diff --git a/[core]/es_extended/locale.lua b/[core]/es_extended/locale.lua
index 3f059b62..b19cd79f 100644
--- a/[core]/es_extended/locale.lua
+++ b/[core]/es_extended/locale.lua
@@ -1,20 +1,69 @@
 Locales = {}
 
+--- English fallback for missing keys. locale.lua runs in every resource VM, so
+--- a resource may opt out through its own Config.LocaleFallback; otherwise the
+--- shared "esx:localeFallback" convar decides (enabled by default).
+local function localeFallbackEnabled()
+    if Config.LocaleFallback ~= nil then
+        return Config.LocaleFallback
+    end
+
+    return GetConvar("esx:localeFallback", "true") ~= "false"
+end
+
+--- Read and execute a locale file, returning its table or false if unreadable.
+local function readLocale(locale)
+    local success, result = pcall(function()
+        return assert(load(LoadResourceFile(GetCurrentResourceName(), ("locales/%s.lua"):format(locale))))()
+    end)
+
+    return success and result or false
+end
+
+--- Copy every key the target locale is missing from English into it once, warn
+--- about the gaps, then let the English table go. The locale ends up
+--- self-contained, so no per-call fallback and only one table stays in memory.
+local function backfillFromEnglish(locale, translations)
+    local english = readLocale("en")
+    if not english then
+        return
+    end
+
+    local missing = {}
+    for key, value in pairs(english) do
+        if translations[key] == nil then
+            translations[key] = value
+            missing[#missing + 1] = key
+        end
+    end
+
+    if #missing > 0 then
+        print(("[es_extended] locale [%s] is missing %d translation(s), falling back to English: %s")
+            :format(locale, #missing, table.concat(missing, ", ")))
+    end
+end
+
+--- Lazily load and cache a locale file, false if it cannot be read.
+local function loadLocale(locale)
+    if Locales[locale] == nil then
+        local translations = readLocale(locale)
+
+        if translations and locale ~= "en" and localeFallbackEnabled() then
+            backfillFromEnglish(locale, translations)
+        end
+
+        Locales[locale] = translations
+    end
+
+    return Locales[locale]
+end
+
 function Translate(str, ...) -- Translate string
     if not str then
         error(("Resource ^5%s^1 You did not specify a parameter for the Translate function or the value is nil!"):format(GetInvokingResource() or GetCurrentResourceName()))
     end
 
-    --- Load the locale file if it hasn't been loaded yet
-    if Locales[Config.Locale] == nil then
-        local success, result = pcall(function()
-            return assert(load(LoadResourceFile(GetCurrentResourceName(), ("locales/%s.lua"):format(Config.Locale))))()
-        end)
-
-        Locales[Config.Locale] = success and result or false
-    end
-
-    local translations = Locales[Config.Locale]
+    local translations = loadLocale(Config.Locale)
     if not translations then
         if Config.Locale == "en" then
             return "Locale [en] does not exist"
@@ -38,4 +87,4 @@ end
 
 _ = Translate
 -- luacheck: ignore _U
-_U = TranslateCap
\ No newline at end of file
+_U = TranslateCap
diff --git a/[core]/es_extended/shared/config/main.lua b/[core]/es_extended/shared/config/main.lua
index 0bb55117..a1194e45 100644
--- a/[core]/es_extended/shared/config/main.lua
+++ b/[core]/es_extended/shared/config/main.lua
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@ local txAdminLocale = GetConvar("txAdmin-locale", "en")
 local esxLocale = GetConvar("esx:locale", "invalid")
 Config.Locale = (esxLocale ~= "invalid") and esxLocale or (txAdminLocale ~= "custom" and txAdminLocale) or "en"
 
+-- When a key is missing from the active locale, fall back to the English string
+-- instead of returning a placeholder. Set convar "esx:localeFallback" to "false"
+-- to keep the placeholder (useful when authoring a new translation).
+Config.LocaleFallback = GetConvar("esx:localeFallback", "true") ~= "false"
+
 -- For ox inventory, this will automatically be adjusted, do not change! For other inventories, leave as false unless specifically instructed to change.
 Config.CustomInventory = false