diff --git a/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-blog/src/__tests__/feed.test.ts b/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-blog/src/__tests__/feed.test.ts
index d7747d16300c..367872215282 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-blog/src/__tests__/feed.test.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-blog/src/__tests__/feed.test.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ const DefaultI18N: I18n = {
   currentLocale: 'en',
   locales: ['en'],
   defaultLocale: 'en',
+  path: '1i8n',
   localeConfigs: {
     en: {
       label: 'English',
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-blog/src/__tests__/index.test.ts b/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-blog/src/__tests__/index.test.ts
index 47d4b98fd4e0..4ec710ce0a39 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-blog/src/__tests__/index.test.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-blog/src/__tests__/index.test.ts
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ function getI18n(locale: string): I18n {
     currentLocale: locale,
     locales: [locale],
     defaultLocale: locale,
+    path: 'i18n',
     localeConfigs: {
       [locale]: {
         calendar: 'gregory',
@@ -70,6 +71,7 @@ const getPlugin = async (
   i18n: I18n = DefaultI18N,
 ) => {
   const generatedFilesDir: string = path.resolve(siteDir, '.docusaurus');
+  const localizationDir = path.join(siteDir, i18n.path, i18n.currentLocale);
   const siteConfig = {
     title: 'Hello',
     baseUrl: '/',
@@ -81,6 +83,7 @@ const getPlugin = async (
       siteConfig,
       generatedFilesDir,
       i18n,
+      localizationDir,
     } as LoadContext,
     validateOptions({
       validate: normalizePluginOptions as Validate<
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-blog/src/index.ts b/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-blog/src/index.ts
index 2b0355a0f3f1..f0c1f8cc24ed 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-blog/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-blog/src/index.ts
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ export default async function pluginContentBlog(
     siteDir,
     siteConfig,
     generatedFilesDir,
+    localizationDir,
     i18n: {currentLocale},
   } = context;
   const {onBrokenMarkdownLinks, baseUrl} = siteConfig;
@@ -66,8 +67,7 @@ export default async function pluginContentBlog(
   const contentPaths: BlogContentPaths = {
     contentPath: path.resolve(siteDir, options.path),
     contentPathLocalized: getPluginI18nPath({
-      siteDir,
-      locale: currentLocale,
+      localizationDir,
       pluginName: 'docusaurus-plugin-content-blog',
       pluginId: options.id,
     }),
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-docs/src/__tests__/cli.test.ts b/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-docs/src/__tests__/cli.test.ts
index 194ce3c4e46e..d9ed52eea89d 100644
Binary files a/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-docs/src/__tests__/cli.test.ts and b/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-docs/src/__tests__/cli.test.ts differ
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-docs/src/cli.ts b/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-docs/src/cli.ts
index 65e4984affa0..1818a3f4e22e 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-docs/src/cli.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-docs/src/cli.ts
@@ -85,13 +85,15 @@ export async function cliDocsVersionCommand(
 
   await Promise.all(
     i18n.locales.map(async (locale) => {
+      // TODO duplicated logic from core, so duplicate comment as well: we need
+      // to support customization per-locale in the future
+      const localizationDir = path.resolve(siteDir, i18n.path, locale);
       // Copy docs files.
       const docsDir =
         locale === i18n.defaultLocale
           ? path.resolve(siteDir, docsPath)
           : getDocsDirPathLocalized({
-              siteDir,
-              locale,
+              localizationDir,
               pluginId,
               versionName: CURRENT_VERSION_NAME,
             });
@@ -114,8 +116,7 @@ export async function cliDocsVersionCommand(
         locale === i18n.defaultLocale
           ? getVersionDocsDirPath(siteDir, pluginId, version)
           : getDocsDirPathLocalized({
-              siteDir,
-              locale,
+              localizationDir,
               pluginId,
               versionName: version,
             });
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-docs/src/versions/__tests__/index.test.ts b/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-docs/src/versions/__tests__/index.test.ts
index 15bb3d06d720..a52ba1b7d186 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-docs/src/versions/__tests__/index.test.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-docs/src/versions/__tests__/index.test.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import type {
 } from '@docusaurus/plugin-content-docs';
 
 const DefaultI18N: I18n = {
+  path: 'i18n',
   currentLocale: 'en',
   locales: ['en'],
   defaultLocale: 'en',
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ describe('readVersionsMetadata', () => {
         siteDir: simpleSiteDir,
         baseUrl: '/',
         i18n: DefaultI18N,
+        localizationDir: path.join(simpleSiteDir, 'i18n/en'),
       } as LoadContext;
 
       const vCurrent: VersionMetadata = {
@@ -198,6 +200,7 @@ describe('readVersionsMetadata', () => {
         siteDir: versionedSiteDir,
         baseUrl: '/',
         i18n: DefaultI18N,
+        localizationDir: path.join(versionedSiteDir, 'i18n/en'),
       } as LoadContext;
 
       const vCurrent: VersionMetadata = {
@@ -636,6 +639,7 @@ describe('readVersionsMetadata', () => {
         siteDir: versionedSiteDir,
         baseUrl: '/',
         i18n: DefaultI18N,
+        localizationDir: path.join(versionedSiteDir, 'i18n/en'),
       } as LoadContext;
 
       const vCurrent: VersionMetadata = {
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-docs/src/versions/files.ts b/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-docs/src/versions/files.ts
index 04c97efaebaa..2f045717c29e 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-docs/src/versions/files.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-docs/src/versions/files.ts
@@ -55,19 +55,16 @@ export function getVersionSidebarsPath(
 }
 
 export function getDocsDirPathLocalized({
-  siteDir,
-  locale,
+  localizationDir,
   pluginId,
   versionName,
 }: {
-  siteDir: string;
-  locale: string;
+  localizationDir: string;
   pluginId: string;
   versionName: string;
 }): string {
   return getPluginI18nPath({
-    siteDir,
-    locale,
+    localizationDir,
     pluginName: 'docusaurus-plugin-content-docs',
     pluginId,
     subPaths: [
@@ -175,8 +172,7 @@ export async function getVersionMetadataPaths({
 > {
   const isCurrent = versionName === CURRENT_VERSION_NAME;
   const contentPathLocalized = getDocsDirPathLocalized({
-    siteDir: context.siteDir,
-    locale: context.i18n.currentLocale,
+    localizationDir: context.localizationDir,
     pluginId: options.id,
     versionName,
   });
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-docs/src/versions/index.ts b/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-docs/src/versions/index.ts
index 369e0fd6efc2..d39bee56198d 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-docs/src/versions/index.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-docs/src/versions/index.ts
@@ -49,8 +49,7 @@ function getVersionEditUrls({
   const editDirPath = options.editCurrentVersion ? options.path : contentPath;
   const editDirPathLocalized = options.editCurrentVersion
     ? getDocsDirPathLocalized({
-        siteDir: context.siteDir,
-        locale: context.i18n.currentLocale,
+        localizationDir: context.localizationDir,
         versionName: CURRENT_VERSION_NAME,
         pluginId: options.id,
       })
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-pages/src/__tests__/__snapshots__/index.test.ts.snap b/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-pages/src/__tests__/__snapshots__/index.test.ts.snap
index 818f94da35f5..bc0f5cef2947 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-pages/src/__tests__/__snapshots__/index.test.ts.snap
+++ b/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-pages/src/__tests__/__snapshots__/index.test.ts.snap
@@ -55,19 +55,19 @@ exports[`docusaurus-plugin-content-pages loads simple pages 1`] = `
 exports[`docusaurus-plugin-content-pages loads simple pages with french translations 1`] = `
 [
   {
-    "permalink": "/",
+    "permalink": "/fr/",
     "source": "@site/src/pages/index.js",
     "type": "jsx",
   },
   {
-    "permalink": "/typescript",
+    "permalink": "/fr/typescript",
     "source": "@site/src/pages/typescript.tsx",
     "type": "jsx",
   },
   {
     "description": "Markdown index page",
     "frontMatter": {},
-    "permalink": "/hello/",
+    "permalink": "/fr/hello/",
     "source": "@site/src/pages/hello/index.md",
     "title": "Index",
     "type": "mdx",
@@ -78,26 +78,26 @@ exports[`docusaurus-plugin-content-pages loads simple pages with french translat
       "description": "my mdx page",
       "title": "mdx page",
     },
-    "permalink": "/hello/mdxPage",
+    "permalink": "/fr/hello/mdxPage",
     "source": "@site/src/pages/hello/mdxPage.mdx",
     "title": "mdx page",
     "type": "mdx",
   },
   {
-    "permalink": "/hello/translatedJs",
+    "permalink": "/fr/hello/translatedJs",
     "source": "@site/i18n/fr/docusaurus-plugin-content-pages/hello/translatedJs.js",
     "type": "jsx",
   },
   {
     "description": "translated markdown page (fr)",
     "frontMatter": {},
-    "permalink": "/hello/translatedMd",
+    "permalink": "/fr/hello/translatedMd",
     "source": "@site/i18n/fr/docusaurus-plugin-content-pages/hello/translatedMd.md",
     "title": undefined,
     "type": "mdx",
   },
   {
-    "permalink": "/hello/world",
+    "permalink": "/fr/hello/world",
     "source": "@site/src/pages/hello/world.js",
     "type": "jsx",
   },
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-pages/src/__tests__/index.test.ts b/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-pages/src/__tests__/index.test.ts
index 31706d3a4cd4..dd570260a417 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-pages/src/__tests__/index.test.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-pages/src/__tests__/index.test.ts
@@ -32,15 +32,9 @@ describe('docusaurus-plugin-content-pages', () => {
 
   it('loads simple pages with french translations', async () => {
     const siteDir = path.join(__dirname, '__fixtures__', 'website');
-    const context = await loadContext({siteDir});
+    const context = await loadContext({siteDir, locale: 'fr'});
     const plugin = pluginContentPages(
-      {
-        ...context,
-        i18n: {
-          ...context.i18n,
-          currentLocale: 'fr',
-        },
-      },
+      context,
       validateOptions({
         validate: normalizePluginOptions,
         options: {
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-pages/src/index.ts b/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-pages/src/index.ts
index a9051e4545e6..7480962d07cc 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-pages/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus-plugin-content-pages/src/index.ts
@@ -48,18 +48,12 @@ export default function pluginContentPages(
       [admonitions, options.admonitions],
     ]);
   }
-  const {
-    siteConfig,
-    siteDir,
-    generatedFilesDir,
-    i18n: {currentLocale},
-  } = context;
+  const {siteConfig, siteDir, generatedFilesDir, localizationDir} = context;
 
   const contentPaths: PagesContentPaths = {
     contentPath: path.resolve(siteDir, options.path),
     contentPathLocalized: getPluginI18nPath({
-      siteDir,
-      locale: currentLocale,
+      localizationDir,
       pluginName: 'docusaurus-plugin-content-pages',
       pluginId: options.id,
     }),
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus-types/src/index.d.ts b/packages/docusaurus-types/src/index.d.ts
index ee4151930eee..2cae26753d5b 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus-types/src/index.d.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus-types/src/index.d.ts
@@ -70,6 +70,11 @@ export type I18nConfig = {
    * 3. Will be used for the `<link hrefLang="x-default">` tag
    */
   defaultLocale: string;
+  /**
+   * Root folder which all locale folders are relative to. Can be absolute or
+   * relative to the config file. e.g. `i18n`
+   */
+  path: string;
   /** List of locales deployed on your site. Must contain `defaultLocale`. */
   locales: [string, ...string[]];
   /** Individual options for each locale. */
@@ -416,6 +421,12 @@ export type LoadContext = {
   siteConfig: DocusaurusConfig;
   siteConfigPath: string;
   outDir: string;
+  /**
+   * Directory where all source translations for the current locale can be found
+   * in. Constructed with `i18n.path` + `i18n.currentLocale.path` (e.g.
+   * `<siteDir>/i18n/en`)
+   */
+  localizationDir: string;
   /**
    * Duplicated from `siteConfig.baseUrl`, but probably worth keeping. We mutate
    * `siteConfig` to make `baseUrl` there localized as well, but that's mostly
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus-utils/src/__tests__/i18nUtils.test.ts b/packages/docusaurus-utils/src/__tests__/i18nUtils.test.ts
index c0a458d3a8ec..c0b45f358568 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus-utils/src/__tests__/i18nUtils.test.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus-utils/src/__tests__/i18nUtils.test.ts
@@ -65,34 +65,33 @@ describe('getPluginI18nPath', () => {
   it('gets correct path', () => {
     expect(
       getPluginI18nPath({
-        siteDir: __dirname,
-        locale: 'zh-Hans',
+        localizationDir: '<SITE_DIR>/i18n/zh-Hans',
         pluginName: 'plugin-content-docs',
         pluginId: 'community',
         subPaths: ['foo'],
       }),
     ).toMatchInlineSnapshot(
-      `"<PROJECT_ROOT>/packages/docusaurus-utils/src/__tests__/i18n/zh-Hans/plugin-content-docs-community/foo"`,
+      `"<SITE_DIR>/i18n/zh-Hans/plugin-content-docs-community/foo"`,
     );
   });
   it('gets correct path for default plugin', () => {
     expect(
       getPluginI18nPath({
-        siteDir: __dirname,
-        locale: 'zh-Hans',
+        localizationDir: '<SITE_DIR>/i18n/zh-Hans',
         pluginName: 'plugin-content-docs',
         subPaths: ['foo'],
-      }).replace(__dirname, ''),
-    ).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`"/i18n/zh-Hans/plugin-content-docs/foo"`);
+      }),
+    ).toMatchInlineSnapshot(
+      `"<SITE_DIR>/i18n/zh-Hans/plugin-content-docs/foo"`,
+    );
   });
   it('gets correct path when no sub-paths', () => {
     expect(
       getPluginI18nPath({
-        siteDir: __dirname,
-        locale: 'zh-Hans',
+        localizationDir: '<SITE_DIR>/i18n/zh-Hans',
         pluginName: 'plugin-content-docs',
-      }).replace(__dirname, ''),
-    ).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`"/i18n/zh-Hans/plugin-content-docs"`);
+      }),
+    ).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`"<SITE_DIR>/i18n/zh-Hans/plugin-content-docs"`);
   });
 });
 
@@ -104,6 +103,7 @@ describe('localizePath', () => {
         path: '/baseUrl',
         i18n: {
           defaultLocale: 'en',
+          path: 'i18n',
           locales: ['en', 'fr'],
           currentLocale: 'fr',
           localeConfigs: {},
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ describe('localizePath', () => {
         path: '/baseFsPath',
         i18n: {
           defaultLocale: 'en',
+          path: 'i18n',
           locales: ['en', 'fr'],
           currentLocale: 'fr',
           localeConfigs: {},
@@ -136,6 +137,7 @@ describe('localizePath', () => {
         path: '/baseUrl/',
         i18n: {
           defaultLocale: 'en',
+          path: 'i18n',
           locales: ['en', 'fr'],
           currentLocale: 'en',
           localeConfigs: {},
@@ -152,6 +154,7 @@ describe('localizePath', () => {
         path: '/baseUrl/',
         i18n: {
           defaultLocale: 'en',
+          path: 'i18n',
           locales: ['en', 'fr'],
           currentLocale: 'en',
           localeConfigs: {},
@@ -167,6 +170,7 @@ describe('localizePath', () => {
         path: '/baseUrl/',
         i18n: {
           defaultLocale: 'en',
+          path: 'i18n',
           locales: ['en', 'fr'],
           currentLocale: 'en',
           localeConfigs: {},
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus-utils/src/constants.ts b/packages/docusaurus-utils/src/constants.ts
index 9f8c452669bb..6ecba7aea0f5 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus-utils/src/constants.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus-utils/src/constants.ts
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ export const THEME_PATH = `${SRC_DIR_NAME}/theme`;
  * All translation-related data live here, relative to site directory. Content
  * will be namespaced by locale.
  */
-export const I18N_DIR_NAME = 'i18n';
+export const DEFAULT_I18N_DIR_NAME = 'i18n';
 
 /**
  * Translations for React code.
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus-utils/src/i18nUtils.ts b/packages/docusaurus-utils/src/i18nUtils.ts
index a6d08cf83749..8c706f1b8ce7 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus-utils/src/i18nUtils.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus-utils/src/i18nUtils.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 import path from 'path';
 import _ from 'lodash';
-import {DEFAULT_PLUGIN_ID, I18N_DIR_NAME} from './constants';
+import {DEFAULT_PLUGIN_ID} from './constants';
 import {normalizeUrl} from './urlUtils';
 import type {
   TranslationFileContent,
@@ -46,24 +46,18 @@ export function updateTranslationFileMessages(
  * expect everything it needs for translations to be found under this path.
  */
 export function getPluginI18nPath({
-  siteDir,
-  locale,
+  localizationDir,
   pluginName,
   pluginId = DEFAULT_PLUGIN_ID,
   subPaths = [],
 }: {
-  siteDir: string;
-  locale: string;
+  localizationDir: string;
   pluginName: string;
   pluginId?: string | undefined;
   subPaths?: string[];
 }): string {
   return path.join(
-    siteDir,
-    I18N_DIR_NAME,
-    // Namespace first by locale: convenient to work in a single folder for a
-    // translator
-    locale,
+    localizationDir,
     // Make it convenient to use for single-instance
     // ie: return "docs", not "docs-default" nor "docs/default"
     `${pluginName}${pluginId === DEFAULT_PLUGIN_ID ? '' : `-${pluginId}`}`,
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus-utils/src/index.ts b/packages/docusaurus-utils/src/index.ts
index 520f5f73aab2..30549ba99c03 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus-utils/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus-utils/src/index.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ export {
   DEFAULT_STATIC_DIR_NAME,
   OUTPUT_STATIC_ASSETS_DIR_NAME,
   THEME_PATH,
-  I18N_DIR_NAME,
+  DEFAULT_I18N_DIR_NAME,
   CODE_TRANSLATIONS_FILE_NAME,
   DEFAULT_PORT,
   DEFAULT_PLUGIN_ID,
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus/src/commands/start.ts b/packages/docusaurus/src/commands/start.ts
index f49874839d68..e41ae556cddf 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus/src/commands/start.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus/src/commands/start.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ import {
   getHttpsConfig,
 } from '../webpack/utils';
 import {getHostPort, type HostPortOptions} from '../server/getHostPort';
-import {getTranslationsLocaleDirPath} from '../server/translations/translations';
 
 export type StartCLIOptions = HostPortOptions &
   Pick<LoadContextOptions, 'locale' | 'config'> & {
@@ -82,7 +81,7 @@ export async function start(
         logger.error(err.stack);
       });
   }, 500);
-  const {siteConfig, plugins} = props;
+  const {siteConfig, plugins, localizationDir} = props;
 
   const normalizeToSiteDir = (filepath: string) => {
     if (filepath && path.isAbsolute(filepath)) {
@@ -96,14 +95,7 @@ export async function start(
     .filter(Boolean)
     .map(normalizeToSiteDir);
 
-  const pathsToWatch = [
-    ...pluginPaths,
-    props.siteConfigPath,
-    getTranslationsLocaleDirPath({
-      siteDir,
-      locale: props.i18n.currentLocale,
-    }),
-  ];
+  const pathsToWatch = [...pluginPaths, props.siteConfigPath, localizationDir];
 
   const pollingOptions = {
     usePolling: !!cliOptions.poll,
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus/src/commands/writeTranslations.ts b/packages/docusaurus/src/commands/writeTranslations.ts
index 14ae1e64adc6..d69014306fcf 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus/src/commands/writeTranslations.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus/src/commands/writeTranslations.ts
@@ -47,14 +47,12 @@ async function getExtraSourceCodeFilePaths(): Promise<string[]> {
 }
 
 async function writePluginTranslationFiles({
-  siteDir,
+  localizationDir,
   plugin,
-  locale,
   options,
 }: {
-  siteDir: string;
+  localizationDir: string;
   plugin: InitializedPlugin;
-  locale: string;
   options: WriteTranslationsOptions;
 }) {
   if (plugin.getTranslationFiles) {
@@ -66,10 +64,9 @@ async function writePluginTranslationFiles({
     await Promise.all(
       translationFiles.map(async (translationFile) => {
         await writePluginTranslations({
-          siteDir,
+          localizationDir,
           plugin,
           translationFile,
-          locale,
           options,
         });
       }),
@@ -86,6 +83,7 @@ export async function writeTranslations(
     config: options.config,
     locale: options.locale,
   });
+  const {localizationDir} = context;
   const plugins = await initPlugins(context);
 
   const locale = options.locale ?? context.i18n.defaultLocale;
@@ -116,11 +114,11 @@ Available locales are: ${context.i18n.locales.join(',')}.`,
     defaultCodeMessages,
   });
 
-  await writeCodeTranslations({siteDir, locale}, codeTranslations, options);
+  await writeCodeTranslations({localizationDir}, codeTranslations, options);
 
   await Promise.all(
     plugins.map(async (plugin) => {
-      await writePluginTranslationFiles({siteDir, plugin, locale, options});
+      await writePluginTranslationFiles({localizationDir, plugin, options});
     }),
   );
 }
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus/src/server/__tests__/__snapshots__/config.test.ts.snap b/packages/docusaurus/src/server/__tests__/__snapshots__/config.test.ts.snap
index 2c20bb59c885..64dfeff98eea 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus/src/server/__tests__/__snapshots__/config.test.ts.snap
+++ b/packages/docusaurus/src/server/__tests__/__snapshots__/config.test.ts.snap
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ exports[`loadSiteConfig website with .cjs siteConfig 1`] = `
       "locales": [
         "en",
       ],
+      "path": "i18n",
     },
     "noIndex": false,
     "onBrokenLinks": "throw",
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ exports[`loadSiteConfig website with valid async config 1`] = `
       "locales": [
         "en",
       ],
+      "path": "i18n",
     },
     "noIndex": false,
     "onBrokenLinks": "throw",
@@ -87,6 +89,7 @@ exports[`loadSiteConfig website with valid async config creator function 1`] = `
       "locales": [
         "en",
       ],
+      "path": "i18n",
     },
     "noIndex": false,
     "onBrokenLinks": "throw",
@@ -125,6 +128,7 @@ exports[`loadSiteConfig website with valid config creator function 1`] = `
       "locales": [
         "en",
       ],
+      "path": "i18n",
     },
     "noIndex": false,
     "onBrokenLinks": "throw",
@@ -166,6 +170,7 @@ exports[`loadSiteConfig website with valid siteConfig 1`] = `
       "locales": [
         "en",
       ],
+      "path": "i18n",
     },
     "noIndex": false,
     "onBrokenLinks": "throw",
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus/src/server/__tests__/i18n.test.ts b/packages/docusaurus/src/server/__tests__/i18n.test.ts
index 84e1e83ada2d..8ef8fea9faf3 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus/src/server/__tests__/i18n.test.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus/src/server/__tests__/i18n.test.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 import {jest} from '@jest/globals';
 import {loadI18n, getDefaultLocaleConfig} from '../i18n';
 import {DEFAULT_I18N_CONFIG} from '../configValidation';
-import type {I18nConfig} from '@docusaurus/types';
+import type {DocusaurusConfig, I18nConfig} from '@docusaurus/types';
 
 function testLocaleConfigsFor(locales: string[]) {
   return Object.fromEntries(
@@ -18,10 +18,9 @@ function testLocaleConfigsFor(locales: string[]) {
 
 function loadI18nTest(i18nConfig: I18nConfig, locale?: string) {
   return loadI18n(
-    // @ts-expect-error: enough for this test
     {
       i18n: i18nConfig,
-    },
+    } as DocusaurusConfig,
     {locale},
   );
 }
@@ -101,6 +100,7 @@ describe('loadI18n', () => {
 
   it('loads I18n for default config', async () => {
     await expect(loadI18nTest(DEFAULT_I18N_CONFIG)).resolves.toEqual({
+      path: 'i18n',
       defaultLocale: 'en',
       locales: ['en'],
       currentLocale: 'en',
@@ -111,12 +111,14 @@ describe('loadI18n', () => {
   it('loads I18n for multi-lang config', async () => {
     await expect(
       loadI18nTest({
+        path: 'i18n',
         defaultLocale: 'fr',
         locales: ['en', 'fr', 'de'],
         localeConfigs: {},
       }),
     ).resolves.toEqual({
       defaultLocale: 'fr',
+      path: 'i18n',
       locales: ['en', 'fr', 'de'],
       currentLocale: 'fr',
       localeConfigs: testLocaleConfigsFor(['en', 'fr', 'de']),
@@ -127,6 +129,7 @@ describe('loadI18n', () => {
     await expect(
       loadI18nTest(
         {
+          path: 'i18n',
           defaultLocale: 'fr',
           locales: ['en', 'fr', 'de'],
           localeConfigs: {},
@@ -135,6 +138,7 @@ describe('loadI18n', () => {
       ),
     ).resolves.toEqual({
       defaultLocale: 'fr',
+      path: 'i18n',
       locales: ['en', 'fr', 'de'],
       currentLocale: 'de',
       localeConfigs: testLocaleConfigsFor(['en', 'fr', 'de']),
@@ -145,6 +149,7 @@ describe('loadI18n', () => {
     await expect(
       loadI18nTest(
         {
+          path: 'i18n',
           defaultLocale: 'fr',
           locales: ['en', 'fr', 'de'],
           localeConfigs: {
@@ -156,6 +161,7 @@ describe('loadI18n', () => {
       ),
     ).resolves.toEqual({
       defaultLocale: 'fr',
+      path: 'i18n',
       locales: ['en', 'fr', 'de'],
       currentLocale: 'de',
       localeConfigs: {
@@ -174,6 +180,7 @@ describe('loadI18n', () => {
   it('warns when trying to load undeclared locale', async () => {
     await loadI18nTest(
       {
+        path: 'i18n',
         defaultLocale: 'fr',
         locales: ['en', 'fr', 'de'],
         localeConfigs: {},
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus/src/server/configValidation.ts b/packages/docusaurus/src/server/configValidation.ts
index 15a66776b19d..4027f84ca4d9 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus/src/server/configValidation.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus/src/server/configValidation.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,10 @@
  * LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
  */
 
-import {DEFAULT_STATIC_DIR_NAME} from '@docusaurus/utils';
+import {
+  DEFAULT_STATIC_DIR_NAME,
+  DEFAULT_I18N_DIR_NAME,
+} from '@docusaurus/utils';
 import {Joi, URISchema, printWarning} from '@docusaurus/utils-validation';
 import type {DocusaurusConfig, I18nConfig} from '@docusaurus/types';
 
@@ -13,6 +16,7 @@ const DEFAULT_I18N_LOCALE = 'en';
 
 export const DEFAULT_I18N_CONFIG: I18nConfig = {
   defaultLocale: DEFAULT_I18N_LOCALE,
+  path: DEFAULT_I18N_DIR_NAME,
   locales: [DEFAULT_I18N_LOCALE],
   localeConfigs: {},
 };
@@ -135,6 +139,7 @@ const LocaleConfigSchema = Joi.object({
 
 const I18N_CONFIG_SCHEMA = Joi.object<I18nConfig>({
   defaultLocale: Joi.string().required(),
+  path: Joi.string().default(DEFAULT_I18N_CONFIG.path),
   locales: Joi.array().items().min(1).items(Joi.string().required()).required(),
   localeConfigs: Joi.object()
     .pattern(/.*/, LocaleConfigSchema)
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus/src/server/i18n.ts b/packages/docusaurus/src/server/i18n.ts
index cd9bbe4990ea..59b7b85a38f1 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus/src/server/i18n.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus/src/server/i18n.ts
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ Note: Docusaurus only support running one locale at a time.`;
   return {
     defaultLocale: i18nConfig.defaultLocale,
     locales,
+    path: i18nConfig.path,
     currentLocale,
     localeConfigs,
   };
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus/src/server/index.ts b/packages/docusaurus/src/server/index.ts
index 90908237b04f..27a21d5248cb 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus/src/server/index.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus/src/server/index.ts
@@ -85,11 +85,11 @@ export async function loadContext(
 
   const siteConfig: DocusaurusConfig = {...initialSiteConfig, baseUrl};
 
+  // TODO allow customizing localizationDir per-locale
+  const localizationDir = path.resolve(siteDir, i18n.path, i18n.currentLocale);
+
   const codeTranslationFileContent =
-    (await readCodeTranslationFileContent({
-      siteDir,
-      locale: i18n.currentLocale,
-    })) ?? {};
+    (await readCodeTranslationFileContent({localizationDir})) ?? {};
 
   // We only need key->message for code translations
   const codeTranslations = _.mapValues(
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ export async function loadContext(
   return {
     siteDir,
     generatedFilesDir,
+    localizationDir,
     siteConfig,
     siteConfigPath,
     outDir,
@@ -125,6 +126,7 @@ export async function load(options: LoadContextOptions): Promise<Props> {
     outDir,
     baseUrl,
     i18n,
+    localizationDir,
     codeTranslations: siteCodeTranslations,
   } = context;
   const {plugins, pluginsRouteConfigs, globalData} = await loadPlugins(context);
@@ -246,6 +248,7 @@ ${Object.entries(registry)
     outDir,
     baseUrl,
     i18n,
+    localizationDir,
     generatedFilesDir,
     routes: pluginsRouteConfigs,
     routesPaths,
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus/src/server/plugins/index.ts b/packages/docusaurus/src/server/plugins/index.ts
index 5a8dbb98d095..73fba212b289 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus/src/server/plugins/index.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus/src/server/plugins/index.ts
@@ -56,8 +56,7 @@ export async function loadPlugins(context: LoadContext): Promise<{
       const translationFiles = await Promise.all(
         rawTranslationFiles.map((translationFile) =>
           localizePluginTranslationFile({
-            locale: context.i18n.currentLocale,
-            siteDir: context.siteDir,
+            localizationDir: context.localizationDir,
             translationFile,
             plugin,
           }),
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus/src/server/translations/__tests__/translations.test.ts b/packages/docusaurus/src/server/translations/__tests__/translations.test.ts
index 1e1b59aad85f..a62aae849802 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus/src/server/translations/__tests__/translations.test.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus/src/server/translations/__tests__/translations.test.ts
@@ -44,8 +44,10 @@ async function createTmpTranslationFile(
   }
 
   return {
-    siteDir,
-    readFile: () => fs.readJSON(filePath),
+    localizationDir: path.join(siteDir, 'i18n/en'),
+    readFile() {
+      return fs.readJSON(filePath);
+    },
   };
 }
 
@@ -58,9 +60,9 @@ describe('writeCodeTranslations', () => {
   });
 
   it('creates new translation file', async () => {
-    const {siteDir, readFile} = await createTmpTranslationFile(null);
+    const {localizationDir, readFile} = await createTmpTranslationFile(null);
     await writeCodeTranslations(
-      {siteDir, locale: 'en'},
+      {localizationDir},
       {
         key1: {message: 'key1 message'},
         key2: {message: 'key2 message'},
@@ -80,9 +82,9 @@ describe('writeCodeTranslations', () => {
   });
 
   it('creates new translation file with prefix', async () => {
-    const {siteDir, readFile} = await createTmpTranslationFile(null);
+    const {localizationDir, readFile} = await createTmpTranslationFile(null);
     await writeCodeTranslations(
-      {siteDir, locale: 'en'},
+      {localizationDir},
       {
         key1: {message: 'key1 message'},
         key2: {message: 'key2 message'},
@@ -104,14 +106,14 @@ describe('writeCodeTranslations', () => {
   });
 
   it('appends missing translations', async () => {
-    const {siteDir, readFile} = await createTmpTranslationFile({
+    const {localizationDir, readFile} = await createTmpTranslationFile({
       key1: {message: 'key1 message'},
       key2: {message: 'key2 message'},
       key3: {message: 'key3 message'},
     });
 
     await writeCodeTranslations(
-      {siteDir, locale: 'en'},
+      {localizationDir},
       {
         key1: {message: 'key1 message new'},
         key2: {message: 'key2 message new'},
@@ -133,12 +135,12 @@ describe('writeCodeTranslations', () => {
   });
 
   it('appends missing.* translations with prefix', async () => {
-    const {siteDir, readFile} = await createTmpTranslationFile({
+    const {localizationDir, readFile} = await createTmpTranslationFile({
       key1: {message: 'key1 message'},
     });
 
     await writeCodeTranslations(
-      {siteDir, locale: 'en'},
+      {localizationDir},
       {
         key1: {message: 'key1 message new'},
         key2: {message: 'key2 message new'},
@@ -158,12 +160,12 @@ describe('writeCodeTranslations', () => {
   });
 
   it('overrides missing translations', async () => {
-    const {siteDir, readFile} = await createTmpTranslationFile({
+    const {localizationDir, readFile} = await createTmpTranslationFile({
       key1: {message: 'key1 message'},
     });
 
     await writeCodeTranslations(
-      {siteDir, locale: 'en'},
+      {localizationDir},
       {
         key1: {message: 'key1 message new'},
         key2: {message: 'key2 message new'},
@@ -183,12 +185,12 @@ describe('writeCodeTranslations', () => {
   });
 
   it('overrides missing translations with prefix', async () => {
-    const {siteDir, readFile} = await createTmpTranslationFile({
+    const {localizationDir, readFile} = await createTmpTranslationFile({
       key1: {message: 'key1 message'},
     });
 
     await writeCodeTranslations(
-      {siteDir, locale: 'en'},
+      {localizationDir},
       {
         key1: {message: 'key1 message new'},
         key2: {message: 'key2 message new'},
@@ -209,14 +211,14 @@ describe('writeCodeTranslations', () => {
   });
 
   it('always overrides message description', async () => {
-    const {siteDir, readFile} = await createTmpTranslationFile({
+    const {localizationDir, readFile} = await createTmpTranslationFile({
       key1: {message: 'key1 message', description: 'key1 desc'},
       key2: {message: 'key2 message', description: 'key2 desc'},
       key3: {message: 'key3 message', description: undefined},
     });
 
     await writeCodeTranslations(
-      {siteDir, locale: 'en'},
+      {localizationDir},
       {
         key1: {message: 'key1 message new', description: undefined},
         key2: {message: 'key2 message new', description: 'key2 desc new'},
@@ -236,9 +238,9 @@ describe('writeCodeTranslations', () => {
   });
 
   it('does not create empty translation files', async () => {
-    const {siteDir, readFile} = await createTmpTranslationFile(null);
+    const {localizationDir, readFile} = await createTmpTranslationFile(null);
 
-    await writeCodeTranslations({siteDir, locale: 'en'}, {}, {});
+    await writeCodeTranslations({localizationDir}, {}, {});
 
     await expect(readFile()).rejects.toThrowError(
       /ENOENT: no such file or directory, open /,
@@ -247,14 +249,14 @@ describe('writeCodeTranslations', () => {
   });
 
   it('throws for invalid content', async () => {
-    const {siteDir} = await createTmpTranslationFile(
+    const {localizationDir} = await createTmpTranslationFile(
       // @ts-expect-error: bad content on purpose
       {bad: 'content'},
     );
 
     await expect(() =>
       writeCodeTranslations(
-        {siteDir, locale: 'en'},
+        {localizationDir},
         {
           key1: {message: 'key1 message'},
         },
@@ -269,19 +271,16 @@ describe('writeCodeTranslations', () => {
 
 describe('writePluginTranslations', () => {
   it('writes plugin translations', async () => {
-    const siteDir = await createTmpSiteDir();
+    const localizationDir = await createTmpSiteDir();
 
     const filePath = path.join(
-      siteDir,
-      'i18n',
-      'fr',
+      localizationDir,
       'my-plugin-name',
       'my/translation/file.json',
     );
 
     await writePluginTranslations({
-      siteDir,
-      locale: 'fr',
+      localizationDir,
       translationFile: {
         path: 'my/translation/file',
         content: {
@@ -306,12 +305,10 @@ describe('writePluginTranslations', () => {
   });
 
   it('writes plugin translations consecutively with different options', async () => {
-    const siteDir = await createTmpSiteDir();
+    const localizationDir = await createTmpSiteDir();
 
     const filePath = path.join(
-      siteDir,
-      'i18n',
-      'fr',
+      localizationDir,
       'my-plugin-name-my-plugin-id',
       'my/translation/file.json',
     );
@@ -321,7 +318,7 @@ describe('writePluginTranslations', () => {
       options?: WriteTranslationsOptions,
     ) {
       return writePluginTranslations({
-        siteDir,
+        localizationDir,
         locale: 'fr',
         translationFile: {
           path: 'my/translation/file',
@@ -381,12 +378,11 @@ describe('writePluginTranslations', () => {
   });
 
   it('throws with explicit extension', async () => {
-    const siteDir = await createTmpSiteDir();
+    const localizationDir = await createTmpSiteDir();
 
     await expect(() =>
       writePluginTranslations({
-        siteDir,
-        locale: 'fr',
+        localizationDir,
         translationFile: {
           path: 'my/translation/file.json',
           content: {},
@@ -409,7 +405,7 @@ describe('writePluginTranslations', () => {
 
 describe('localizePluginTranslationFile', () => {
   it('does not localize if localized file does not exist', async () => {
-    const siteDir = await createTmpSiteDir();
+    const localizationDir = await createTmpSiteDir();
 
     const translationFile: TranslationFile = {
       path: 'my/translation/file',
@@ -421,8 +417,7 @@ describe('localizePluginTranslationFile', () => {
     };
 
     const localizedTranslationFile = await localizePluginTranslationFile({
-      siteDir,
-      locale: 'fr',
+      localizationDir,
       translationFile,
       plugin: {
         name: 'my-plugin-name',
@@ -434,16 +429,10 @@ describe('localizePluginTranslationFile', () => {
   });
 
   it('normalizes partially localized translation files', async () => {
-    const siteDir = await createTmpSiteDir();
+    const localizationDir = await createTmpSiteDir();
 
     await fs.outputJSON(
-      path.join(
-        siteDir,
-        'i18n',
-        'fr',
-        'my-plugin-name',
-        'my/translation/file.json',
-      ),
+      path.join(localizationDir, 'my-plugin-name', 'my/translation/file.json'),
       {
         key2: {message: 'key2 message localized'},
         key4: {message: 'key4 message localized'},
@@ -460,8 +449,7 @@ describe('localizePluginTranslationFile', () => {
     };
 
     const localizedTranslationFile = await localizePluginTranslationFile({
-      siteDir,
-      locale: 'fr',
+      localizationDir,
       translationFile,
       plugin: {
         name: 'my-plugin-name',
@@ -486,13 +474,13 @@ describe('localizePluginTranslationFile', () => {
 
 describe('readCodeTranslationFileContent', () => {
   async function testReadTranslation(val: TranslationFileContent) {
-    const {siteDir} = await createTmpTranslationFile(val);
-    return readCodeTranslationFileContent({siteDir, locale: 'en'});
+    const {localizationDir} = await createTmpTranslationFile(val);
+    return readCodeTranslationFileContent({localizationDir});
   }
 
   it("returns undefined if file does't exist", async () => {
     await expect(
-      readCodeTranslationFileContent({siteDir: 'foo', locale: 'en'}),
+      readCodeTranslationFileContent({localizationDir: 'foo'}),
     ).resolves.toBeUndefined();
   });
 
diff --git a/packages/docusaurus/src/server/translations/translations.ts b/packages/docusaurus/src/server/translations/translations.ts
index fd3fb0305523..83d19495bffc 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus/src/server/translations/translations.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus/src/server/translations/translations.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import logger from '@docusaurus/logger';
 import {
   getPluginI18nPath,
   toMessageRelativeFilePath,
-  I18N_DIR_NAME,
   CODE_TRANSLATIONS_FILE_NAME,
 } from '@docusaurus/utils';
 import {Joi} from '@docusaurus/utils-validation';
@@ -29,8 +28,7 @@ export type WriteTranslationsOptions = {
 };
 
 type TranslationContext = {
-  siteDir: string;
-  locale: string;
+  localizationDir: string;
 };
 
 const TranslationFileContentSchema = Joi.object<TranslationFileContent>()
@@ -143,18 +141,8 @@ Maybe you should remove them? ${unknownKeys}`;
   }
 }
 
-// Should we make this configurable?
-export function getTranslationsLocaleDirPath(
-  context: TranslationContext,
-): string {
-  return path.join(context.siteDir, I18N_DIR_NAME, context.locale);
-}
-
 function getCodeTranslationsFilePath(context: TranslationContext): string {
-  return path.join(
-    getTranslationsLocaleDirPath(context),
-    CODE_TRANSLATIONS_FILE_NAME,
-  );
+  return path.join(context.localizationDir, CODE_TRANSLATIONS_FILE_NAME);
 }
 
 export async function readCodeTranslationFileContent(
@@ -187,17 +175,15 @@ function addTranslationFileExtension(translationFilePath: string) {
 }
 
 function getPluginTranslationFilePath({
-  siteDir,
+  localizationDir,
   plugin,
-  locale,
   translationFilePath,
 }: TranslationContext & {
   plugin: InitializedPlugin;
   translationFilePath: string;
 }): string {
   const dirPath = getPluginI18nPath({
-    siteDir,
-    locale,
+    localizationDir,
     pluginName: plugin.name,
     pluginId: plugin.options.id,
   });
@@ -206,9 +192,8 @@ function getPluginTranslationFilePath({
 }
 
 export async function writePluginTranslations({
-  siteDir,
+  localizationDir,
   plugin,
-  locale,
   translationFile,
   options,
 }: TranslationContext & {
@@ -218,8 +203,7 @@ export async function writePluginTranslations({
 }): Promise<void> {
   const filePath = getPluginTranslationFilePath({
     plugin,
-    siteDir,
-    locale,
+    localizationDir,
     translationFilePath: translationFile.path,
   });
   await writeTranslationFileContent({
@@ -230,9 +214,8 @@ export async function writePluginTranslations({
 }
 
 export async function localizePluginTranslationFile({
-  siteDir,
+  localizationDir,
   plugin,
-  locale,
   translationFile,
 }: TranslationContext & {
   plugin: InitializedPlugin;
@@ -240,8 +223,7 @@ export async function localizePluginTranslationFile({
 }): Promise<TranslationFile> {
   const filePath = getPluginTranslationFilePath({
     plugin,
-    siteDir,
-    locale,
+    localizationDir,
     translationFilePath: translationFile.path,
   });