diff --git a/src/config/ConfigDescriptions.hpp b/src/config/ConfigDescriptions.hpp
index f819e293..78e86e17 100644
--- a/src/config/ConfigDescriptions.hpp
+++ b/src/config/ConfigDescriptions.hpp
@@ -138,10 +138,16 @@ inline static const std::vector<SConfigOptionDescription> CONFIG_OPTIONS = {
     },
     SConfigOptionDescription{
         .value       = "general:modal_parent_blocking",
-        .description = "If true, parent windows of modals will not be interactive.",
+        .description = "if true, parent windows of modals will not be interactive.",
         .type        = CONFIG_OPTION_BOOL,
         .data        = SConfigOptionDescription::SBoolData{true},
     },
+    SConfigOptionDescription{
+        .value       = "general:locale",
+        .description = "overrides the system locale",
+        .type        = CONFIG_OPTION_STRING_SHORT,
+        .data        = SConfigOptionDescription::SStringData{""},
+    },
 
     /*
      * decoration:
diff --git a/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp b/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp
index 775d3beb..fc020d7a 100644
--- a/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp
+++ b/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp
@@ -463,6 +463,7 @@ CConfigManager::CConfigManager() {
     registerConfigVar("general:col.nogroup_border", Hyprlang::CConfigCustomValueType{&configHandleGradientSet, configHandleGradientDestroy, "0xffffaaff"});
     registerConfigVar("general:col.nogroup_border_active", Hyprlang::CConfigCustomValueType{&configHandleGradientSet, configHandleGradientDestroy, "0xffff00ff"});
     registerConfigVar("general:modal_parent_blocking", Hyprlang::INT{1});
+    registerConfigVar("general:locale", {""});
 
     registerConfigVar("misc:disable_hyprland_logo", Hyprlang::INT{0});
     registerConfigVar("misc:disable_splash_rendering", Hyprlang::INT{0});
diff --git a/src/i18n/Engine.cpp b/src/i18n/Engine.cpp
index d78689a6..64c919ba 100644
--- a/src/i18n/Engine.cpp
+++ b/src/i18n/Engine.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "Engine.hpp"
 
 #include <hyprutils/i18n/I18nEngine.hpp>
+#include "../config/ConfigValue.hpp"
 
 using namespace I18n;
 using namespace Hyprutils::I18n;
@@ -1105,5 +1106,7 @@ I18n::CI18nEngine::CI18nEngine() {
 }
 
 std::string I18n::CI18nEngine::localize(eI18nKeys key, const Hyprutils::I18n::translationVarMap& vars) {
-    return huEngine->localizeEntry(localeStr, key, vars);
+    static auto CONFIG_LOCALE = CConfigValue<std::string>("general:locale");
+    std::string locale        = *CONFIG_LOCALE != "" ? *CONFIG_LOCALE : localeStr;
+    return huEngine->localizeEntry(locale, key, vars);
 }