diff --git a/docs/api/frontend.md b/docs/api/frontend.md
index cc49d8ea9..0f499eb43 100644
--- a/docs/api/frontend.md
+++ b/docs/api/frontend.md
@@ -162,24 +162,45 @@ Pagy is I18n ready. That means that all the UI strings that Pagy uses are stored
 
 The YAML file is available at `Pagy.root.join('locales', 'pagy.yml')`. It contains a few entries used in the the UI by helpers and templates through the [pagy_t method](#pagy_tpath-vars) (eqivalent to the `I18n.t` or rails `t` helper).
 
-By default, the `pagy_t` method uses the Pagy implementation of I18n, which does not depend on the `I18n` gem in any way. It's _5x faster_ and uses _3.5x less memory_, but it provides only pluralization/interpolation without translation, so it's only useful with single language apps (i.e. only `fr` or only `en` or only ...)
+By default, the `pagy_t` method uses the Pagy implementation of I18n, which does not depend on the `I18n` gem in any way. It's _5x faster_ and uses _3.5x less memory_, but it provides only pluralization/interpolation without dynamic translation, so it's only useful with single language apps (i.e. only `fr` or only `en` or only ...) that don't need to switch between languages.
 
 If you need full blown I18n, you should require the `i18n` extra, which will override the `pagy_t` method to use directly `::I18n.t`.
 
 ### Pagy::Frontend::I18N Constant
 
-The `Pagy::Frontend::I18N` constant is the core of the Pagy I18n implementation. It has no effect if you use the `i18n` extra (which uses the `I18n.t` method directly). This constant allows to control the dictionary file to load and the pluralization proc.
+The `Pagy::Frontend::I18N` constant is the core of the Pagy I18n implementation. It has no effect if you use the `i18n` extra (which uses the `I18n.t` method directly). This constant allows to control the dictionary file, the language to load and the pluralization proc.
 
-#### Pagy::Frontend::I18N.load_file(file)
+#### Pagy::Frontend::I18N.load(file:..., language:'en')
 
-This method allow to load a custom dictionary file, different from `Pagy.root.join('locales', 'pagy.yml')`. If the `i18n` extra is used it has no effect. It is tipically used in the Pagy initializer file _(see [Configuration](../how-to.md#global-configuration))_. For example:
+This method allows to load a built-in language (different than the default 'en') and/or a custom dictionary file, different from `Pagy.root.join('locales', 'pagy.yml')`. If the `i18n` extra is used it has no effect. It is tipically used in the Pagy initializer file _(see [Configuration](../how-to.md#global-configuration))_. For example:
 
 ```ruby
-Pagy::Frontend::I18N.load_file('path/to/dictionary.yml')
+# this would load the Italian variant of the built-in dictionary
+Pagy::Frontend::I18N.load(language:'it')
+
+# this would load the default English variant of 'path/to/dictionary.yml'
+Pagy::Frontend::I18N.load(file:'path/to/dictionary.yml')
+
+# this would load the Italian variant of 'path/to/dictionary.yml'
+Pagy::Frontend::I18N.load(file:'path/to/dictionary.yml', language:'it')
 ```
 
+**Notice**: the Pagy implementation of I18n is designed to speedup single language apps and does not provide dynamic translation, so the `language` is statically loaded at startup-time and cannot be changed. Use the `i18n` extra if you need dynamic translation.
+
 #### Pagy::Frontend::I18N[:plurals]
 
 This variable controls the internal pluralization. If the `i18n` extra is used it has no effect.
 
-By default the variable is set to a proc that receives the `count` as a single argument and returns the plural type string (e.g. something like `'zero'`, `'one'` or `'other'`, depending on the passed count). You should customize it only for pluralization types different than English.
+Pagy tries to set the language plural rule proc when you use the `Pagy::Frontend::I18N.load` method, by loading the built-in plural rules.
+
+If there is no rule defined for the language loaded, the variable is set to the `:zero_one_other` plural rule (default for English language).
+
+You may want to define a custom rule for your custom language. For example:
+
+```ruby
+# this would apply a custom pluralization rule to the current loaded dictionary
+Pagy::Frontend::I18N[:plural] = -> (count) {|count| ...}
+```
+
+The custom proc should receive the `count` as a single argument and should return the plural type string (e.g. something like `'zero'`, `'one'` or `'other'`, depending on the passed count). You should customize it only for pluralization types not included in the built-in plural rules. In that case, please submit a PR with your dictionary file and plural rule. Thanks.
+
diff --git a/lib/locales/pagy.yml b/lib/locales/pagy.yml
index 580018221..c94ea430e 100644
--- a/lib/locales/pagy.yml
+++ b/lib/locales/pagy.yml
@@ -22,3 +22,5 @@ en:
     items:
       show: "Show"
       items: "items per page"
+
+# PR for other languages are very welcome. Thanks!
diff --git a/lib/locales/plurals.rb b/lib/locales/plurals.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f88aeff0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/locales/plurals.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# This file adds support for multiple built-in plualiztion types.
+# It defines the pluralization procs and gets eval(ed) at I18N.load time
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+# utility variables
+zero_one = ['zero', 'one']
+
+# Rules
+# A rule is a proc returning a plural type string based on the passed count
+# Each plural rule may apply to many language/rule pairs below
+rules = {
+  zero_one_other: -> (count) {zero_one[count] || 'other'}
+}
+
+# Plurals (language/rule pairs)
+# The default rule for missing languages is the :zero_one_other rule (used for English)
+plurals = Hash.new(rules[:zero_one_other])
+
+# Entries for all the languages defined in the pagy.yml dictionary
+plurals['en'] = rules[:zero_one_other]
+
+# PR for other languages are very welcome. Thanks!
+
+# Return plurals
+plurals
diff --git a/lib/pagy/extras/i18n.rb b/lib/pagy/extras/i18n.rb
index 1eb08d3fc..68b658f9c 100644
--- a/lib/pagy/extras/i18n.rb
+++ b/lib/pagy/extras/i18n.rb
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ module Frontend
 
     # Override the built-in pagy_t
     def pagy_t(*args)
-      I18n.t(*args)
+      ::I18n.t(*args)
     end
 
   end
diff --git a/lib/pagy/frontend.rb b/lib/pagy/frontend.rb
index 81d36ef51..fe0988a30 100644
--- a/lib/pagy/frontend.rb
+++ b/lib/pagy/frontend.rb
@@ -54,19 +54,20 @@ def pagy_link_proc(pagy, link_extra='')
                                                  else                           '' end } #{extra}>#{text}</a>" }
     end
 
-    # Pagy::Frontend::I18N constant
-    I18N_DATA = YAML.load_file(Pagy.root.join('locales', 'pagy.yml')).first[1]
-    zero_one  = ['zero', 'one']; I18N = { plurals: -> (c) {zero_one[c] || 'other'}}
-    def I18N.load_file(file) I18N_DATA.replace(YAML.load_file(file).first[1]) end
+    # Pagy::Frontend::I18N
+    def (I18N = {data:{}}).load(file:Pagy.root.join('locales', 'pagy.yml'), language: 'en')
+      self[:data]   = YAML.load_file(file)[language]
+      self[:plural] = eval(Pagy.root.join('locales', 'plurals.rb').read)[language] #rubocop:disable Security/Eval
+    end; I18N.load
 
-    # Similar to I18n.t for interpolation and pluralization but without translation
-    # Use only for single-language apps: it is specialized for Pagy and 5x faster than I18n.t
-    # See also https://ddnexus.github.io/pagy/extras/i18n to use the standard I18n gem instead
+    # Similar to I18n.t for streamlined interpolation and pluralization but without dynamic translation.
+    # It is specialized for Pagy and 5x faster than I18n.t (see https://ddnexus.github.io/pagy/api/frontend#i18n)
+    # See also https://ddnexus.github.io/pagy/extras/i18n if you need to use the standard I18n gem instead
     def pagy_t(path, vars={})
-      value = I18N_DATA.dig(*path.to_s.split('.')) or return %(translation missing: "#{path}")
+      value = I18N[:data].dig(*path.split('.')) or return %(translation missing: "#{path}")
       if value.is_a?(Hash)
         vars.key?(:count) or return value
-        plural = I18N[:plurals].call(vars[:count])
+        plural = I18N[:plural].call(vars[:count])
         value.key?(plural) or return %(invalid pluralization data: "#{path}" cannot be used with count: #{vars[:count]}; key "#{plural}" is missing.)
         value = value[plural] or return %(translation missing: "#{path}")
       end
diff --git a/test/pagy/extras/i18n_test.rb b/test/pagy/extras/i18n_test.rb
index c1e26be4d..a1625099b 100644
--- a/test/pagy/extras/i18n_test.rb
+++ b/test/pagy/extras/i18n_test.rb
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@
 
   describe "#pagy_t" do
     def test_data
-      assert_equal "&lsaquo;&nbsp;Prev", Pagy::Frontend::I18N_DATA['pagy']['nav']['prev']
-      assert_equal "&hellip;", Pagy::Frontend::I18N_DATA['pagy']['nav']['gap']
+      assert_equal "&lsaquo;&nbsp;Prev", Pagy::Frontend::I18N[:data]['pagy']['nav']['prev']
+      assert_equal "&hellip;", Pagy::Frontend::I18N[:data]['pagy']['nav']['gap']
     end
 
     def test_translation
diff --git a/test/pagy/frontend_test.rb b/test/pagy/frontend_test.rb
index 14857cf93..da242b37b 100644
--- a/test/pagy/frontend_test.rb
+++ b/test/pagy/frontend_test.rb
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ def test_link_extras
 
   describe "#pagy_t" do
     def test_data
-      assert_equal "&lsaquo;&nbsp;Prev", Pagy::Frontend::I18N_DATA['pagy']['nav']['prev']
-      assert_equal "&hellip;", Pagy::Frontend::I18N_DATA['pagy']['nav']['gap']
+      assert_equal "&lsaquo;&nbsp;Prev", Pagy::Frontend::I18N[:data]['pagy']['nav']['prev']
+      assert_equal "&hellip;", Pagy::Frontend::I18N[:data]['pagy']['nav']['gap']
     end
 
     def test_translation
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ def test_render_info_no_118n_key
     end
 
     def test_render_info_with_existing_118n_key
-      Pagy::Frontend::I18N_DATA['pagy']['info']['product'] = { 'zero'  => 'Products',
+      Pagy::Frontend::I18N[:data]['pagy']['info']['product'] = { 'zero'  => 'Products',
                                                                'one'   => 'Product',
                                                                'other' => 'Products' }
       pagy = Pagy.new count: 0, item_path: 'pagy.info.product'