In order to create a multi-language Magento 2 store: 

1. Add a New Store View.

  • Go to Admin Panel Stores > All Stores and press the Create Store View button.

Magento 2 Multi-Language Store,Create Website

2. Fill in the Store View Information.

  • Choose store the store-view will be linked-to in Store select box.
  • In the Name field, you correspondingly set the name of the store-view.
  • Set the code of the store-view (it can be used in the URL).
  • Enable the store-view in Status select box.

Magento 2 Multi-Language Store,Store View Information

Once you have finished with all the changes don't forget to press the Save Store View button.

Magento 2 Multi-Language Store,Store View Information

3. Edit Store-View.

Also, you can edit store-views, e.g. change the name of a store view. You can do this by clicking on store-view link and editing its fields easily, just like during the creation.

Magento 2 Multi-Language Store,Store View Information

4. Set Locale (Set Language).

  • Once creating a new store view has been done, you have to set it's locale by going to Admin Panel > Stores > Configuration > Store View > [Store View Name].

Magento 2 Multi-Language Store,Store View Configuration

  • In the General section find Locale Options and set a language for the store view.

Magento 2 Locale Options

  • Once you have finished with the store view locale configurations don't forget to press the Save Config button.

Magento 2 Configurations,Save Config

After all these actions you should reindex Magento 2 and clear the cache.

Now you should be able to create a store view in Magento 2. However, it is just the first step. In order to complete the Magento 2 multi-language store setting up you also need to take the following steps:

1. Install and Enable Magento 2 Language Packs

Learn where to find and how to configure the language packs in Magento 2.

2. Translate CMS Page and CMS Block

Step-by-step instructions on how to translate CMS blocks/pages and the answer to the question of whether you need to create new pages and blocks for translation.

3. Translate Product  and Category Page

The peculiarities of Magento 2 product, category pages, and attribute values translation. 

5. Translate Email Templates

Translate and configure translated emails in Magento 2 using this illustrated guide.

6. Translate Product Attributes and Attribute Options

Magento 2 product attributes & attributes option translation and their display on the storefront.

Configuring a multi-language store is one thing but managing it is something different. So you might want to learn about the must-have Magento 2 extensions for multi-language website you could use.