diff --git a/system/ui/lib/application.py b/system/ui/lib/application.py
index e0fb5be86e..a2d3f3c2be 100644
--- a/system/ui/lib/application.py
+++ b/system/ui/lib/application.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from typing import NamedTuple
 from importlib.resources import as_file, files
 from openpilot.common.swaglog import cloudlog
 from openpilot.system.hardware import HARDWARE, PC
+from openpilot.system.ui.lib.multilang import Multilang
 from openpilot.common.realtime import Ratekeeper
 
 DEFAULT_FPS = int(os.getenv("FPS", "60"))
@@ -135,6 +136,7 @@ class GuiApplication:
     self._window_close_requested = False
     self._trace_log_callback = None
     self._modal_overlay = ModalOverlay()
+    self._multilang = Multilang()
 
     self._mouse = MouseState(self._scale)
     self._mouse_events: list[MouseEvent] = []
@@ -318,11 +320,6 @@ class GuiApplication:
   def height(self):
     return self._height
 
-  def _load_languages(self):
-    LANGUAGE_DIR = os.path.join(BASEDIR, "selfdrive", "ui", "translations")
-    for file in os.listdir(LANGUAGE_DIR):
-      if file.endswith(".ts"):
-        pass
 
   def _load_fonts(self):
     # Create a character set from our keyboard layouts
diff --git a/system/ui/lib/multilang.py b/system/ui/lib/multilang.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..234c06e50d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/system/ui/lib/multilang.py
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+import os
+import pyray as rl
+from typing import Union
+from openpilot.common.params import Params
+from openpilot.common.basedir import BASEDIR
+
+
+class Multilang:
+  def __init__(self):
+    self._language: str = "main_en"
+    self._translations: dict[str, dict[str, str]] = {}
+
+    self._load_languages()
+    self._hook_draw_text()
+
+  def _load_languages(self):
+    self._language = Params().get("LanguageSetting")
+
+    LANGUAGE_DIR = os.path.join(BASEDIR, "selfdrive", "ui", "translations")
+    for file in os.listdir(LANGUAGE_DIR):
+      if file.endswith(".ts"):
+        pass
+
+  def _get_translated_text(self, text: str) -> str:
+    if self._language not in self._translations:
+      return text
+    return self._translations[self._language].get(text, text)
+
+  def _hook_draw_text(self):
+    # hook rl.draw_text* to get text for multilang
+    # TODO: and measure text
+    original_draw_text = rl.draw_text
+    original_draw_text_ex = rl.draw_text_ex
+
+    def draw_text_wrapper(text: str, posX: int, posY: int, fontSize: int, color: Union[rl.Color, list, tuple]) -> None:
+      assert False
+      text = self._get_translated_text(text)
+      return original_draw_text(text, posX, posY, fontSize, color)
+
+    def draw_text_ex_wrapper(font: Union[rl.Font, list, tuple], text: str, position: Union[rl.Vector2, list, tuple], fontSize: float, spacing: float,
+                             tint: Union[rl.Color, list, tuple]) -> None:
+      text = self._get_translated_text(text)
+      return original_draw_text_ex(font, text, position, fontSize, spacing, tint)
+
+    rl.draw_text = draw_text_wrapper
+    rl.draw_text_ex = draw_text_ex_wrapper