diff --git a/data/pref.xml b/data/pref.xml
index ea41155af..88ca84f73 100644
--- a/data/pref.xml
+++ b/data/pref.xml
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@
 
   <global>
     <section id="general">
+      <option id="language" type="std::string" default="&quot;en&quot;" />
       <option id="screen_scale" type="int" default="0" />
       <option id="ui_scale" type="int" default="1" migrate="experimental.ui_scale" />
       <option id="gpu_acceleration" type="bool" default="false" />
diff --git a/data/strings/en.ini b/data/strings/en.ini
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0c9e6331e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/data/strings/en.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+[new_sprite]
+title = New Sprite
+size = Size:
+width = Width:
+height = Height:
+background = Background:
+transparent = &Transparent
+white = &White
+black = &Black
+color_mode = Color Mode:
+rgba = &RGBA
+grayscale = &Grayscale
+indexed = &Indexed
+rgba_tooltip = <<<END
+Each pixel has Red, Green, Blue, and Alpha components
+(32 bits per pixel)
+END
+grayscale_tooltip = <<<END
+Each pixel has a Gray value and Alpha
+(16 bits per pixel)
+END
+indexed_tooltip = <<<END
+Each pixel is a reference to the palette
+(8 bits per pixel)
+END
+advanced_options = Advanced Options
+pixel_ratio = Pixel Ratio:
+square_pixels = Square Pixels (1:1)
+double_wide = Double-wide Pixels (2:1)
+double_high = Double-high Pixels (1:2)
diff --git a/data/widgets/new_sprite.xml b/data/widgets/new_sprite.xml
index 265b1b169..66e5edee1 100644
--- a/data/widgets/new_sprite.xml
+++ b/data/widgets/new_sprite.xml
@@ -1,39 +1,39 @@
 <!-- ASEPRITE -->
 <!-- Copyright (C) 2001-2016 by David Capello -->
 <gui>
-  <window text="New Sprite" id="new_sprite">
+  <window text="@new_sprite.title" id="new_sprite">
     <box vertical="true">
 
-      <separator text="Size:" left="true" horizontal="true" />
+      <separator text="@new_sprite.size" left="true" horizontal="true" />
       <grid columns="2">
-        <label text="Width:" />
+        <label text="@new_sprite.width" />
         <entry id="width" maxsize="8" magnet="true" cell_align="horizontal" suffix="px" />
-        <label text="Height:" />
+        <label text="@new_sprite.height" />
         <entry id="height" maxsize="8" cell_align="horizontal" suffix="px" />
       </grid>
 
-      <separator text="Color Mode:" left="true" horizontal="true" />
+      <separator text="@new_sprite.color_mode" left="true" horizontal="true" />
       <buttonset columns="3" id="color_mode">
-        <item text="&amp;RGBA" icon="icon_rgb" tooltip="Each pixel has Red, Green, Blue, and Alpha components&#10;(32 bits per pixel)" tooltip_dir="bottom" />
-        <item text="&amp;Grayscale" icon="icon_grayscale" tooltip="Each pixel has a Gray value and Alpha&#10;(16 bits per pixel)" tooltip_dir="bottom" />
-        <item text="&amp;Indexed" icon="icon_indexed" tooltip="Each pixel is a reference to the palette&#10;(8 bits per pixel)" tooltip_dir="bottom" />
+        <item text="@new_sprite.rgba" icon="icon_rgb" tooltip="@new_sprite.rgba_tooltip" tooltip_dir="bottom" />
+        <item text="@new_sprite.grayscale" icon="icon_grayscale" tooltip="@new_sprite.grayscale_tooltip" tooltip_dir="bottom" />
+        <item text="@new_sprite.indexed" icon="icon_indexed" tooltip="@new_sprite.indexed_tooltip" tooltip_dir="bottom" />
       </buttonset>
 
-      <separator text="Background:" left="true" horizontal="true" />
+      <separator text="@new_sprite.background" left="true" horizontal="true" />
       <buttonset columns="3" id="bg_color">
-        <item text="&amp;Transparent" icon="icon_transparent" />
-        <item text="&amp;White" icon="icon_white" />
-        <item text="&amp;Black" icon="icon_black" />
+        <item text="@new_sprite.transparent" icon="icon_transparent" />
+        <item text="@new_sprite.white" icon="icon_white" />
+        <item text="@new_sprite.black" icon="icon_black" />
       </buttonset>
 
-      <check id="advanced_check" text="Advanced Options" />
+      <check id="advanced_check" text="@new_sprite.advanced_options" />
       <vbox id="advanced">
 	<grid columns="2">
-          <label text="Pixel Ratio:" />
+          <label text="@new_sprite.pixel_ratio" />
           <combobox id="pixel_ratio" cell_align="horizontal">
-	    <listitem text="Square Pixels (1:1)" value="1:1" />
-	    <listitem text="Double-wide Pixels (2:1)" value="2:1" />
-	    <listitem text="Double-high Pixels (1:2)" value="1:2" />
+	    <listitem text="@new_sprite.square_pixels" value="1:1" />
+	    <listitem text="@new_sprite.double_wide" value="2:1" />
+	    <listitem text="@new_sprite.double_high" value="1:2" />
           </combobox>
 	</grid>
       </vbox>
diff --git a/src/app/CMakeLists.txt b/src/app/CMakeLists.txt
index 37585a401..960030232 100644
--- a/src/app/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/app/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -334,6 +334,7 @@ add_library(app-lib
   filename_formatter.cpp
   flatten.cpp
   gui_xml.cpp
+  i18n/strings.cpp
   ini_file.cpp
   job.cpp
   launcher.cpp
diff --git a/src/app/i18n/strings.cpp b/src/app/i18n/strings.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..41d8d1fc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/i18n/strings.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+// Aseprite
+// Copyright (C) 2016  David Capello
+//
+// This program is distributed under the terms of
+// the End-User License Agreement for Aseprite.
+
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
+
+#include "app/i18n/strings.h"
+
+#include "app/pref/preferences.h"
+#include "app/resource_finder.h"
+#include "app/xml_document.h"
+#include "app/xml_exception.h"
+#include "base/fs.h"
+#include "cfg/cfg.h"
+
+namespace app {
+
+// static
+Strings* Strings::instance()
+{
+  static Strings* singleton = nullptr;
+  if (!singleton)
+    singleton = new Strings();
+  return singleton;
+}
+
+Strings::Strings()
+{
+  const std::string lang = Preferences::instance().general.language();
+  LOG("I18N: Loading strings/%s.ini file\n", lang.c_str());
+
+  ResourceFinder rf;
+  rf.includeDataDir(("strings/" + lang + ".ini").c_str());
+  if (!rf.findFirst())
+    throw base::Exception("strings/" + lang + ".txt was not found");
+
+  cfg::CfgFile cfg;
+  cfg.load(rf.filename());
+
+  std::vector<std::string> sections;
+  std::vector<std::string> keys;
+  cfg.getAllSections(sections);
+  for (const auto& section : sections) {
+    keys.clear();
+    cfg.getAllKeys(section.c_str(), keys);
+
+    std::string textId = section;
+    textId.push_back('.');
+    for (auto key : keys) {
+      textId.append(key);
+      m_strings[textId] = cfg.getValue(section.c_str(), key.c_str(), "");
+
+      //TRACE("I18N: Reading string %s -> %s\n", textId.c_str(), m_strings[textId].c_str());
+
+      textId.erase(section.size()+1);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+const std::string& Strings::translate(const char* id)
+{
+  return m_strings[id];
+}
+
+} // namespace app
diff --git a/src/app/i18n/strings.h b/src/app/i18n/strings.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..83edaac78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/i18n/strings.h
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+// Aseprite
+// Copyright (C) 2016  David Capello
+//
+// This program is distributed under the terms of
+// the End-User License Agreement for Aseprite.
+
+#ifndef APP_I18N_STRINGS_INCLUDED
+#define APP_I18N_STRINGS_INCLUDED
+#pragma once
+
+#include <string>
+#include <unordered_map>
+#include <vector>
+
+namespace app {
+
+  // Singleton class to load and access "strings/english.txt" file.
+  class Strings {
+  public:
+    static Strings* instance();
+
+    const std::string& translate(const char* id);
+
+  private:
+    Strings();
+
+    std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string> m_strings;
+  };
+
+  #define tr(id) (Strings::instance()->translate(id))
+
+} // namespace app
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/app/widget_loader.cpp b/src/app/widget_loader.cpp
index 0bc532b17..a36b42212 100644
--- a/src/app/widget_loader.cpp
+++ b/src/app/widget_loader.cpp
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include "app/widget_loader.h"
 
 #include "app/app.h"
+#include "app/i18n/strings.h"
 #include "app/modules/gui.h"
 #include "app/resource_finder.h"
 #include "app/ui/button_set.h"
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ using namespace app::skin;
 
 static int convert_align_value_to_flags(const char *value);
 static int int_attr(const TiXmlElement* elem, const char* attribute_name, int default_value);
+static std::string text_attr(const TiXmlElement* elem, const char* attribute_name);
 
 WidgetLoader::WidgetLoader()
   : m_tooltipManager(NULL)
@@ -380,8 +382,7 @@ Widget* WidgetLoader::convertXmlElementToWidget(const TiXmlElement* elem, Widget
       (middle ? MIDDLE: (bottom ? BOTTOM: TOP));
 
     if (!widget) {
-      const char* text = elem->Attribute("text");
-      widget = new Separator(text ? text: "", align);
+      widget = new Separator(text_attr(elem, "text"), align);
     }
     else
       widget->setAlign(widget->align() | align);
@@ -411,13 +412,12 @@ Widget* WidgetLoader::convertXmlElementToWidget(const TiXmlElement* elem, Widget
   }
   else if (elem_name == "window") {
     if (!widget) {
-      const char* text = elem->Attribute("text");
       bool desktop = bool_attr_is_true(elem, "desktop");
 
       if (desktop)
         widget = new Window(Window::DesktopWindow);
-      else if (text)
-        widget = new Window(Window::WithTitleBar, text);
+      else if (elem->Attribute("text"))
+        widget = new Window(Window::WithTitleBar, text_attr(elem, "text"));
       else
         widget = new Window(Window::WithoutTitleBar);
     }
@@ -428,8 +428,7 @@ Widget* WidgetLoader::convertXmlElementToWidget(const TiXmlElement* elem, Widget
   }
   else if (elem_name == "dropdownbutton")  {
     if (!widget) {
-      const char* text = elem->Attribute("text");
-      widget = new DropDownButton(text);
+      widget = new DropDownButton(text_attr(elem, "text").c_str());
     }
   }
   else if (elem_name == "buttonset") {
@@ -463,7 +462,7 @@ Widget* WidgetLoader::convertXmlElementToWidget(const TiXmlElement* elem, Widget
       }
 
       if (text)
-        item->setText(text);
+        item->setText(text_attr(elem, "text"));
 
       buttonset->addItem(item, hspan, vspan);
       fillWidgetWithXmlElementAttributes(elem, root, item);
@@ -505,8 +504,6 @@ Widget* WidgetLoader::convertXmlElementToWidget(const TiXmlElement* elem, Widget
 void WidgetLoader::fillWidgetWithXmlElementAttributes(const TiXmlElement* elem, Widget* root, Widget* widget)
 {
   const char* id        = elem->Attribute("id");
-  const char* text      = elem->Attribute("text");
-  const char* tooltip   = elem->Attribute("tooltip");
   const char* tooltip_dir = elem->Attribute("tooltip_dir");
   bool selected         = bool_attr_is_true(elem, "selected");
   bool disabled         = bool_attr_is_true(elem, "disabled");
@@ -534,13 +531,13 @@ void WidgetLoader::fillWidgetWithXmlElementAttributes(const TiXmlElement* elem,
     if (!maxheight) maxheight = height;
   }
 
-  if (id != NULL)
+  if (id)
     widget->setId(id);
 
-  if (text)
-    widget->setText(text);
+  if (elem->Attribute("text"))
+    widget->setText(text_attr(elem, "text"));
 
-  if (tooltip && root) {
+  if (elem->Attribute("tooltip") && root) {
     if (!m_tooltipManager) {
       m_tooltipManager = new ui::TooltipManager();
       root->addChild(m_tooltipManager);
@@ -553,7 +550,8 @@ void WidgetLoader::fillWidgetWithXmlElementAttributes(const TiXmlElement* elem,
       else if (strcmp(tooltip_dir, "left") == 0) dir = LEFT;
       else if (strcmp(tooltip_dir, "right") == 0) dir = RIGHT;
     }
-    m_tooltipManager->addTooltipFor(widget, tooltip, dir);
+
+    m_tooltipManager->addTooltipFor(widget, text_attr(elem, "tooltip"), dir);
   }
 
   if (selected)
@@ -703,4 +701,15 @@ static int int_attr(const TiXmlElement* elem, const char* attribute_name, int de
   return (value ? strtol(value, NULL, 10): default_value);
 }
 
+static std::string text_attr(const TiXmlElement* elem, const char* attribute_name)
+{
+  const char* value = elem->Attribute(attribute_name);
+  if (!value)
+    return std::string();
+  else if (*value == '@')
+    return Strings::instance()->translate(value+1);
+  else
+    return std::string(value);
+}
+
 } // namespace app
diff --git a/src/cfg/cfg.cpp b/src/cfg/cfg.cpp
index cfbf9f1ea..e8a5588ce 100644
--- a/src/cfg/cfg.cpp
+++ b/src/cfg/cfg.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 
 #include <cstdlib>
 #include <iostream>
+#include <list>
+
 #include "SimpleIni.h"
 
 namespace cfg {
@@ -26,6 +28,24 @@ public:
     return m_filename;
   }
 
+  void getAllSections(std::vector<std::string>& sections) const {
+    std::list<CSimpleIniA::Entry> sectionsList;
+    m_ini.GetAllSections(sectionsList);
+    sections.reserve(sectionsList.size());
+    for (const auto& section : sectionsList)
+      sections.push_back(section.pItem);
+  }
+
+  void getAllKeys(const char* section, std::vector<std::string>& keys) const {
+    std::list<CSimpleIniA::Entry> keysList;
+    if (!m_ini.GetAllKeys(section, keysList))
+      return;
+
+    keys.reserve(keysList.size());
+    for (const auto& k : keysList)
+      keys.push_back(k.pItem);
+  }
+
   const char* getValue(const char* section, const char* name, const char* defaultValue) const {
     return m_ini.GetValue(section, name, defaultValue);
   }
@@ -67,6 +87,7 @@ public:
 
     base::FileHandle file(base::open_file(m_filename, "rb"));
     if (file) {
+      m_ini.SetMultiLine();
       SI_Error err = m_ini.LoadFile(file.get());
       if (err != SI_OK) {
         LOG(ERROR) << "CFG: Error " << err << " loading configuration from " << m_filename << "\n";
@@ -104,6 +125,16 @@ const std::string& CfgFile::filename() const
   return m_impl->filename();
 }
 
+void CfgFile::getAllSections(std::vector<std::string>& sections) const
+{
+  m_impl->getAllSections(sections);
+}
+
+void CfgFile::getAllKeys(const char* section, std::vector<std::string>& keys) const
+{
+  m_impl->getAllKeys(section, keys);
+}
+
 const char* CfgFile::getValue(const char* section, const char* name, const char* defaultValue) const
 {
   return m_impl->getValue(section, name, defaultValue);
diff --git a/src/cfg/cfg.h b/src/cfg/cfg.h
index a80991764..be5cd8d80 100644
--- a/src/cfg/cfg.h
+++ b/src/cfg/cfg.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // Aseprite Config Library
-// Copyright (c) 2014 David Capello
+// Copyright (c) 2014-2016 David Capello
 //
 // This file is released under the terms of the MIT license.
 // Read LICENSE.txt for more information.
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <string>
+#include <vector>
 
 namespace cfg {
 
@@ -19,6 +20,9 @@ namespace cfg {
 
     const std::string& filename() const;
 
+    void getAllSections(std::vector<std::string>& sections) const;
+    void getAllKeys(const char* section, std::vector<std::string>& keys) const;
+
     const char* getValue(const char* section, const char* name, const char* defaultValue) const;
     bool getBoolValue(const char* section, const char* name, bool defaultValue);
     int getIntValue(const char* section, const char* name, int defaultValue);