diff --git a/src/app/auth/components/AuthNavButtons.tsx b/src/app/auth/components/AuthNavButtons.tsx
index 6e58d01..f3161f4 100644
--- a/src/app/auth/components/AuthNavButtons.tsx
+++ b/src/app/auth/components/AuthNavButtons.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 import { useUser } from '../../user/user.ts'
 import NavButton from '../../../components/buttons/NavButton.tsx'
 import { useLocation } from 'react-router-dom'
+import { useTranslations } from '../../i18n/useTranslations.ts'
 
 export default function AuthNavButtons() {
+  const { t } = useTranslations()
   const user = useUser()
 
   const { pathname } = useLocation()
@@ -15,15 +17,15 @@ export default function AuthNavButtons() {
   if (loggedIn) {
     return (
       <>
-        <NavButton to="/logout">logout</NavButton>
+        <NavButton to="/logout">{t('nav.logout')}</NavButton>
       </>
     )
   } else {
     const search = redirectQuery.toString()
     return (
       <>
-        <NavButton to={{ pathname: '/login', search }}>login</NavButton>
-        <NavButton to={{ pathname: '/signup', search }}>register</NavButton>
+        <NavButton to={{ pathname: '/login', search }}>{t('nav.login')}</NavButton>
+        <NavButton to={{ pathname: '/signup', search }}>{t('nav.register')}</NavButton>
       </>
     )
   }
diff --git a/src/app/auth/pages/LoginPage.tsx b/src/app/auth/pages/LoginPage.tsx
index 1432f32..215d8da 100644
--- a/src/app/auth/pages/LoginPage.tsx
+++ b/src/app/auth/pages/LoginPage.tsx
@@ -8,12 +8,15 @@ import { useUser } from '../../user/user.ts'
 import NavBar from '../../../components/NavBar.tsx'
 import NavButton from '../../../components/buttons/NavButton.tsx'
 import LinkButton from '../../../components/buttons/LinkButton.tsx'
+import { useTranslations } from '../../i18n/useTranslations.ts'
 
 interface LoginPageProps {
   authService: AuthService
 }
 
 export default function LoginPage({ authService }: LoginPageProps) {
+  const { t } = useTranslations()
+
   const [isSubmitting, setIsSubmitting] = useState(false)
   const [username, setUsername] = useState('')
   const [password, setPassword] = useState('')
@@ -62,7 +65,7 @@ export default function LoginPage({ authService }: LoginPageProps) {
     <SingleColumnLayout
       navbar={
         <NavBar>
-          <NavButton to={'/'}>home</NavButton>
+          <NavButton to={'/'}>{t('nav.home')}</NavButton>
         </NavBar>
       }
     >
@@ -71,7 +74,7 @@ export default function LoginPage({ authService }: LoginPageProps) {
           <form className="flex flex-col gap-4 max-w-md" onSubmit={onSubmit}>
             <div className="flex flex-col gap-1">
               <label htmlFor="username" className="text-sm text-gray-600">
-                username
+                {t('auth.username.label')}
               </label>
               <TextInput
                 ref={usernameInputRef}
@@ -84,7 +87,7 @@ export default function LoginPage({ authService }: LoginPageProps) {
 
             <div className="flex flex-col gap-1">
               <label htmlFor="password" className="text-sm text-gray-600">
-                password
+                {t('auth.password.label')}
               </label>
               <TextInput
                 ref={passwordInputRef}
@@ -105,16 +108,16 @@ export default function LoginPage({ authService }: LoginPageProps) {
                 className="h-4 w-4"
               />
               <label htmlFor="rememberMe" className="text-sm text-gray-600">
-                DONT log me out &gt;:(
+                {t('auth.remember_me.label')}
               </label>
             </div>
 
             <Button className="mt-4" disabled={isSubmitting} type="submit">
-              {isSubmitting ? 'wait...' : 'make login pls'}
+              {isSubmitting ? t('misc.loading') : t('auth.login.cta')}
             </Button>
 
             <LinkButton secondary to={{ pathname: '/signup', search: window.location.search }}>
-              register instead?
+              {t('auth.login.register_instead')}
             </LinkButton>
 
             <span className="text-xs h-3 text-red-500">{error}</span>
diff --git a/src/app/auth/pages/SignupPage.tsx b/src/app/auth/pages/SignupPage.tsx
index ab6b376..ec3adba 100644
--- a/src/app/auth/pages/SignupPage.tsx
+++ b/src/app/auth/pages/SignupPage.tsx
@@ -3,12 +3,12 @@ import { useEffect, useRef, useState, FormEvent, useCallback, Ref } from 'react'
 import SingleColumnLayout from '../../../layouts/SingleColumnLayout.tsx'
 import TextInput from '../../../components/inputs/TextInput.tsx'
 import Button from '../../../components/buttons/Button.tsx'
-import AnchorButton from '../../../components/buttons/AnchorButton.tsx'
 import { invalid, valid, Validation } from '../../../utils/validation.ts'
 import { AuthService } from '../authService.ts'
 import LinkButton from '../../../components/buttons/LinkButton.tsx'
 import NavBar from '../../../components/NavBar.tsx'
 import NavButton from '../../../components/buttons/NavButton.tsx'
+import { useTranslations } from '../../i18n/useTranslations.ts'
 
 const SignupCodeKey = 'signupCode'
 
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ interface SignupPageProps {
 }
 
 export default function SignupPage({ authService }: SignupPageProps) {
+  const { t } = useTranslations()
   const { code } = useParams()
   const [signupCode, setSignupCode] = useState<string | null>(null)
   const [isSubmitting, setIsSubmitting] = useState(false)
@@ -31,8 +32,6 @@ export default function SignupPage({ authService }: SignupPageProps) {
   const userNameInputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement | null>(null)
   const passwordInputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement | null>(null)
 
-  const dialogRef = useRef<HTMLDialogElement | null>(null)
-
   const navigate = useNavigate()
 
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -47,10 +46,6 @@ export default function SignupPage({ authService }: SignupPageProps) {
       theSignupCode = localStorage.getItem(SignupCodeKey)
       setSignupCode(theSignupCode)
     }
-
-    if (!theSignupCode) {
-      dialogRef.current?.showModal()
-    }
   }, [code, signupCode])
 
   useEffect(() => {}, [signupCode])
@@ -94,7 +89,7 @@ export default function SignupPage({ authService }: SignupPageProps) {
     <SingleColumnLayout
       navbar={
         <NavBar>
-          <NavButton to={'/'}>home</NavButton>
+          <NavButton to={'/'}>{t('nav.home')}</NavButton>
         </NavBar>
       }
     >
@@ -103,6 +98,7 @@ export default function SignupPage({ authService }: SignupPageProps) {
           <form className="flex flex-col gap-4 max-w-md" onSubmit={onSubmit}>
             <FormInput
               id="username"
+              label={t('auth.username.label')}
               value={username}
               onInput={setUsername}
               error={usernameError}
@@ -111,13 +107,14 @@ export default function SignupPage({ authService }: SignupPageProps) {
 
             <FormInput
               id="password"
+              label={t('auth.password.label')}
               value={password}
               onInput={setPassword}
               error={passwordError}
               type="password"
               ref={passwordInputRef}
             />
-            <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mt-2">
+            <div className="flex items-center hidden gap-2 mt-2">
               <input
                 type="checkbox"
                 id="rememberMe"
@@ -126,7 +123,7 @@ export default function SignupPage({ authService }: SignupPageProps) {
                 className="h-4 w-4"
               />
               <label htmlFor="rememberMe" className="text-sm text-gray-600">
-                DONT log me out &gt;:(
+                {t('auth.remember_me.label')}
               </label>
             </div>
             <Button
@@ -134,44 +131,23 @@ export default function SignupPage({ authService }: SignupPageProps) {
               disabled={isSubmitting || !!usernameError || !!passwordError}
               type="submit"
             >
-              {isSubmitting ? 'wait...' : 'give me an account pls'}
+              {isSubmitting ? t('misc.loading') : t('auth.register.cta')}
             </Button>
             <LinkButton secondary to={'/login'}>
-              login instead?
+              {t('auth.register.login_instead')}
             </LinkButton>
 
             <span className="text-xs h-3 text-red-500">{error}</span>
           </form>
         </div>
       </main>
-
-      <dialog
-        id="go-away-dialog"
-        ref={dialogRef}
-        className="p-6 rounded-lg shadow-lg m-auto outline-none"
-      >
-        <div className="text-gray-600 flex flex-col gap-2">
-          <h1 className={`font-bold text-lg`}>STOP !!!</h1>
-          <p>You need an invitation to sign up</p>
-          <p>
-            I'm surprised you even found your way here without one and honestly I'd prefer it if you
-            would leave
-          </p>
-          <p>
-            If you <span className="italic">do</span> want to create an account, you should know who
-            to contact
-          </p>
-          <AnchorButton className={`mt-4`} href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random">
-            I'm sorry I'll go somewhere else :(
-          </AnchorButton>
-        </div>
-      </dialog>
     </SingleColumnLayout>
   )
 }
 
 interface FormInputProps {
   id: string
+  label: string
   value: string
   onInput: (value: string) => void
   error: string | null
@@ -179,11 +155,11 @@ interface FormInputProps {
   ref: Ref<HTMLInputElement>
 }
 
-function FormInput({ id, value, onInput, error, type = 'text', ref }: FormInputProps) {
+function FormInput({ id, label, value, onInput, error, type = 'text', ref }: FormInputProps) {
   return (
     <div className="flex flex-col gap-1">
       <label htmlFor={id} className="text-sm text-gray-600">
-        {id}
+        {label}
       </label>
       <TextInput ref={ref} type={type} id={id} value={value} onInput={onInput} />
       <div className="text-xs h-3 text-red-500">{error}</div>
diff --git a/src/app/i18n/en.json b/src/app/i18n/en.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6cc6cb5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/i18n/en.json
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+{
+  "nav.home": "home",
+  "nav.login": "login",
+  "nav.register": "register",
+  "nav.admin": "admin",
+  "auth.login.cta": "login",
+  "auth.login.register_instead": "register instead?",
+  "auth.register.cta": "signup",
+  "auth.register.login_instead": "login instead?",
+  "auth.username.label": "username",
+  "auth.password.label": "password",
+  "auth.remember_me.label": "stay logged in",
+  "misc.loading": "wait...",
+  "nav.logout": "logout",
+  "post.add_media.cta": "+ add media",
+  "post.public.label": "public",
+  "post.submit.cta": "post",
+  "post.editor.placeholder": "write something..."
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/app/i18n/translationKeys.ts b/src/app/i18n/translationKeys.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..de1c52a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/i18n/translationKeys.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+export interface Translations {
+  'auth.login.cta': string
+  'auth.login.register_instead': string
+  'auth.password.label': string
+  'auth.register.cta': string
+  'auth.register.login_instead': string
+  'auth.remember_me.label': string
+  'auth.username.label': string
+
+  'misc.loading': string
+
+  'nav.admin': string
+  'nav.home': string
+  'nav.login': string
+  'nav.logout': string
+  'nav.register': string
+
+  'post.add_media.cta': string
+  'post.editor.placeholder': string
+  'post.public.label': string
+  'post.submit.cta': string
+}
+
+export type TranslationKey = keyof Translations
diff --git a/src/app/i18n/useTranslations.ts b/src/app/i18n/useTranslations.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c403be1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/i18n/useTranslations.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+import { TranslationKey, Translations } from './translationKeys.ts'
+import en from './en.json' assert { type: 'json' }
+
+export function useTranslations() {
+  // TODO somehow handle other languages (reactively)
+  const texts = en as Translations
+
+  function getText<K extends TranslationKey>(key: K): Translations[K] {
+    return texts[key] ?? key
+  }
+
+  return { t: getText }
+}
diff --git a/src/components/NewPostWidget.tsx b/src/components/NewPostWidget.tsx
index ea3496a..d7b4828 100644
--- a/src/components/NewPostWidget.tsx
+++ b/src/components/NewPostWidget.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import FancyTextEditor, { TextInputKeyDownEvent } from './inputs/FancyTextEditor
 import Button from './buttons/Button.tsx'
 import { openFileDialog } from '../utils/openFileDialog.ts'
 import makePica from 'pica'
+import { useTranslations } from '../app/i18n/useTranslations.ts'
 
 interface NewPostWidgetProps {
   onSubmit: (
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ interface Attachment {
 }
 
 export default function NewPostWidget({ onSubmit, isSubmitting = false }: NewPostWidgetProps) {
+  const { t } = useTranslations()
   const [content, setContent] = useState('')
   const [attachments, setAttachments] = useState<Attachment[]>([])
   const [isPublic, setIsPublic] = useState(false)
@@ -72,7 +74,7 @@ export default function NewPostWidget({ onSubmit, isSubmitting = false }: NewPos
         onInput={onContentInput}
         onKeyDown={onInputKeyDown}
         className="mb-3"
-        placeholder="write something..."
+        placeholder={t('post.editor.placeholder')}
       />
 
       {attachments.length > 0 && (
@@ -93,7 +95,7 @@ export default function NewPostWidget({ onSubmit, isSubmitting = false }: NewPos
       <div className="flex justify-between items-center pt-2">
         <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
           <Button secondary onClick={onAddMediaClicked}>
-            + add media
+            {t('post.add_media.cta')}
           </Button>
           <label className="flex items-center gap-1 cursor-pointer">
             <input
@@ -103,14 +105,14 @@ export default function NewPostWidget({ onSubmit, isSubmitting = false }: NewPos
               disabled={isSubmitting}
               className="form-checkbox h-4 w-4 text-blue-600"
             />
-            <span className="text-primary-500">public</span>
+            <span className="text-primary-500">{t('post.public.label')}</span>
           </label>
         </div>
         <Button
           onClick={handleSubmit}
           disabled={isSubmitting || (content.trim() === '' && attachments.length === 0)}
         >
-          post
+          {t('post.submit.cta')}
         </Button>
       </div>
     </div>