diff --git a/apps/web/app/(app)/recipes/[id]/page.tsx b/apps/web/app/(app)/recipes/[id]/page.tsx
index 076ac3f..a7bff94 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/(app)/recipes/[id]/page.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/app/(app)/recipes/[id]/page.tsx
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ import { CommentsSection } from "@/components/social/comments-section";
 import { getPublicUrl } from "@/lib/storage";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
 import { RecipeChatPanel } from "@/components/recipe/recipe-chat-panel";
-import { getMessages } from "@/lib/i18n/server";
+import { getMessages, formatMessage } from "@/lib/i18n/server";
 
 type Params = { params: Promise<{ id: string }> };
 
@@ -175,26 +175,26 @@ export default async function RecipePage({ params }: Params) {
 
         <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-3 text-sm">
           {recipe.difficulty && (
-            <Badge variant={DIFFICULTY_COLOR[recipe.difficulty]}>{recipe.difficulty}</Badge>
+            <Badge variant={DIFFICULTY_COLOR[recipe.difficulty]}>{m.recipe.difficulty[recipe.difficulty]}</Badge>
           )}
           <span className="flex items-center gap-1 text-muted-foreground">
             <Users className="h-4 w-4" />
-            {recipe.baseServings} servings
+            {formatMessage(m.recipe.servings, { count: recipe.baseServings })}
           </span>
           {recipe.prepMins && (
             <span className="flex items-center gap-1 text-muted-foreground">
               <Clock className="h-4 w-4" />
-              {recipe.prepMins}m prep
+              {formatMessage(m.recipe.prep, { mins: recipe.prepMins })}
             </span>
           )}
           {recipe.cookMins && (
             <span className="flex items-center gap-1 text-muted-foreground">
               <ChefHat className="h-4 w-4" />
-              {recipe.cookMins}m cook
+              {formatMessage(m.recipe.cook, { mins: recipe.cookMins })}
             </span>
           )}
           {totalMins > 0 && recipe.prepMins && recipe.cookMins && (
-            <span className="text-muted-foreground">({totalMins}m total)</span>
+            <span className="text-muted-foreground">({formatMessage(m.recipe.total, { mins: totalMins })})</span>
           )}
           <span className="flex items-center gap-1 text-muted-foreground ml-auto">
             <VisibilityIcon className="h-4 w-4" />
diff --git a/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/generate-from-idea/route.ts b/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/generate-from-idea/route.ts
index e3793ee..6c13e30 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/generate-from-idea/route.ts
+++ b/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/generate-from-idea/route.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ const Schema = z.object({
   model: z.string().optional(),
 });
 
+const LANG: Record<string, string> = { en: "English", fr: "French" };
+
 export async function POST(req: NextRequest) {
   const { session, response } = await requireSession();
   if (response) return response;
@@ -30,11 +32,13 @@ export async function POST(req: NextRequest) {
   await checkAndIncrementTierLimit(session!.user.id, session!.user.tier as "free" | "pro", "aiCall");
 
   const privateBio = await getUserPrivateBio(session!.user.id);
+  const locale = (session!.user as { locale?: string }).locale ?? "en";
 
   const recipe = await generateRecipe(parsed.data.title, {
     provider: parsed.data.provider,
     model: parsed.data.model,
     userContext: privateBio ?? undefined,
+    language: LANG[locale] ?? "English",
   });
 
   const recipeId = crypto.randomUUID();
@@ -50,7 +54,7 @@ export async function POST(req: NextRequest) {
     difficulty: recipe.difficulty ?? null,
     visibility: "private",
     aiGenerated: true,
-    language: "en",
+    language: locale,
     dietaryTags: recipe.dietaryTags ?? {},
     tags: [],
   });
diff --git a/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/recipe-chat/route.ts b/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/recipe-chat/route.ts
index b60216a..7efd05c 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/recipe-chat/route.ts
+++ b/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/recipe-chat/route.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ const Schema = z.object({
   question: z.string().min(1).max(500),
 });
 
+const LANG: Record<string, string> = { en: "English", fr: "French" };
+
 export async function POST(req: NextRequest) {
   const { session, response } = await requireSession();
   if (response) return response;
@@ -66,10 +68,12 @@ ${stepList || "None listed"}
   ]);
   const model = resolveModel(config);
   const bioContext = buildUserBioContext(privateBio);
+  const locale = (session!.user as { locale?: string }).locale ?? "en";
+  const lang = LANG[locale] ?? "English";
 
   const { text } = await generateText({
     model,
-    system: `You are a helpful culinary assistant. Answer questions about the following recipe concisely and accurately. If a question is not related to the recipe or cooking, politely redirect. Keep answers under 200 words.
+    system: `You are a helpful culinary assistant. Answer questions about the following recipe concisely and accurately. If a question is not related to the recipe or cooking, politely redirect. Keep answers under 200 words. Respond in ${lang}.
 
 ${recipeContext}${bioContext}`,
     prompt: parsed.data.question,
diff --git a/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/recipe-ideas/route.ts b/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/recipe-ideas/route.ts
index ac688d5..6840063 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/recipe-ideas/route.ts
+++ b/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/recipe-ideas/route.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ const InputSchema = z.object({
   prompt: z.string().max(300).optional(),
 });
 
+const LANG: Record<string, string> = { en: "English", fr: "French" };
+
 const IdeasSchema = z.object({
   ideas: z.array(z.object({
     title: z.string(),
@@ -45,6 +47,9 @@ export async function POST(req: NextRequest) {
     ? `Consider the following user preferences when suggesting ideas:${bioContext}\n\n`
     : "";
 
+  const locale = (session!.user as { locale?: string }).locale ?? "en";
+  const lang = LANG[locale] ?? "English";
+
   const prompt = parsed.data.prompt?.trim()
     ? `${userContext}Generate 6 diverse recipe ideas based on: "${parsed.data.prompt}". Include a mix of difficulty levels.`
     : `${userContext}Generate 6 diverse, creative recipe ideas. Include different cuisines, difficulty levels, and meal types.`;
@@ -52,6 +57,7 @@ export async function POST(req: NextRequest) {
   const { object } = await generateObject({
     model,
     schema: IdeasSchema,
+    system: `Respond in ${lang}.`,
     prompt,
   });
 
diff --git a/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/substitute/route.ts b/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/substitute/route.ts
index 470fec0..b5f399c 100644
--- a/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/substitute/route.ts
+++ b/apps/web/app/api/v1/ai/substitute/route.ts
@@ -41,10 +41,13 @@ export async function POST(req: NextRequest) {
     ? { provider: parsed.data.provider, model: parsed.data.model }
     : await getDefaultProviderWithKey(session!.user.id);
 
+  const locale = (session!.user as { locale?: string }).locale ?? "en";
+
   const substitutions = await substituteIngredient(
     parsed.data.ingredient,
     context,
-    aiConfig
+    aiConfig,
+    locale
   );
 
   return NextResponse.json({ substitutions });
diff --git a/apps/web/components/meal-plan/meal-planner.tsx b/apps/web/components/meal-plan/meal-planner.tsx
index 847df2b..dfb7cdf 100644
--- a/apps/web/components/meal-plan/meal-planner.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/components/meal-plan/meal-planner.tsx
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ export function MealPlanner({
                       {entry?.recipe ? (
                         <div className="group relative rounded-lg bg-primary/10 border border-primary/20 p-2 text-xs min-h-[52px]">
                           <div className="font-medium line-clamp-2 pr-4">{entry.recipe.title}</div>
-                          <div className="text-muted-foreground mt-0.5">{entry.servings} srv</div>
+                          <div className="text-muted-foreground mt-0.5">{t("servingsAbbrev", { count: entry.servings })}</div>
                           <button
                             onClick={() => removeEntry(entry)}
                             className="absolute top-1 right-1 opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity text-muted-foreground hover:text-destructive"
diff --git a/apps/web/components/recipe/ai-generate-dialog.tsx b/apps/web/components/recipe/ai-generate-dialog.tsx
index a1f4282..217c6bd 100644
--- a/apps/web/components/recipe/ai-generate-dialog.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/components/recipe/ai-generate-dialog.tsx
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import { Label } from "@/components/ui/label";
 import { Select, SelectContent, SelectItem, SelectTrigger, SelectValue } from "@/components/ui/select";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
 import { FakeProgressBar } from "@/components/ui/fake-progress-bar";
+import { useLocale } from "@/lib/i18n/provider";
 
 const LANGUAGES = [
   { code: "en", label: "English" },
@@ -72,11 +73,12 @@ export function AiGenerateDialog({
 }) {
   const t = useTranslations("ai.generate");
   const router = useRouter();
+  const locale = useLocale();
   const [tab, setTab] = useState<Tab>("describe");
 
   // describe tab
   const [prompt, setPrompt] = useState("");
-  const [language, setLanguage] = useState("en");
+  const [language, setLanguage] = useState(locale);
   const [difficulty, setDifficulty] = useState<"" | "easy" | "medium" | "hard">("");
 
   // photo tab
diff --git a/apps/web/components/recipe/generate-content-button.tsx b/apps/web/components/recipe/generate-content-button.tsx
index 34ac4b7..1ff17b7 100644
--- a/apps/web/components/recipe/generate-content-button.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/components/recipe/generate-content-button.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { Sparkles, Loader2 } from "lucide-react";
 import { toast } from "sonner";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { FakeProgressBar } from "@/components/ui/fake-progress-bar";
+import { useLocale } from "@/lib/i18n/provider";
 
 type GeneratedRecipe = {
   ingredients: Array<{ rawName: string; quantity?: number; unit?: string; note?: string }>;
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ export function GenerateContentButton({
 }) {
   const t = useTranslations("ai.generate");
   const router = useRouter();
+  const locale = useLocale();
   const [busy, setBusy] = useState(false);
 
   async function generate() {
@@ -36,7 +38,7 @@ export function GenerateContentButton({
       const genRes = await fetch("/api/v1/ai/generate", {
         method: "POST",
         headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
-        body: JSON.stringify({ prompt }),
+        body: JSON.stringify({ prompt, language: locale }),
       });
 
       if (!genRes.ok) {
diff --git a/apps/web/components/recipe/recipe-card.tsx b/apps/web/components/recipe/recipe-card.tsx
index 8b2830c..60e7baa 100644
--- a/apps/web/components/recipe/recipe-card.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/components/recipe/recipe-card.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import Link from "next/link";
+import { useTranslations } from "next-intl";
 import { Clock, Users, Lock, Globe, Link2 } from "lucide-react";
 import { Badge } from "@/components/ui/badge";
 import { Card, CardContent, CardFooter, CardHeader } from "@/components/ui/card";
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ const DIFFICULTY_COLOR = {
 } as const;
 
 export function RecipeCard({ recipe }: { recipe: Recipe }) {
+  const t = useTranslations("recipe");
   const cover = recipe.photos?.find((p) => p.isCover) ?? recipe.photos?.[0];
   const totalMins = (recipe.prepMins ?? 0) + (recipe.cookMins ?? 0);
   const VisibilityIcon = VISIBILITY_ICON[recipe.visibility];
@@ -68,12 +70,12 @@ export function RecipeCard({ recipe }: { recipe: Recipe }) {
             {totalMins > 0 && (
               <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
                 <Clock className="h-3 w-3" />
-                {totalMins}m
+                {t("total", { mins: totalMins })}
               </span>
             )}
             {recipe.difficulty && (
               <Badge variant={DIFFICULTY_COLOR[recipe.difficulty]} className="text-xs h-4">
-                {recipe.difficulty}
+                {t(`difficulty.${recipe.difficulty}`)}
               </Badge>
             )}
           </div>
diff --git a/apps/web/components/recipe/recipes-grid.tsx b/apps/web/components/recipe/recipes-grid.tsx
index 0253500..176d452 100644
--- a/apps/web/components/recipe/recipes-grid.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/components/recipe/recipes-grid.tsx
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ function SelectableRecipeCard({
   selectMode: boolean;
   onToggle: (id: string) => void;
 }) {
+  const t = useTranslations("recipe");
   const cover = recipe.photos?.find((p) => p.isCover) ?? recipe.photos?.[0];
   const totalMins = (recipe.prepMins ?? 0) + (recipe.cookMins ?? 0);
   const VisibilityIcon = VISIBILITY_ICON[recipe.visibility];
@@ -139,12 +140,12 @@ function SelectableRecipeCard({
           {totalMins > 0 && (
             <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
               <Clock className="h-3 w-3" />
-              {totalMins}m
+              {t("total", { mins: totalMins })}
             </span>
           )}
           {recipe.difficulty && (
             <Badge variant={DIFFICULTY_COLOR[recipe.difficulty]} className="text-xs h-4 px-1.5">
-              {recipe.difficulty}
+              {t(`difficulty.${recipe.difficulty}`)}
             </Badge>
           )}
         </div>
diff --git a/apps/web/components/search/explore-page-content.tsx b/apps/web/components/search/explore-page-content.tsx
index d565b9e..a20bdf0 100644
--- a/apps/web/components/search/explore-page-content.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/components/search/explore-page-content.tsx
@@ -43,8 +43,12 @@ type RecipeIdea = {
 };
 
 function RecipeCard({ recipe }: { recipe: ExploreRecipeResult | SearchRecipeResult }) {
+  const t = useTranslations("recipe");
   const totalMins = (recipe.prepMins ?? 0) + (recipe.cookMins ?? 0);
   const description = "description" in recipe ? recipe.description : null;
+  const difficultyLabel = recipe.difficulty === "easy" || recipe.difficulty === "medium" || recipe.difficulty === "hard"
+    ? t(`difficulty.${recipe.difficulty}`)
+    : recipe.difficulty;
   return (
     <Link
       href={`/recipes/${recipe.id}`}
@@ -59,7 +63,7 @@ function RecipeCard({ recipe }: { recipe: ExploreRecipeResult | SearchRecipeResu
             variant="secondary"
             className={`shrink-0 capitalize text-xs ${DIFFICULTY_COLORS[recipe.difficulty] ?? ""}`}
           >
-            {recipe.difficulty}
+            {difficultyLabel}
           </Badge>
         )}
       </div>
@@ -70,7 +74,7 @@ function RecipeCard({ recipe }: { recipe: ExploreRecipeResult | SearchRecipeResu
         {totalMins > 0 && (
           <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
             <Clock className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
-            {totalMins}m
+            {t("total", { mins: totalMins })}
           </span>
         )}
         {recipe.authorName && (
@@ -103,6 +107,7 @@ export function ExplorePageContent({ trending, recent, initialQuery }: Props) {
   const searchParams = useSearchParams();
   const t = useTranslations("explore");
   const tCommon = useTranslations("common");
+  const tRecipe = useTranslations("recipe");
 
   const [inputValue, setInputValue] = useState(initialQuery);
   const [query, setQuery] = useState(initialQuery);
@@ -388,7 +393,7 @@ export function ExplorePageContent({ trending, recent, initialQuery }: Props) {
                         variant="secondary"
                         className={`shrink-0 capitalize text-xs ${DIFFICULTY_COLORS[idea.difficulty] ?? ""}`}
                       >
-                        {idea.difficulty}
+                        {tRecipe(`difficulty.${idea.difficulty}`)}
                       </Badge>
                     </div>
                     <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground line-clamp-2 flex-1">{idea.description}</p>
@@ -398,7 +403,7 @@ export function ExplorePageContent({ trending, recent, initialQuery }: Props) {
                       ))}
                       {idea.totalMins && (
                         <Badge variant="outline" className="text-xs flex items-center gap-1">
-                          <Clock className="h-3 w-3" />{idea.totalMins}m
+                          <Clock className="h-3 w-3" />{tRecipe("total", { mins: idea.totalMins })}
                         </Badge>
                       )}
                     </div>
diff --git a/apps/web/components/search/search-page-content.tsx b/apps/web/components/search/search-page-content.tsx
index b35b492..1cacf4c 100644
--- a/apps/web/components/search/search-page-content.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/components/search/search-page-content.tsx
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import { useState, useEffect, useRef, useCallback } from "react";
 import { useRouter, useSearchParams } from "next/navigation";
+import { useTranslations } from "next-intl";
 import Link from "next/link";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { Input } from "@/components/ui/input";
@@ -39,7 +40,11 @@ const DIFFICULTY_COLORS: Record<string, string> = {
 };
 
 function RecipeCard({ recipe }: { recipe: RecipeResult }) {
+  const t = useTranslations("recipe");
   const totalMins = (recipe.prepMins ?? 0) + (recipe.cookMins ?? 0);
+  const difficultyLabel = recipe.difficulty === "easy" || recipe.difficulty === "medium" || recipe.difficulty === "hard"
+    ? t(`difficulty.${recipe.difficulty}`)
+    : recipe.difficulty;
   return (
     <Link
       href={`/recipes/${recipe.id}`}
@@ -54,7 +59,7 @@ function RecipeCard({ recipe }: { recipe: RecipeResult }) {
             variant="secondary"
             className={`shrink-0 capitalize text-xs ${DIFFICULTY_COLORS[recipe.difficulty] ?? ""}`}
           >
-            {recipe.difficulty}
+            {difficultyLabel}
           </Badge>
         )}
       </div>
@@ -65,7 +70,7 @@ function RecipeCard({ recipe }: { recipe: RecipeResult }) {
         {totalMins > 0 && (
           <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
             <Clock className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
-            {totalMins}m
+            {t("total", { mins: totalMins })}
           </span>
         )}
         {recipe.authorName && (
diff --git a/apps/web/lib/ai/features/substitute-ingredient.ts b/apps/web/lib/ai/features/substitute-ingredient.ts
index 8eccc3f..49a4cf4 100644
--- a/apps/web/lib/ai/features/substitute-ingredient.ts
+++ b/apps/web/lib/ai/features/substitute-ingredient.ts
@@ -13,18 +13,22 @@ const SubstitutionsSchema = z.object({
 
 export type Substitution = z.infer<typeof SubstitutionsSchema>["substitutions"][number];
 
+const LANG: Record<string, string> = { en: "English", fr: "French" };
+
 export async function substituteIngredient(
   ingredient: string,
   recipeContext: string,
-  config?: AiConfig
+  config?: AiConfig,
+  locale?: string
 ): Promise<Substitution[]> {
   const model = resolveModel(config);
+  const lang = LANG[locale ?? "en"] ?? "English";
 
   const { object } = await generateObject({
     model,
     schema: SubstitutionsSchema,
     system:
-      "You are a professional chef specializing in ingredient substitutions. Provide practical, commonly available substitutes. For each substitute: name what to use, the ratio (e.g. '1:1', '3/4 the amount'), and a brief note on technique adjustments. Rate the flavor impact honestly.",
+      `You are a professional chef specializing in ingredient substitutions. Provide practical, commonly available substitutes. For each substitute: name what to use, the ratio (e.g. '1:1', '3/4 the amount'), and a brief note on technique adjustments. Rate the flavor impact honestly. Respond in ${lang}.`,
     prompt: `Suggest 3-4 substitutes for "${ingredient}" in this recipe context: ${recipeContext}`,
   });
 
diff --git a/apps/web/messages/en.json b/apps/web/messages/en.json
index 502cd21..6c91f8c 100644
--- a/apps/web/messages/en.json
+++ b/apps/web/messages/en.json
@@ -335,6 +335,7 @@
     "addTo": "Add to {day} – {meal}",
     "searchRecipes": "Search recipes…",
     "servings": "Servings",
+    "servingsAbbrev": "{count} srv",
     "difficulty": "Difficulty",
     "noRecipes": "No recipes found",
     "addFailed": "Failed to add",
diff --git a/apps/web/messages/fr.json b/apps/web/messages/fr.json
index cc1053a..f34855d 100644
--- a/apps/web/messages/fr.json
+++ b/apps/web/messages/fr.json
@@ -323,6 +323,7 @@
     "addTo": "Ajouter à {day} – {meal}",
     "searchRecipes": "Rechercher des recettes…",
     "servings": "Portions",
+    "servingsAbbrev": "{count} pers.",
     "difficulty": "Difficulté",
     "noRecipes": "Aucune recette trouvée",
     "addFailed": "Échec de l'ajout",