diff --git a/src/features/app/menuBridge.ts b/src/features/app/menuBridge.ts
index 2f8f4e6f4..0af02a2d3 100644
--- a/src/features/app/menuBridge.ts
+++ b/src/features/app/menuBridge.ts
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ export function buildMenuConfig(os: HostOs): MenuConfig {
 /** View › Tool Windows (every registered window, by title) and Window › Tool Window Layouts. */
 export function dynamicMenuItems(): Record<string, DynamicItem[]> {
   const toolWindows = [...useContributions.getState().toolWindows.values()]
-    .map((tw) => ({ action: `toolwindow.${tw.id}`, arg: null, label: tx(tw.title) ?? tw.title }))
+    .map((tw) => ({ action: `toolwindow.${tw.id}`, arg: null, label: tw.verbatim ? tw.title : tx(tw.title) }))
     .sort((a, b) => a.label.localeCompare(b.label));
   const layouts = useToolWindowLayouts
     .getState()
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ export function dynamicMenuItems(): Record<string, DynamicItem[]> {
     Object.entries(useMenuSlotItems.getState().slots).map(([slot, items]) => [
       slot,
       [...items]
-        .map((i) => ({ action: i.action, arg: i.arg ?? null, label: tx(i.label) ?? i.label }))
+        .map((i) => ({ action: i.action, arg: i.arg ?? null, label: i.verbatim ? i.label : tx(i.label) }))
         .sort((a, b) => a.label.localeCompare(b.label)),
     ]),
   );
diff --git a/src/features/plugins/__tests__/plugins.test.tsx b/src/features/plugins/__tests__/plugins.test.tsx
index 871e857a8..096c45140 100644
--- a/src/features/plugins/__tests__/plugins.test.tsx
+++ b/src/features/plugins/__tests__/plugins.test.tsx
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ describe("bridge events", () => {
     Object.defineProperty(navigator, "clipboard", { value: { writeText }, configurable: true });
     const open = vi.spyOn(window, "open").mockImplementation(() => null);
     handlePluginEvent({ type: "notification", pluginId: "p", level: "info", title: "Done", body: "3 words" });
-    expect(notes).toEqual([{ group: "plugins", level: "info", title: "Done", body: "3 words" }]);
+    expect(notes).toEqual([{ group: "plugins", level: "info", title: "Done", body: "3 words", verbatim: true }]);
     handlePluginEvent({ type: "copyToClipboard", pluginId: "p", text: "https://github.com/o/r" });
     expect(writeText).toHaveBeenCalledWith("https://github.com/o/r");
     handlePluginEvent({ type: "openUrl", pluginId: "p", url: "https://github.com/o/r/blob/main/a.rs" });
diff --git a/src/features/plugins/__tests__/verbatimText.test.tsx b/src/features/plugins/__tests__/verbatimText.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cb1dbe1dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/features/plugins/__tests__/verbatimText.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { act, cleanup, render, screen } from "@testing-library/react";
+import type { ServiceTab } from "@/bindings";
+import { getAction, registerAction } from "@/platform/actions";
+import { setLocale, tx, VerbatimTextContext } from "@/platform/i18n";
+import { Button, EmptyState } from "@/ui";
+import { InputDialogsHost, pickItems } from "@/workbench/inputDialogs";
+import { confirm, MessagesHost } from "@/workbench/messages";
+import { createMemoryPluginsBackend, setPluginsBackend } from "../backend";
+import { ServicePane } from "../views/ServicePane";
+
+// "Pick", "Refresh" and "Log" are IDE text too ("拣选", "刷新", "日志"); a plugin means its own.
+beforeEach(async () => {
+  await setLocale("zh");
+});
+
+afterEach(async () => {
+  cleanup();
+  setPluginsBackend(null);
+  await setLocale("en");
+});
+
+describe("plugin text", () => {
+  it("primitives show given text as written below plugin UI, their own words translated", () => {
+    render(
+      <>
+        <Button>Refresh</Button>
+        <VerbatimTextContext.Provider value={true}>
+          <Button>Refresh</Button>
+          <EmptyState title="Log" />
+        </VerbatimTextContext.Provider>
+      </>,
+    );
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "刷新" })).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Refresh" })).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByText("Log")).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+
+  it("keeps a plugin command's title, translating its IDE category", () => {
+    const disposers = [
+      registerAction({ id: "test.ide.pick", title: "Pick", category: "Tools", run: () => {} }),
+      registerAction({ id: "test.plugin.pick", title: "Pick", category: "Tools", verbatim: true, run: () => {} }),
+    ];
+    expect(getAction("test.ide.pick")?.title).toBe(tx("Pick"));
+    expect(getAction("test.plugin.pick")?.title).toBe("Pick");
+    expect(getAction("test.plugin.pick")?.category).toBe(tx("Tools"));
+    for (const d of disposers) d();
+  });
+
+  it("shows a plugin's service tabs as written", async () => {
+    const tabs: ServiceTab[] = [{ id: "log", label: "Log", body: { kind: "text", value: "a: 1" } }];
+    setPluginsBackend({ ...createMemoryPluginsBackend([]), serviceDetail: async () => tabs });
+    render(<ServicePane pluginId="kube" view="pods" itemKey="pod:a" />);
+    expect(await screen.findByRole("tab", { name: "Log" })).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+
+  it("asks a plugin's questions as written, with the IDE's own buttons translated", async () => {
+    render(
+      <>
+        <InputDialogsHost />
+        <MessagesHost />
+      </>,
+    );
+    act(() => {
+      void pickItems({ title: "Pick", items: [{ key: "a", label: "Log" }], multiple: false, verbatim: true });
+    });
+    expect(await screen.findByRole("dialog", { name: "Pick" })).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByText("Log")).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "确定" })).toBeTruthy();
+    cleanup();
+
+    render(<MessagesHost />);
+    act(() => {
+      void confirm({ title: "Pick", message: "Refresh", ok: tx("OK"), verbatim: true });
+    });
+    expect(await screen.findByRole("dialog", { name: "Pick" })).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByText("Refresh")).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "确定" })).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/features/plugins/__tests__/views.test.tsx b/src/features/plugins/__tests__/views.test.tsx
index 05c57c786..e6a8a2247 100644
--- a/src/features/plugins/__tests__/views.test.tsx
+++ b/src/features/plugins/__tests__/views.test.tsx
@@ -296,6 +296,7 @@ describe("plugin menus", () => {
       {
         kind: "item",
         label: "Arthas",
+        verbatim: true,
         submenu: [
           { kind: "action", action: "plugin.p.watch", arg: undefined },
           { kind: "action", action: "plugin.p.trace", arg: undefined },
diff --git a/src/features/plugins/bridge.ts b/src/features/plugins/bridge.ts
index 075c8a7a8..ce80d444b 100644
--- a/src/features/plugins/bridge.ts
+++ b/src/features/plugins/bridge.ts
@@ -278,7 +278,13 @@ export function handlePluginEvent(e: PluginEvent) {
       break;
     case "notification": {
       const name = usePlugins.getState().plugins.find((p) => p.id === e.pluginId)?.name ?? e.pluginId;
-      notifications().notify({ group: "plugins", level: e.level, title: e.title || name, body: e.body || undefined });
+      notifications().notify({
+        group: "plugins",
+        level: e.level,
+        title: e.title || name,
+        body: e.body || undefined,
+        verbatim: true,
+      });
       break;
     }
     case "themeChanged":
diff --git a/src/features/plugins/points.tsx b/src/features/plugins/points.tsx
index a2820ff90..aff27805a 100644
--- a/src/features/plugins/points.tsx
+++ b/src/features/plugins/points.tsx
@@ -153,6 +153,7 @@ export function defineBuiltinUiPoints(): () => void {
           category: decl.category ?? plugin.name,
           icon: "package",
           when: decl.when ?? undefined,
+          verbatim: true,
           keywords: ["plugin", plugin.name, pluginId],
           description: tx`From plugin ${plugin.name}`,
           run: async ({ arg }) => {
diff --git a/src/features/plugins/runtimeUi.tsx b/src/features/plugins/runtimeUi.tsx
index d3ce5194f..6e6c75f65 100644
--- a/src/features/plugins/runtimeUi.tsx
+++ b/src/features/plugins/runtimeUi.tsx
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import { executeAction, getAction, onActionExecuted } from "@/platform/actions";
 import { clearContext, setContext, type ContextValue } from "@/platform/context";
 import { onIdeEvent } from "@/platform/ipc";
 import { openExternalUrl } from "@/platform/openUrl";
+import { tx, VerbatimTextContext } from "@/platform/i18n";
 import { useProject } from "@/platform/project";
 import { shortcutLabel } from "@/platform/keymap";
 import { BarButton } from "@/ui/BarButton";
@@ -91,13 +92,15 @@ function PluginStatusItemView({ itemKey }: { itemKey: ItemKey }) {
   const tooltip = item.tooltip ? translate(item.tooltip) : undefined;
   const text = translate(item.text);
   return (
-    <BarButton
-      tooltip={tooltip}
-      aria-label={tooltip ?? text}
-      onClick={command ? () => void runPluginCommand(pluginId, command) : undefined}
-    >
-      {text}
-    </BarButton>
+    <VerbatimTextContext.Provider value={true}>
+      <BarButton
+        tooltip={tooltip}
+        aria-label={tooltip ?? text}
+        onClick={command ? () => void runPluginCommand(pluginId, command) : undefined}
+      >
+        {text}
+      </BarButton>
+    </VerbatimTextContext.Provider>
   );
 }
 
@@ -320,7 +323,7 @@ const openPrompts = new Map<string, AbortController>();
 async function askUser(prompt: Prompt, signal: AbortSignal): Promise<string[] | null> {
   switch (prompt.kind) {
     case "quickPick":
-      return pickItems({ title: prompt.title, items: prompt.items, multiple: prompt.multiple, signal });
+      return pickItems({ title: prompt.title, items: prompt.items, multiple: prompt.multiple, signal, verbatim: true });
     case "input": {
       const text = await promptInput({
         title: prompt.prompt,
@@ -329,11 +332,14 @@ async function askUser(prompt: Prompt, signal: AbortSignal): Promise<string[] |
         keepWhitespace: true,
         multiline: prompt.multiline,
         signal,
+        verbatim: true,
       });
       return text === null ? null : [text];
     }
     case "confirm":
-      return (await confirm({ title: prompt.title, message: prompt.message, ok: "OK", signal })) ? [] : null;
+      return (await confirm({ title: prompt.title, message: prompt.message, ok: tx("OK"), signal, verbatim: true }))
+        ? []
+        : null;
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/features/plugins/uiPoints.tsx b/src/features/plugins/uiPoints.tsx
index 7957219fe..e97f1e086 100644
--- a/src/features/plugins/uiPoints.tsx
+++ b/src/features/plugins/uiPoints.tsx
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ function addGrouped(
   if (!group) {
     group = [];
     groups.set(key, group);
-    out.push({ kind: "item", label: submenu, submenu: group });
+    out.push({ kind: "item", label: submenu, verbatim: true, submenu: group });
   }
   group.push(item);
 }
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ function projectMenu(pluginId: string, decl: MenuDecl, plugin: PluginInfo): () =
   if (decl.menu === "tools") {
     const action = pluginActionId(pluginId, decl.command);
     const title = decl.commandTitle ?? getAction(action)?.title ?? `${plugin.name}: ${decl.command}`;
-    return registerMenuSlotItem("pluginTools", { action, label: title });
+    return registerMenuSlotItem("pluginTools", { action, label: title, verbatim: true });
   }
   if (decl.menu === "commit.message") {
     const action = pluginActionId(pluginId, decl.command);
@@ -173,6 +173,7 @@ function projectMenu(pluginId: string, decl: MenuDecl, plugin: PluginInfo): () =
     return registerMenuSlotItem("commitMessage", {
       action,
       label,
+      verbatim: true,
       icon: pluginIconName(pluginId, plugin.icon),
       when: decl.when ?? null,
     });
@@ -437,6 +438,7 @@ function registerView(pluginId: string, decl: ViewDecl, icon: string): () => voi
   return registerToolWindow({
     id: pluginToolWindowId(pluginId, decl.id),
     title: decl.title,
+    verbatim: true,
     icon,
     anchor: decl.location,
     order: 900,
@@ -599,6 +601,7 @@ export function startViewUi(openInput: (input: ReturnType<typeof customEditorInp
               label: tx("Open With"),
               submenu: editors.map((e) => ({
                 label: e.decl.title,
+                verbatim: true,
                 run: () => openInput(customEditorInput(e.pluginId, e.decl, path)),
               })),
             });
diff --git a/src/features/plugins/views/PluginView.tsx b/src/features/plugins/views/PluginView.tsx
index 79a0fa9e1..b92909f5b 100644
--- a/src/features/plugins/views/PluginView.tsx
+++ b/src/features/plugins/views/PluginView.tsx
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import {
   type MouseEvent as ReactMouseEvent,
 } from "react";
 import type { View, ViewEvent, ViewField, ViewTable, ViewTreeItem, Viewport } from "@/bindings";
-import { tx } from "@/platform/i18n";
+import { tx, VerbatimTextContext } from "@/platform/i18n";
 import {
   Checkbox,
   EmptyState,
@@ -54,7 +54,16 @@ export interface PluginViewProps {
 const OVERSCAN = 50;
 const ROW_HEIGHT = 24;
 
-export function PluginView({ pluginId, view, doc = null, revision = 0, label, itemMenu }: PluginViewProps) {
+/** Plugin text is shown as written: the plugin translates it through its own catalog. */
+export function PluginView(props: PluginViewProps) {
+  return (
+    <VerbatimTextContext.Provider value={true}>
+      <PluginViewContent {...props} />
+    </VerbatimTextContext.Provider>
+  );
+}
+
+function PluginViewContent({ pluginId, view, doc = null, revision = 0, label, itemMenu }: PluginViewProps) {
   const [rendered, setContent] = useState<View | null>(null);
   const t = usePluginT(pluginId);
   const content = useMemo(() => rendered && localizeView(rendered, t), [rendered, t]);
diff --git a/src/features/plugins/views/ServicePane.tsx b/src/features/plugins/views/ServicePane.tsx
index 83225ec74..0044264ad 100644
--- a/src/features/plugins/views/ServicePane.tsx
+++ b/src/features/plugins/views/ServicePane.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
  */
 import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
 import type { ServiceTab } from "@/bindings";
+import { tx, VerbatimTextContext } from "@/platform/i18n";
 import { EmptyState, LogPane, Spinner, Tabs } from "@/ui";
 import { copySelectionOnKeyDown } from "@/ui/selectableText";
 import { pluginsBackend } from "../backend";
@@ -16,7 +17,16 @@ interface ServicePaneProps {
   itemKey: string;
 }
 
-export function ServicePane({ pluginId, view, itemKey }: ServicePaneProps) {
+/** Plugin text is shown as written: the plugin translates it through its own catalog. */
+export function ServicePane(props: ServicePaneProps) {
+  return (
+    <VerbatimTextContext.Provider value={true}>
+      <ServicePaneContent {...props} />
+    </VerbatimTextContext.Provider>
+  );
+}
+
+function ServicePaneContent({ pluginId, view, itemKey }: ServicePaneProps) {
   // `views.refresh(<view>)` asks for the pane again.
   const revision = useViewRevision(pluginId, view);
   const [tabs, setTabs] = useState<ServiceTab[] | null>(null);
@@ -43,7 +53,7 @@ export function ServicePane({ pluginId, view, itemKey }: ServicePaneProps) {
   if (error) return <EmptyState title={error} />;
   if (!tabs) return <Spinner />;
   const active = tabs.find((t) => t.id === picked) ?? tabs[0];
-  if (!active) return <EmptyState title="Nothing to show" />;
+  if (!active) return <EmptyState title={tx("Nothing to show")} />;
   return (
     <div className={styles.pane}>
       <Tabs
diff --git a/src/features/search/everywhere/model.ts b/src/features/search/everywhere/model.ts
index 6f12712d4..ced93de09 100644
--- a/src/features/search/everywhere/model.ts
+++ b/src/features/search/everywhere/model.ts
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ export function matchActions(
     if (!enabled && opts.includeDisabled === false) continue;
     let score: number;
     let indices: number[] = [];
-    const translated = tx(a.title);
+    const translated = shown(a, a.title);
     const title = matchText(translated, q, { wordAligned: true });
     // The English title still matches; its indices don't apply to the translated text.
     const english = title || translated === a.title ? undefined : matchText(a.title, q, { wordAligned: true });
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ export function matchActions(
       key: `a:${a.id}`,
       id: a.id,
       title: translated,
-      category: a.category ? tx(a.category) : a.category,
+      category: a.category && tx(a.category),
       icon: a.icon,
       enabled,
       indices,
@@ -335,13 +335,18 @@ export function mergeActionResults(actions: readonly ActionItem[], settings: rea
   return byScore<ActionItem | SettingItem>([...actions, ...settings]);
 }
 
+/** An action's title in the UI language; a plugin's stays as written. */
+function shown(a: Action, text: string): string {
+  return a.verbatim ? text : tx(text);
+}
+
 export function actionItem(a: Action, enabled: boolean): ActionItem {
   return {
     kind: "action",
     key: `a:${a.id}`,
     id: a.id,
-    title: tx(a.title),
-    category: a.category ? tx(a.category) : a.category,
+    title: shown(a, a.title),
+    category: a.category && tx(a.category),
     icon: a.icon,
     enabled,
     indices: [],
diff --git a/src/platform/actions.ts b/src/platform/actions.ts
index 2b561ad5e..dd5777a8f 100644
--- a/src/platform/actions.ts
+++ b/src/platform/actions.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ export interface Action {
   keyWhen?: string;
   /** Extra search terms for the Actions tab. */
   keywords?: string[];
+  /** The title comes from outside the IDE (a plugin) and is shown as written; the category still names an IDE group. */
+  verbatim?: boolean;
   /** Hidden from Search Everywhere (internal / parameterised actions). */
   hidden?: boolean;
   /**
@@ -75,7 +77,7 @@ function localized(key: string, text: string | undefined): string | undefined {
 }
 
 function localize(action: Action): Action {
-  const title = localized(`action.${action.id}`, action.title);
+  const title = action.verbatim ? undefined : localized(`action.${action.id}`, action.title);
   const description = localized(`action.${action.id}.description`, action.description);
   const category = localized(`action.category.${action.category}`, action.category);
   if (!title && !description && !category) return action;
diff --git a/src/platform/i18n.ts b/src/platform/i18n.ts
index 42ec54c3e..159c2409a 100644
--- a/src/platform/i18n.ts
+++ b/src/platform/i18n.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
  *   - `{n, number}`.
  *   Branches nest. Unknown parameters are left as written.
  */
-import { useCallback, useMemo } from "react";
+import { createContext, useCallback, useContext, useMemo } from "react";
 import { create } from "zustand";
 import en from "./locales/en.json";
 
@@ -196,6 +196,28 @@ export function useTx(): typeof tx {
   }, [texts]);
 }
 
+/**
+ * True below UI that shows text from outside the IDE as written: a plugin's
+ * titles, labels and messages. Its own translations come from its package; the
+ * IDE's catalog would turn a plugin's "Pick" or "Log" into the IDE's meaning.
+ */
+export const VerbatimTextContext = createContext(false);
+
+const asWritten = ((text: string | TemplateStringsArray | undefined, ...values: unknown[]) =>
+  text === undefined || typeof text === "string"
+    ? text
+    : text.reduce((out, s, i) => out + String(values[i - 1]) + s)) as typeof tx;
+
+/**
+ * `useTx` for text a component was given (labels, titles, options): as written
+ * below a {@link VerbatimTextContext}, translated elsewhere. A component's own
+ * words keep `tx`.
+ */
+export function useGivenTx(): typeof tx {
+  const bound = useTx();
+  return useContext(VerbatimTextContext) ? asWritten : bound;
+}
+
 function translateSource(texts: Catalog, text: string | TemplateStringsArray | undefined, values: unknown[]) {
   // A tag without `${}` spells out its whole text, which is looked up as written.
   if (text !== undefined && typeof text !== "string" && !values.length) text = text[0]!;
diff --git a/src/ui/BarButton.tsx b/src/ui/BarButton.tsx
index 0843281ec..a266d1c19 100644
--- a/src/ui/BarButton.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/BarButton.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { forwardRef, type ButtonHTMLAttributes } from "react";
 import clsx from "clsx";
+import { useGivenTx } from "@/platform/i18n";
 import { tooltipAttrs } from "./Tooltip";
 import styles from "./BarButton.module.css";
 
@@ -18,12 +19,13 @@ export const BarButton = forwardRef<HTMLButtonElement, BarButtonProps>(function
   { variant = "status", mono, tooltip, shortcut, emphasis, className, type = "button", children, ...rest },
   ref,
 ) {
+  const given = useGivenTx();
   return (
     <button
       ref={ref}
       type={type}
       className={clsx(styles.button, styles[variant], mono && styles.mono, emphasis && styles.emphasis, className)}
-      {...tooltipAttrs(tooltip, shortcut)}
+      {...tooltipAttrs(given(tooltip), shortcut, true)}
       {...rest}
     >
       {children}
diff --git a/src/ui/Button.tsx b/src/ui/Button.tsx
index dff8f3183..ab58b1055 100644
--- a/src/ui/Button.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/Button.tsx
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { shortcutLabel } from "@/platform/keymap";
 import { Icon, type IconName } from "./icons";
 import { tooltipAttrs } from "./Tooltip";
 import styles from "./Button.module.css";
-import { useTx } from "@/platform/i18n";
+import { useGivenTx } from "@/platform/i18n";
 
 export interface ButtonProps extends ButtonHTMLAttributes<HTMLButtonElement> {
   variant?: "primary" | "secondary" | "ghost";
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ export const Button = forwardRef<HTMLButtonElement, ButtonProps>(function Button
   { variant = "secondary", size = "normal", icon, className, children, type = "button", title, ...rest },
   ref,
 ) {
-  const tx = useTx();
+  const tx = useGivenTx();
   return (
     <button
       ref={ref}
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ export const IconButton = forwardRef<HTMLButtonElement, IconButtonProps>(functio
   },
   ref,
 ) {
-  const tx = useTx();
+  const tx = useGivenTx();
   const a = action ? getAction(action) : undefined;
   const label = tx(title) ?? a?.title ?? action ?? icon;
   const keys = shortcut ?? (action ? shortcutLabel(action) : undefined);
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ export const IconButton = forwardRef<HTMLButtonElement, IconButtonProps>(functio
         onClick?.(e);
         if (!e.defaultPrevented && action) void executeAction(action, actionArg);
       }}
-      {...tooltipAttrs(label, keys)}
+      {...tooltipAttrs(label, keys, true)}
       {...rest}
     >
       <Icon name={icon} size={iconSize ?? (size === "small" ? 14 : 16)} />
diff --git a/src/ui/Checkbox.tsx b/src/ui/Checkbox.tsx
index 7c56d8f49..8553a6759 100644
--- a/src/ui/Checkbox.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/Checkbox.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { useId, type ReactNode } from "react";
 import clsx from "clsx";
 import { Icon } from "./icons";
 import styles from "./Checkbox.module.css";
-import { useTx } from "@/platform/i18n";
+import { useGivenTx } from "@/platform/i18n";
 
 export interface CheckboxProps {
   checked: boolean;
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ export interface CheckboxProps {
 
 export function Checkbox({ checked, onChange, label, disabled, indeterminate, className, ...aria }: CheckboxProps) {
   const id = useId();
-  const tx = useTx();
+  const tx = useGivenTx();
   return (
     <label className={clsx(styles.row, disabled && styles.disabled, className)} htmlFor={id}>
       <span className={styles.boxWrap}>
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ export interface RadioProps {
 /** Radio button, drawn like the checkbox with a round box and a dot. */
 export function Radio({ checked, onChange, name, label, disabled, className }: RadioProps) {
   const id = useId();
-  const tx = useTx();
+  const tx = useGivenTx();
   return (
     <label className={clsx(styles.row, disabled && styles.disabled, className)} htmlFor={id}>
       <span className={styles.boxWrap}>
diff --git a/src/ui/Dialog.tsx b/src/ui/Dialog.tsx
index 8c488a585..3e6d9c119 100644
--- a/src/ui/Dialog.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/Dialog.tsx
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { usePlatform } from "@/platform/platformInfo";
 import { Button, IconButton } from "./Button";
 import { Icon } from "./icons";
 import { FOCUSABLE, onWindowDeactivate, openLayer, trapTab } from "./popupState";
-import { useTx } from "@/platform/i18n";
+import { tx, useGivenTx } from "@/platform/i18n";
 import { selectableText } from "./selectableText";
 import appIcon from "../../src-tauri/icons/128x128.png";
 import styles from "./Dialog.module.css";
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ export function DialogButtons({
   platform?: DialogPlatform;
 }) {
   const platform = useDialogPlatform(override);
-  const tx = useTx();
+  const given = useGivenTx();
   return (
     <div className={styles.buttons}>
       {orderDialogButtons(buttons, platform).map((b) => (
@@ -82,12 +82,12 @@ export function DialogButtons({
           key={b.label}
           variant={b.role === "default" ? "primary" : "secondary"}
           disabled={b.disabled}
-          title={tx(b.title)}
+          title={given(b.title)}
           data-autofocus={b.autoFocus ? "" : undefined}
           data-dialog-default={b.role === "default" ? "" : undefined}
           onClick={b.onClick ?? (b.role === "cancel" ? onCancel : undefined)}
         >
-          {tx(b.label)}
+          {given(b.label)}
         </Button>
       ))}
     </div>
@@ -225,8 +225,8 @@ function DialogInner({
 }: DialogProps) {
   const ref = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
   const platform = useDialogPlatform(platformOverride);
-  const tx = useTx();
-  if (typeof title === "string") title = tx(title);
+  const given = useGivenTx();
+  if (typeof title === "string") title = given(title);
   // Choosers and untitled dialogs (Recent Files, About) are IDEA popups.
   const popup = position === "top" || (title == null && !icon);
   const onCloseRef = useRef(onClose);
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ function DialogInner({
             <div className={styles.messageText}>
               {title != null && <div className={clsx(styles.messageTitle, selectableText)}>{title}</div>}
               <div className={clsx(styles.messageBody, selectableText)}>
-                {typeof children === "string" ? tx(children) : children}
+                {typeof children === "string" ? given(children) : children}
               </div>
               {footerStart && <div className={styles.messageExtra}>{footerStart}</div>}
             </div>
diff --git a/src/ui/Feedback.tsx b/src/ui/Feedback.tsx
index 05add2b25..f44b4b3e4 100644
--- a/src/ui/Feedback.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/Feedback.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@ import type { ReactNode } from "react";
 import clsx from "clsx";
 import { Icon, type IconName } from "./icons";
 import { IconButton } from "./Button";
-import { T } from "./T";
+import { Given } from "./T";
+import { useTx } from "@/platform/i18n";
 import { selectableText } from "./selectableText";
 import styles from "./Feedback.module.css";
 
@@ -89,7 +90,7 @@ export interface EmptyStateProps {
 export function EmptyState({ title, children, actions, className }: EmptyStateProps) {
   return (
     <div className={clsx(styles.empty, className)}>
-      {title && <div className={styles.emptyTitle}>{typeof title === "string" ? <T>{title}</T> : title}</div>}
+      {title && <div className={styles.emptyTitle}>{typeof title === "string" ? <Given>{title}</Given> : title}</div>}
       {children && <div className={styles.emptyBody}>{children}</div>}
       {actions && <div className={styles.emptyActions}>{actions}</div>}
     </div>
@@ -125,6 +126,7 @@ export function Toast({
   onPointerEnter,
   onPointerLeave,
 }: ToastProps) {
+  const tx = useTx();
   return (
     <div
       className={clsx(styles.toast, className)}
@@ -137,16 +139,16 @@ export function Toast({
       <div className={styles.toastMain}>
         <div className={styles.toastHead}>
           <span className={clsx(styles.toastTitle, selectableText)}>
-            {typeof title === "string" ? <T>{title}</T> : title}
+            {typeof title === "string" ? <Given>{title}</Given> : title}
           </span>
           {meta && <span className={styles.toastMeta}>{meta}</span>}
         </div>
-        {body && <div className={styles.toastBody}>{typeof body === "string" ? <T>{body}</T> : body}</div>}
+        {body && <div className={styles.toastBody}>{typeof body === "string" ? <Given>{body}</Given> : body}</div>}
         {actions && actions.length > 0 && (
           <div className={styles.toastActions}>
             {actions.map((a) => (
               <button key={a.label} type="button" className={styles.link} onClick={a.run}>
-                <T>{a.label}</T>
+                <Given>{a.label}</Given>
               </button>
             ))}
           </div>
@@ -155,7 +157,7 @@ export function Toast({
       {onClose && (
         <IconButton
           icon="close"
-          title="Dismiss"
+          title={tx("Dismiss")}
           size="small"
           iconSize={12}
           className={styles.toastClose}
diff --git a/src/ui/Input.tsx b/src/ui/Input.tsx
index 89e877655..c1940bf23 100644
--- a/src/ui/Input.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/Input.tsx
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import { Icon, type IconName } from "./icons";
 import { IconButton } from "./Button";
 import styles from "./Input.module.css";
 import { setContext } from "@/platform/context";
-import { useTx } from "@/platform/i18n";
+import { useGivenTx } from "@/platform/i18n";
 import { shortcutLabel } from "@/platform/keymap";
 
 export interface InputProps extends Omit<InputHTMLAttributes<HTMLInputElement>, "size"> {
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ export const Input = forwardRef<HTMLInputElement, InputProps>(function Input(
   },
   ref,
 ) {
-  const tx = useTx();
+  const tx = useGivenTx();
   return (
     <input
       ref={ref}
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ export const SearchField = forwardRef<HTMLInputElement, SearchFieldProps>(functi
   },
   ref,
 ) {
-  const tx = useTx();
+  const tx = useGivenTx();
   const inner = useRef<HTMLInputElement | HTMLTextAreaElement | null>(null);
   const setRef = (el: HTMLInputElement | HTMLTextAreaElement | null) => {
     inner.current = el;
diff --git a/src/ui/Select.tsx b/src/ui/Select.tsx
index 2cb36e5d0..456b5e693 100644
--- a/src/ui/Select.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/Select.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import clsx from "clsx";
 import { Icon, type IconName } from "./icons";
 import { Popup } from "./Popup";
 import { List, listNavigate } from "./List";
-import { useTx } from "@/platform/i18n";
+import { tx, useGivenTx } from "@/platform/i18n";
 import { SearchField } from "./Input";
 import styles from "./Select.module.css";
 
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ export function Select<V extends string = string>({
   onPreview,
   ...aria
 }: SelectProps<V>) {
-  const tx = useTx();
+  const given = useGivenTx();
   const [open, setOpen] = useState(false);
   const triggerRef = useRef<HTMLButtonElement>(null);
   const current = options.find((o) => !o.section && o.value === value);
@@ -79,7 +79,8 @@ export function Select<V extends string = string>({
           const q = query.trim().toLowerCase();
           const tokens = q.split(/\s+/).filter(Boolean);
           const matches = (o: SelectOption<V>) => {
-            const haystack = `${tx(o.label)} ${o.detail != null ? tx(o.detail) : ""} ${o.keywords ?? ""}`.toLowerCase();
+            const haystack =
+              `${given(o.label)} ${o.detail != null ? given(o.detail) : ""} ${o.keywords ?? ""}`.toLowerCase();
             return tokens.every((tok) => containsOrFuzzy(haystack, tok));
           };
           // Keep section headers visible as long as at least one of their
@@ -164,7 +165,7 @@ export function Select<V extends string = string>({
       const n = filtered.length;
       for (let s = prefix.length > 1 ? 0 : 1; s <= n; s++) {
         const i = (activeIndex + s) % n;
-        if (!unavailable(filtered[i]!) && tx(filtered[i]!.label).toLowerCase().startsWith(prefix)) {
+        if (!unavailable(filtered[i]!) && given(filtered[i]!.label).toLowerCase().startsWith(prefix)) {
           setActive(i);
           break;
         }
@@ -179,7 +180,7 @@ export function Select<V extends string = string>({
         type="button"
         aria-haspopup="listbox"
         aria-expanded={open}
-        aria-label={tx(aria["aria-label"])}
+        aria-label={given(aria["aria-label"])}
         disabled={disabled}
         className={clsx(styles.trigger, styles[variant], className)}
         onClick={() => (open ? setOpen(false) : openPopup())}
@@ -196,7 +197,7 @@ export function Select<V extends string = string>({
           <>
             {current?.icon && <Icon name={current.icon} size={14} />}
             <span className={clsx(styles.value, !current && styles.placeholder)}>
-              {tx(current?.label ?? placeholder)}
+              {given(current?.label ?? placeholder)}
             </span>
           </>
         )}
@@ -238,8 +239,8 @@ export function Select<V extends string = string>({
               <div key={`${o.section ? "section" : "option"}:${o.value}`} className={styles.sizerRow}>
                 <span className={styles.check} />
                 {o.icon && <Icon name={o.icon} size={14} />}
-                <span>{tx(o.label)}</span>
-                {o.detail && <span className={styles.sizerDetail}>{tx(o.detail)}</span>}
+                <span>{given(o.label)}</span>
+                {o.detail && <span className={styles.sizerDetail}>{given(o.detail)}</span>}
               </div>
             ))}
           </div>
@@ -247,7 +248,7 @@ export function Select<V extends string = string>({
             items={filtered}
             getKey={(o) => `${o.section ? "section" : "option"}:${o.value}`}
             isSection={isSection}
-            renderSection={(o) => <span className={styles.disabled}>{tx(o.label)}</span>}
+            renderSection={(o) => <span className={styles.disabled}>{given(o.label)}</span>}
             activeIndex={activeIndex}
             onActiveChange={(i) => {
               if (!unavailable(filtered[i]!)) setActive(i);
@@ -256,7 +257,7 @@ export function Select<V extends string = string>({
             focusable={false}
             hoverSelects
             rowHeight={24}
-            aria-label={tx(aria["aria-label"])}
+            aria-label={given(aria["aria-label"])}
             className={styles.list}
             renderItem={(o) => (
               <span
@@ -265,10 +266,10 @@ export function Select<V extends string = string>({
               >
                 <span className={styles.check}>{o.value === value && <Icon name="check" size={12} />}</span>
                 {o.icon && <Icon name={o.icon} size={14} />}
-                <span className={clsx(styles.optionLabel, o.detail && styles.withDetail)}>{tx(o.label)}</span>
+                <span className={clsx(styles.optionLabel, o.detail && styles.withDetail)}>{given(o.label)}</span>
                 {o.detail && (
                   <span className={styles.detail} title={o.detail}>
-                    {tx(o.detail)}
+                    {given(o.detail)}
                   </span>
                 )}
               </span>
diff --git a/src/ui/T.tsx b/src/ui/T.tsx
index acf038249..23f63564c 100644
--- a/src/ui/T.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/T.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
-import { useTx } from "@/platform/i18n";
+import { useGivenTx, useTx } from "@/platform/i18n";
 
 /** English UI text, translated through the source-text catalog; re-renders on locale change. */
 export function T({ children }: { children: string }) {
   return useTx()(children);
 }
+
+/** Text a component was given: translated like `T`, shown as written below plugin UI. */
+export function Given({ children }: { children: string }) {
+  return useGivenTx()(children);
+}
diff --git a/src/ui/Tabs.tsx b/src/ui/Tabs.tsx
index f873734a8..6f1f5bddb 100644
--- a/src/ui/Tabs.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/Tabs.tsx
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ import { IconButton } from "./Button";
 import { Menu, type MenuItem } from "./Menu";
 import { tooltipAttrs } from "./Tooltip";
 import { isOutsideWindow, registerDropTarget, startPointerDrag } from "./pointerDrag";
-import { T } from "./T";
+import { Given } from "./T";
 import styles from "./Tabs.module.css";
-import { tx } from "@/platform/i18n";
+import { tx, useGivenTx } from "@/platform/i18n";
 
 export interface TabItem {
   id: string;
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ export function Tabs({
   ...aria
 }: TabsProps) {
   const vertical = orientation === "vertical";
+  const given = useGivenTx();
   const scrollRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
   const tabRefs = useRef(new Map<string, HTMLButtonElement>());
   const [overflow, setOverflow] = useState(false);
@@ -283,7 +284,7 @@ export function Tabs({
 
   const menuItems: MenuItem[] = items.map((t) => ({
     id: t.id,
-    label: tx(t.text ?? (typeof t.label === "string" ? t.label : t.id)),
+    label: given(t.text ?? (typeof t.label === "string" ? t.label : t.id)),
     icon: t.icon,
     checked: t.id === activeId ? true : undefined,
     run: () => onSelect(t.id),
@@ -316,7 +317,7 @@ export function Tabs({
       <div
         ref={scrollRef}
         role="tablist"
-        aria-label={tx(aria["aria-label"])}
+        aria-label={given(aria["aria-label"])}
         aria-orientation={vertical ? "vertical" : undefined}
         className={styles.scroller}
         onWheel={(e) => {
@@ -411,11 +412,11 @@ export function Tabs({
                 }}
                 onDoubleClick={onDoubleClick ? () => onDoubleClick(item.id) : undefined}
                 onKeyDown={(e) => onKeyDown(e, index, item)}
-                {...tooltipAttrs(item.tooltip)}
+                {...tooltipAttrs(given(item.tooltip), undefined, true)}
               >
                 {item.icon && <Icon name={item.icon} size={14} className={styles.tabIcon} />}
                 <span className={clsx(styles.tabLabel, item.italic && styles.italic)}>
-                  {typeof item.label === "string" ? <T>{item.label}</T> : item.label}
+                  {typeof item.label === "string" ? <Given>{item.label}</Given> : item.label}
                 </span>
                 {item.trailing}
                 {item.modified && !closable && <span className={styles.modified} aria-label={tx("Modified")} />}
diff --git a/src/ui/Tooltip.tsx b/src/ui/Tooltip.tsx
index 0b9702208..fbf7dd75e 100644
--- a/src/ui/Tooltip.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/Tooltip.tsx
@@ -12,10 +12,12 @@ import { tx } from "@/platform/i18n";
 export const TOOLTIP_DELAY = 600;
 const WARM_MS = 400;
 
-export function tooltipAttrs(text: string | undefined, shortcut?: string): Record<string, string> {
+/** `verbatim`: `text` is shown as written (already translated, or a plugin's own text). */
+export function tooltipAttrs(text: string | undefined, shortcut?: string, verbatim?: boolean): Record<string, string> {
   if (!text) return {};
   const attrs: Record<string, string> = { "data-tooltip": text };
   if (shortcut) attrs["data-tooltip-shortcut"] = shortcut;
+  if (verbatim) attrs["data-tooltip-verbatim"] = "";
   return attrs;
 }
 
@@ -46,7 +48,7 @@ export function TooltipHost() {
     };
 
     const show = (el: HTMLElement) => {
-      const text = tx(el.dataset.tooltip);
+      const text = el.dataset.tooltipVerbatim === undefined ? tx(el.dataset.tooltip) : el.dataset.tooltip;
       if (!text || !el.isConnected) return;
       visible = true;
       anchorRef.current = el;
diff --git a/src/ui/Tree.tsx b/src/ui/Tree.tsx
index a89ff4b4b..f8ab23703 100644
--- a/src/ui/Tree.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/Tree.tsx
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import { acquirePopup } from "./popupState";
 import styles from "./Tree.module.css";
 import { T } from "./T";
 import { setContext } from "@/platform/context";
-import { tx } from "@/platform/i18n";
+import { useGivenTx } from "@/platform/i18n";
 import { useTreeReorder, type TreeReorder } from "./treeReorder";
 import { useTreeDirectoryContext } from "./treeDirectoryContext";
 import { useIconRowHeight } from "./iconAppearance";
@@ -233,6 +233,7 @@ function useControllableSet(value: ReadonlySet<string> | undefined, initial: Ite
 }
 
 export function Tree<T>(props: TreeProps<T>) {
+  const given = useGivenTx();
   const {
     roots,
     getKey,
@@ -627,7 +628,7 @@ export function Tree<T>(props: TreeProps<T>) {
       <div
         ref={scrollRef}
         role="tree"
-        aria-label={tx(props["aria-label"])}
+        aria-label={given(props["aria-label"])}
         aria-multiselectable={multiSelect || undefined}
         aria-activedescendant={
           leadRow && !leadRow.loading && virtualizer.getVirtualItems().some((v) => v.index === leadIndex)
diff --git a/src/ui/index.ts b/src/ui/index.ts
index b8773d1ac..bd5968581 100644
--- a/src/ui/index.ts
+++ b/src/ui/index.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ export { badgeKind } from "./symbolKind";
 export { acquirePopup, isPopupOpen } from "./popupState";
 export * from "./BarButton";
 export { lazyComponent, lazyWhen, prefetchLazyComponents } from "./lazy";
-export { T } from "./T";
+export { Given, T } from "./T";
 export { selectableText, copyMenuFor, copyText } from "./selectableText";
 export { useSelectionBoundary } from "./useSelectionBoundary";
 export { useSanitizedField } from "./useSanitizedField";
diff --git a/src/workbench/Notifications.tsx b/src/workbench/Notifications.tsx
index 4622e2ee0..61003883f 100644
--- a/src/workbench/Notifications.tsx
+++ b/src/workbench/Notifications.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { useEffect, useRef, useState, useSyncExternalStore } from "react";
-import { useTxTemplate } from "@/platform/i18n";
+import { useTxTemplate, VerbatimTextContext } from "@/platform/i18n";
 import { EmptyState, IconButton, Toast, T } from "@/ui";
 import {
   balloonTimeout,
@@ -49,11 +49,24 @@ export function notificationActions(n: IdeNotification, wrap: (run: () => void)
   return [...own, { label: DONT_SHOW_AGAIN, run: wrap(() => void suppressGroup(n.group).catch(() => {})) }];
 }
 
+/** Title and action labels in the UI language; a plugin's own text stays as written. */
+function useShownText() {
+  const txt = useTxTemplate();
+  return (n: IdeNotification) => {
+    const given = (s: string) => (n.verbatim ? s : txt(s));
+    const own = n.actions?.length ?? 0;
+    return {
+      title: given(n.title),
+      actions: notificationActions(n).map((a, i) => ({ ...a, label: i < own ? given(a.label) : txt(a.label) })),
+    };
+  };
+}
+
 function Balloon({ n }: { n: IdeNotification }) {
   const [hover, setHover] = useState(false);
   const active = useWindowActive();
   const remaining = useRef<number | null>(null);
-  const txt = useTxTemplate();
+  const shown = useShownText()(n);
   const ms = balloonTimeout(n);
   // IDEA's smart fade-out: the clock runs only while the window is active and the balloon not hovered.
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -67,22 +80,24 @@ function Balloon({ n }: { n: IdeNotification }) {
     };
   }, [n.id, ms, hover, active]);
   return (
-    <Toast
-      className={styles.balloon}
-      level={n.level}
-      title={txt(n.title)}
-      body={n.body}
-      actions={notificationActions(n).map((a) => ({
-        label: txt(a.label),
-        run: () => {
-          dismissBalloon(n.id);
-          a.run();
-        },
-      }))}
-      onClose={() => dismissBalloon(n.id)}
-      onPointerEnter={() => setHover(true)}
-      onPointerLeave={() => setHover(false)}
-    />
+    <VerbatimTextContext.Provider value={!!n.verbatim}>
+      <Toast
+        className={styles.balloon}
+        level={n.level}
+        title={shown.title}
+        body={n.body}
+        actions={shown.actions.map((a) => ({
+          label: a.label,
+          run: () => {
+            dismissBalloon(n.id);
+            a.run();
+          },
+        }))}
+        onClose={() => dismissBalloon(n.id)}
+        onPointerEnter={() => setHover(true)}
+        onPointerLeave={() => setHover(false)}
+      />
+    </VerbatimTextContext.Provider>
   );
 }
 
@@ -112,7 +127,7 @@ function useListVisible() {
 
 /** The Notifications tool window (right stripe, as in IDEA): history, newest first. */
 export function NotificationsToolWindow() {
-  const txt = useTxTemplate();
+  const shownText = useShownText();
   const all = useNotifications((s) => s.items);
   const items = all.filter((n) => n.logged);
   const visible = useListVisible();
@@ -127,18 +142,22 @@ export function NotificationsToolWindow() {
           <T>No notifications</T>
         </EmptyState>
       ) : (
-        items.map((n) => (
-          <Toast
-            key={n.id}
-            className={styles.entry}
-            level={n.level}
-            title={txt(n.title)}
-            body={n.body}
-            meta={timeLabel(n.time)}
-            actions={notificationActions(n).map((a) => ({ ...a, label: txt(a.label) }))}
-            onClose={() => removeNotification(n.id)}
-          />
-        ))
+        items.map((n) => {
+          const shown = shownText(n);
+          return (
+            <VerbatimTextContext.Provider key={n.id} value={!!n.verbatim}>
+              <Toast
+                className={styles.entry}
+                level={n.level}
+                title={shown.title}
+                body={n.body}
+                meta={timeLabel(n.time)}
+                actions={shown.actions}
+                onClose={() => removeNotification(n.id)}
+              />
+            </VerbatimTextContext.Provider>
+          );
+        })
       )}
     </div>
   );
diff --git a/src/workbench/contributions.ts b/src/workbench/contributions.ts
index a7f3019c6..d2275d351 100644
--- a/src/workbench/contributions.ts
+++ b/src/workbench/contributions.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ export type ToolWindowAnchor = "left" | "right" | "bottom";
 export interface ToolWindowContribution {
   id: string;
   title: string;
+  /** The title comes from outside the IDE (a plugin) and is shown as written. */
+  verbatim?: boolean;
   /** Icon name from `ui/icons`. */
   icon: string;
   anchor: ToolWindowAnchor;
@@ -616,6 +618,8 @@ export interface NotificationService {
     sticky?: boolean;
     /** Replaces an earlier notification with the same key. */
     key?: string;
+    /** Title, body and action labels come from outside the IDE (a plugin) and are shown as written. */
+    verbatim?: boolean;
     /**
      * Notification group (Settings › Notifications): `system` (default), `lsp`,
      * `vcs`, `run`, `tools`, `plugins`, `search`, `updates`.
@@ -1035,6 +1039,8 @@ export interface MenuSlotItem {
   action: string;
   arg?: string | null;
   label: string;
+  /** The label comes from outside the IDE (a plugin) and is shown as written. */
+  verbatim?: boolean;
   /** Icon name, for toolbar slots. */
   icon?: string;
   /** Shown only while this `when` clause holds (toolbar slots). */
diff --git a/src/workbench/inputDialogs.tsx b/src/workbench/inputDialogs.tsx
index e48bc3d23..bfa83471b 100644
--- a/src/workbench/inputDialogs.tsx
+++ b/src/workbench/inputDialogs.tsx
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@
  */
 import { useEffect, useRef, useState, type ReactNode } from "react";
 import { create } from "zustand";
-import { t } from "@/platform/i18n";
-import { Checkbox, Dialog, Input, List, T } from "@/ui";
+import { t, tx, VerbatimTextContext } from "@/platform/i18n";
+import { Checkbox, Dialog, Given, Input, List, T } from "@/ui";
 import styles from "./inputDialogs.module.css";
 
 export interface PromptInputOptions {
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ export interface PromptInputOptions {
   keepWhitespace?: boolean;
   /** A multi-line field: Enter adds a line, Cmd/Ctrl+Enter confirms. */
   multiline?: boolean;
+  /** Title, text and labels come from outside the IDE (a plugin) and are shown as written. */
+  verbatim?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface ChooseItemOptions {
@@ -48,6 +50,8 @@ export interface PickItemsOptions {
   multiple: boolean;
   /** Closes the dialog as cancelled when aborted. */
   signal?: AbortSignal;
+  /** Title, text and labels come from outside the IDE (a plugin) and are shown as written. */
+  verbatim?: boolean;
 }
 
 type Request =
@@ -97,11 +101,15 @@ export function InputDialogsHost() {
     <>
       {stack.map((r) =>
         r.kind === "prompt" ? (
-          <PromptDialog key={r.id} options={r.options} done={r.resolve} />
+          <VerbatimTextContext.Provider key={r.id} value={!!r.options.verbatim}>
+            <PromptDialog options={r.options} done={r.resolve} />
+          </VerbatimTextContext.Provider>
         ) : r.kind === "choose" ? (
           <ChooseDialog key={r.id} options={r.options} done={r.resolve} />
         ) : (
-          <PickDialog key={r.id} options={r.options} done={r.resolve} />
+          <VerbatimTextContext.Provider key={r.id} value={!!r.options.verbatim}>
+            <PickDialog options={r.options} done={r.resolve} />
+          </VerbatimTextContext.Provider>
         ),
       )}
     </>
@@ -153,7 +161,7 @@ function PromptDialog({ options, done }: { options: PromptInputOptions; done: (v
       width={420}
       buttons={[
         {
-          label: options.okLabel ?? "OK",
+          label: options.okLabel ?? tx("OK"),
           role: "default",
           disabled: !!localError || pending,
           onClick: () => void submit(),
@@ -170,7 +178,7 @@ function PromptDialog({ options, done }: { options: PromptInputOptions; done: (v
       >
         {options.label && (
           <label className={styles.label}>
-            <T>{options.label}</T>
+            <Given>{options.label}</Given>
           </label>
         )}
         {options.multiline ? (
@@ -280,7 +288,7 @@ function PickDialog({ options, done }: { options: PickItemsOptions; done: (v: st
       width={420}
       buttons={[
         {
-          label: "OK",
+          label: tx("OK"),
           role: "default",
           disabled: options.multiple ? false : activeKey === undefined,
           onClick: confirm,
diff --git a/src/workbench/messages.tsx b/src/workbench/messages.tsx
index c4e0e22f2..4a73d2198 100644
--- a/src/workbench/messages.tsx
+++ b/src/workbench/messages.tsx
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
  */
 import { useState, type ReactNode } from "react";
 import { create } from "zustand";
-import { t } from "@/platform/i18n";
+import { t, VerbatimTextContext } from "@/platform/i18n";
 import { Checkbox, Dialog, type DialogButton, type MessageIconKind } from "@/ui";
 
 export interface MessageButton {
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ export interface MessageRequest {
   /** Defaults to `question`. */
   icon?: MessageIconKind;
   width?: number;
+  /** Title, text and labels come from outside the IDE (a plugin) and are shown as written. */
+  verbatim?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface MessageResult {
@@ -83,6 +85,8 @@ export interface ConfirmOptions {
   checked?: boolean;
   /** Closes the dialog as cancelled when aborted. */
   signal?: AbortSignal;
+  /** Title, text and labels come from outside the IDE (a plugin) and are shown as written. */
+  verbatim?: boolean;
 }
 
 /** OK / Cancel question; resolves `null` when cancelled, else the checkbox state. */
@@ -95,6 +99,7 @@ export async function confirmChecked(opts: ConfirmOptions): Promise<{ checked: b
     checked: opts.checked,
     buttons: [{ id: "ok", label: opts.ok, primary: true }],
     signal: opts.signal,
+    verbatim: opts.verbatim,
   });
   return r.button === "ok" ? { checked: r.checked } : null;
 }
@@ -137,16 +142,18 @@ function MessageDialog({ message }: { message: Pending }) {
   }));
   const withCancel = message.cancel !== false && !message.buttons.some((b) => b.id === "cancel");
   return (
-    <Dialog
-      open
-      onClose={() => done("cancel")}
-      title={message.title}
-      icon={message.icon ?? "question"}
-      width={message.width ?? 460}
-      footerStart={message.checkbox && <Checkbox checked={checked} onChange={setChecked} label={message.checkbox} />}
-      buttons={withCancel ? [...declared, { label: t("common.cancel"), role: "cancel" }] : declared}
-    >
-      {message.body}
-    </Dialog>
+    <VerbatimTextContext.Provider value={!!message.verbatim}>
+      <Dialog
+        open
+        onClose={() => done("cancel")}
+        title={message.title}
+        icon={message.icon ?? "question"}
+        width={message.width ?? 460}
+        footerStart={message.checkbox && <Checkbox checked={checked} onChange={setChecked} label={message.checkbox} />}
+        buttons={withCancel ? [...declared, { label: t("common.cancel"), role: "cancel" }] : declared}
+      >
+        {message.body}
+      </Dialog>
+    </VerbatimTextContext.Provider>
   );
 }
diff --git a/src/workbench/notificationStore.ts b/src/workbench/notificationStore.ts
index 55da9efdc..b8a1017b0 100644
--- a/src/workbench/notificationStore.ts
+++ b/src/workbench/notificationStore.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ export interface IdeNotification {
   actions?: Array<{ label: string; run: () => void }>;
   time: number;
   read: boolean;
+  /** Text shown as written (see `NotificationService.notify`). */
+  verbatim?: boolean;
   /** Currently shown as a balloon. */
   balloon: boolean;
   sticky: boolean;
@@ -138,6 +140,7 @@ export function notify(n: Parameters<NotificationService["notify"]>[0]): number
     title: n.title,
     body: n.body,
     actions: n.actions,
+    verbatim: n.verbatim,
     time: Date.now(),
     read: false,
     balloon,
diff --git a/src/workbench/toolwindows/ToolWindows.tsx b/src/workbench/toolwindows/ToolWindows.tsx
index 7d8e9842c..eb425dc4f 100644
--- a/src/workbench/toolwindows/ToolWindows.tsx
+++ b/src/workbench/toolwindows/ToolWindows.tsx
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import { create } from "zustand";
 import { call, commands } from "@/platform/ipc";
 import { shortcutLabel } from "@/platform/keymap";
 import { useProject } from "@/platform/project";
-import { dragRequiresAlt, Icon, IconButton, Menu, showContextMenu, tooltipAttrs, type MenuItem, T } from "@/ui";
+import { dragRequiresAlt, Icon, IconButton, Menu, showContextMenu, tooltipAttrs, type MenuItem } from "@/ui";
 import { FOCUSABLE } from "@/ui/popupState";
 import { TabStripRegistry } from "@/ui/Tabs";
 import {
@@ -51,6 +51,11 @@ import { contentTabRegistry } from "./content";
 import styles from "./ToolWindows.module.css";
 import { tx } from "@/platform/i18n";
 
+/** The window's title in the UI language; a plugin's stays as written. */
+function titleOf(tw: ToolWindowContribution): string {
+  return tw.verbatim ? tw.title : tx(tw.title);
+}
+
 function byOrder(a: ToolWindowContribution, b: ToolWindowContribution) {
   return (a.order ?? 100) - (b.order ?? 100) || a.title.localeCompare(b.title);
 }
@@ -403,7 +408,7 @@ function StripeButton({
         side === "right" && styles.stripeRight,
         dragged && styles.stripeDragged,
       )}
-      aria-label={tx(tw.title)}
+      aria-label={titleOf(tw)}
       aria-pressed={active}
       aria-keyshortcuts={shortcut}
       data-stripe-button={tw.id}
@@ -415,7 +420,7 @@ function StripeButton({
         e.preventDefault();
         showContextMenu(e, stripeButtonMenu(tw, showName));
       }}
-      {...tooltipAttrs(tw.title, shortcut)}
+      {...tooltipAttrs(titleOf(tw), shortcut, true)}
     >
       <span className={styles.stripeIcon}>
         <Icon name={tw.icon} size={20} />
@@ -423,7 +428,7 @@ function StripeButton({
       </span>
       {showName && (
         <span className={clsx(styles.stripeLabel, !/\s/.test(tw.title) && styles.stripeLabelWord)} aria-hidden="true">
-          <T>{tw.title}</T>
+          {titleOf(tw)}
         </span>
       )}
     </button>
@@ -441,6 +446,7 @@ function StripeMore({ windows }: { windows: ToolWindowContribution[] }) {
         .map((w) => ({
           id: w.id,
           label: w.title,
+          verbatim: w.verbatim,
           icon: w.icon,
           shortcut: shortcutLabel(`toolwindow.${w.id}`),
           run: () => showToolWindow(w.id, true),
@@ -672,9 +678,7 @@ function HeaderRow({
             aria-expanded={titleOpen}
             onClick={() => setTitleOpen((v) => !v)}
           >
-            <span className={styles.title}>
-              <T>{titleMenu?.label ?? tw.title}</T>
-            </span>
+            <span className={styles.title}>{titleMenu ? tx(titleMenu.label) : titleOf(tw)}</span>
             <Icon name="chevron-down" size={12} className={styles.titleChevron} />
           </button>
           <Menu
@@ -682,13 +686,11 @@ function HeaderRow({
             onClose={() => setTitleOpen(false)}
             anchor={titleRef}
             items={titleItems}
-            aria-label={titleMenu ? tx`${tw.title} views` : tx`${tw.title} view options`}
+            aria-label={titleMenu ? tx`${titleOf(tw)} views` : tx`${titleOf(tw)} view options`}
           />
         </>
       ) : (
-        <span className={clsx(styles.title, styles.titlePlain)}>
-          <T>{tw.title}</T>
-        </span>
+        <span className={clsx(styles.title, styles.titlePlain)}>{titleOf(tw)}</span>
       )}
       {children && <div className={clsx(styles.headerContent, !showTitle && styles.headerContentOnly)}>{children}</div>}
       <div className={styles.headerSpacer} />
@@ -721,7 +723,7 @@ function HeaderRow({
             anchor={moreRef}
             items={more}
             placement="bottom-end"
-            aria-label={tx`${tw.title} options`}
+            aria-label={tx`${titleOf(tw)} options`}
           />
         </>
       )}
@@ -790,7 +792,7 @@ function ToolWindowView({ tw, hidden }: { tw: ToolWindowContribution; hidden: bo
       ref={ref}
       className={styles.window}
       data-toolwindow={tw.id}
-      aria-label={tx(tw.title)}
+      aria-label={titleOf(tw)}
       hidden={hidden}
       tabIndex={-1}
     >
diff --git a/src/workbench/toolwindows/actions.ts b/src/workbench/toolwindows/actions.ts
index b24c2ca24..2ca328ae6 100644
--- a/src/workbench/toolwindows/actions.ts
+++ b/src/workbench/toolwindows/actions.ts
@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@ export function installToolWindowActions(): () => void {
       const dispose = registerAction({
         id: `toolwindow.${id}`,
         title: tw.title,
+        verbatim: tw.verbatim,
         category: "Tool Windows",
         icon: tw.icon,
         keywords: ["tool window", "show", "hide"],