diff --git a/pywb/templates/frame_insert.html b/pywb/templates/frame_insert.html
index 8d05b5d5..e9e0e53e 100644
--- a/pywb/templates/frame_insert.html
+++ b/pywb/templates/frame_insert.html
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ html, body
 {% if ui.vue_timeline_banner %}
 <div id="app" style="width: 100%; height: 200px"></div>
 <script>
-    VueUI.main("{{ static_prefix }}", "{{ url }}", "{{ wb_prefix }}", "{{ timestamp }}", "{{ ui.logo }}", i18nStrings);
+    VueUI.main("{{ static_prefix }}", "{{ url }}", "{{ wb_prefix }}", "{{ timestamp }}", "{{ ui.logo }}", "{{ env.pywb_lang | default('en') }}", i18nStrings);
 </script>
 {% endif %}
 
diff --git a/pywb/templates/query.html b/pywb/templates/query.html
index fccb4db9..fdcbe286 100644
--- a/pywb/templates/query.html
+++ b/pywb/templates/query.html
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@
   renderCal.init();
 
 {% else %}
-  VueUI.main("{{ static_prefix }}", "{{ url }}", "{{ prefix }}", undefined, "{{ ui.logo }}", i18nStrings);
+  VueUI.main("{{ static_prefix }}", "{{ url }}", "{{ prefix }}", undefined, "{{ ui.logo }}", "{{ env.pywb_lang | default('en') }}", i18nStrings);
 
 {% endif %}
 
diff --git a/pywb/vueui/src/i18n.js b/pywb/vueui/src/i18n.js
index 3c584cfe..65abc26e 100644
--- a/pywb/vueui/src/i18n.js
+++ b/pywb/vueui/src/i18n.js
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
 export class PywbI18N {
-  static init = config => {
+  static #locale = ''; // private (can only be set here)
+  static getLocale() { // get via public static method
+    return PywbI18N.#locale;
+  }
+  static init = (locale, config) => {
     if (PywbI18N.instance) {
       throw new Error('cannot instantiate PywbI18N twice');
     }
+    PywbI18N.#locale = locale;
     PywbI18N.instance = new PywbI18N(config);
   }
 
diff --git a/pywb/vueui/src/index.js b/pywb/vueui/src/index.js
index 257c4d19..29ee1e6e 100644
--- a/pywb/vueui/src/index.js
+++ b/pywb/vueui/src/index.js
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@ import Vue from "vue/dist/vue.esm.browser";
 
 
 // ===========================================================================
-export function main(staticPrefix, url, prefix, timestamp, logoUrl, i18nStrings) {
-  PywbI18N.init(i18nStrings);
+export function main(staticPrefix, url, prefix, timestamp, logoUrl, locale, i18nStrings) {
+  PywbI18N.init(locale, i18nStrings);
   const loadingSpinner = new LoadingSpinner({text: PywbI18N.instance?.getText('Loading...')}); // bootstrap loading-spinner EARLY ON
   new CDXLoader(staticPrefix, url, prefix, timestamp, logoUrl, loadingSpinner);
 }