Italian.  (Requests please to [email protected].)
-
-
 
 How to configure Screen and Turtles
 -----------------------------------
@@ -2766,9 +2791,9 @@ Short explanation of selected entries:
   the cfg file).
 - If you want to reflect the turtle its state, you have to use ``resizemode =
   auto``.
-- If you set e.g. ``language = italian`` the docstringdict
-  :file:`turtle_docstringdict_italian.py` will be loaded at import time (if
-  present on the import path, e.g. in the same directory as :mod:`!turtle`).
+- The *language* entry selects the language of the docstrings, unless the
+  :envvar:`PYTHON_TURTLE_LANG` environment variable is set. See
+  :ref:`turtle-docstring-translation` for more information.
 - The entries *exampleturtle* and *examplescreen* define the names of these
   objects as they occur in the docstrings.  The transformation of
   method-docstrings to function-docstrings will delete these names from the

@@ -675,6 +675,16 @@ tkinter
   with no unit suffix to :class:`int` or :class:`float`.
   (Contributed by Serhiy Storchaka in :gh:`153513`.)
 
+
+turtle
+------
+
+* Translations of the :mod:`turtle` docstrings are now distributed on PyPI
+  in the :pypi:`turtle-translations` package. Additionally, added the
+  :envvar:`PYTHON_TURTLE_LANG` environment variable to select the language.
+  (Contributed by Stan Ulbrych in :gh:`156360`.)
+
+
 xml
 ---
 

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 from test import support
 from test.support import import_helper
 from test.support import os_helper
+from test.support.script_helper import assert_python_ok
 
 
 turtle = import_helper.import_module('turtle')
@@ -713,5 +714,48 @@ def test_all_signatures(self):
                 self.assertEqual(str(sig), known_signatures[name])
 
 
+class TurtleDocstringTranslationTest(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def _make_translation(self, dirname, filename, docstring):
+        with open(os.path.join(dirname, filename), 'w') as f:
+            f.write('docsdict = {"Turtle.forward": %r}\n' % docstring)
+
+    def _make_package(self, dirname):
+        pkgdir = os.path.join(dirname, 'turtle_translations')
+        os.mkdir(pkgdir)
+        with open(os.path.join(pkgdir, '__init__.py'), 'w'):
+            pass
+        return pkgdir
+
+    def _get_forward_docstring(self, dirname, lang):
+        rc, out, err = assert_python_ok(
+            '-c', 'import turtle; print(turtle.forward.__doc__)',
+            PYTHONPATH=dirname, PYTHON_TURTLE_LANG=lang)
+        return out.decode()
+
+    def test_translation_from_package(self):
+        with os_helper.temp_dir() as dirname:
+            pkgdir = self._make_package(dirname)
+            self._make_translation(pkgdir, 'ga.py', 'chun tosaigh')
+
+            out = self._get_forward_docstring(dirname, 'ga')
+            self.assertIn('chun tosaigh', out)
+
+    def test_translation_from_top_level_dict(self):
+        with os_helper.temp_dir() as dirname:
+            self._make_translation(dirname, 'turtle_docstringdict_ga.py',
+                                  'chun tosaigh')
+
+            out = self._get_forward_docstring(dirname, 'ga')
+            self.assertIn('chun tosaigh', out)
+
+    def test_unknown_language(self):
+        with os_helper.temp_dir() as dirname:
+            out = self._get_forward_docstring(dirname, 'ga')
+
+            self.assertIn('Cannot find docsdict for ga', out)
+            self.assertIn('Move the turtle forward', out)
+
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@
 import inspect
 import sys
 
+from os import environ
 from os.path import isfile, split, join
 from pathlib import Path
 from contextlib import contextmanager
@@ -4017,18 +4018,33 @@ def read_docstrings(lang):
     Transfer docstrings, translated to lang, from a dictionary-file
     to the methods of classes Screen and Turtle and - in revised form -
     to the corresponding functions.
+
+    The dictionary is looked up as the submodule lang of the package
+    turtle_translations, then as the top-level module
+    turtle_docstringdict_lang.
+
+    Entries naming a method which does not exist in this version are
+    ignored.
     """
-    modname = "turtle_docstringdict_%(language)s" % {'language':lang.lower()}
-    module = __import__(modname)
+    import importlib
+    lang = lang.lower()
+    try:
+        module = importlib.import_module("turtle_translations.%s" % lang)
+    except ModuleNotFoundError:
+        module = importlib.import_module("turtle_docstringdict_%s" % lang)
     docsdict = module.docsdict
     for key in docsdict:
         try:
 #            eval(key).im_func.__doc__ = docsdict[key]
             eval(key).__doc__ = docsdict[key]
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass
         except Exception:
             print("Bad docstring-entry: %s" % key)
 
 _LANGUAGE = _CFG["language"]
+if not sys.flags.ignore_environment:
+    _LANGUAGE = environ.get("PYTHON_TURTLE_LANG") or _LANGUAGE
 
 try:
     if _LANGUAGE != "english":

diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2026-08-26-15-28-59.gh-issue-156360.ctZMHf.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2026-08-26-15-28-59.gh-issue-156360.ctZMHf.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+Add the :envvar:`PYTHON_TURTLE_LANG` environment variable to select the
+language of :mod:`turtle` docstrings, and allow the docstring dictionary to
+be provided as a submodule of the :pypi:`turtle-translations` package.
+Entries naming a method which does not exist in the running version are now
+ignored.