diff --git a/pkg/i18n/i18n_test.go b/pkg/i18n/i18n_test.go
index d0d1826e..4fc3170b 100644
--- a/pkg/i18n/i18n_test.go
+++ b/pkg/i18n/i18n_test.go
@@ -343,3 +343,56 @@ func TestRawBypassesI18nNamespace(t *testing.T) {
 	result = svc.T("i18n.label.status")
 	assert.Equal(t, "Status:", result)
 }
+
+func TestFormalityMessageSelection(t *testing.T) {
+	svc, err := New()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// Add test messages with formality variants
+	svc.AddMessages("en-GB", map[string]string{
+		"greeting":           "Hello",
+		"greeting._formal":   "Good morning, sir",
+		"greeting._informal": "Hey there",
+		"farewell":           "Goodbye",
+		"farewell._formal":   "Farewell",
+	})
+
+	t.Run("neutral formality uses base key", func(t *testing.T) {
+		svc.SetFormality(FormalityNeutral)
+		assert.Equal(t, "Hello", svc.T("greeting"))
+		assert.Equal(t, "Goodbye", svc.T("farewell"))
+	})
+
+	t.Run("formal uses ._formal variant", func(t *testing.T) {
+		svc.SetFormality(FormalityFormal)
+		assert.Equal(t, "Good morning, sir", svc.T("greeting"))
+		assert.Equal(t, "Farewell", svc.T("farewell"))
+	})
+
+	t.Run("informal uses ._informal variant", func(t *testing.T) {
+		svc.SetFormality(FormalityInformal)
+		assert.Equal(t, "Hey there", svc.T("greeting"))
+		// No informal variant for farewell, falls back to base
+		assert.Equal(t, "Goodbye", svc.T("farewell"))
+	})
+
+	t.Run("subject formality overrides service formality", func(t *testing.T) {
+		svc.SetFormality(FormalityNeutral)
+
+		// Subject with formal overrides neutral service
+		result := svc.T("greeting", S("user", "test").Formal())
+		assert.Equal(t, "Good morning, sir", result)
+
+		// Subject with informal overrides neutral service
+		result = svc.T("greeting", S("user", "test").Informal())
+		assert.Equal(t, "Hey there", result)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("subject formality overrides service formal", func(t *testing.T) {
+		svc.SetFormality(FormalityFormal)
+
+		// Subject with informal overrides formal service
+		result := svc.T("greeting", S("user", "test").Informal())
+		assert.Equal(t, "Hey there", result)
+	})
+}
diff --git a/pkg/i18n/service.go b/pkg/i18n/service.go
index 9fd45855..c199df93 100644
--- a/pkg/i18n/service.go
+++ b/pkg/i18n/service.go
@@ -414,6 +414,24 @@ func (s *Service) resolveWithFallback(messageID string, data any) string {
 // Returns empty string if not found.
 // Must be called with s.mu.RLock held.
 func (s *Service) tryResolve(lang, key string, data any) string {
+	// Determine effective formality
+	formality := s.getEffectiveFormality(data)
+
+	// Try formality-specific key first (key._formal or key._informal)
+	if formality != FormalityNeutral {
+		formalityKey := key + "._" + formality.String()
+		if text := s.resolveMessage(lang, formalityKey, data); text != "" {
+			return text
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Fall back to base key
+	return s.resolveMessage(lang, key, data)
+}
+
+// resolveMessage resolves a single message key without formality fallback.
+// Must be called with s.mu.RLock held.
+func (s *Service) resolveMessage(lang, key string, data any) string {
 	msg, ok := s.getMessage(lang, key)
 	if !ok {
 		return ""
@@ -438,6 +456,28 @@ func (s *Service) tryResolve(lang, key string, data any) string {
 	return text
 }
 
+// getEffectiveFormality returns the formality to use for translation.
+// Priority: Subject.formality > Service.formality > FormalityNeutral
+// Must be called with s.mu.RLock held.
+func (s *Service) getEffectiveFormality(data any) Formality {
+	// Check if data is a Subject with explicit formality
+	if subj, ok := data.(*Subject); ok && subj != nil {
+		if subj.formality != FormalityNeutral {
+			return subj.formality
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Check if data is a map with Formality field
+	if m, ok := data.(map[string]any); ok {
+		if f, ok := m["Formality"].(Formality); ok && f != FormalityNeutral {
+			return f
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Fall back to service default
+	return s.formality
+}
+
 // handleMissingKey handles a missing translation key based on the current mode.
 // Must be called with s.mu.RLock held.
 func (s *Service) handleMissingKey(key string, args []any) string {