diff --git a/src/service/localization.js b/src/service/localization.js
index 4f20d3c992ae..48e153d90678 100644
--- a/src/service/localization.js
+++ b/src/service/localization.js
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 // LocalizedStringId enum values and any other strings.
 // eslint-disable-next-line no-unused-vars
 import {LocalizedStringId} from '../localized-strings';
+import {Services} from '../services';
 import {closest} from '../dom';
 
 /**
@@ -94,6 +95,11 @@ export class LocalizationService {
   constructor(element) {
     this.element_ = element;
 
+    /**
+     * @private @const {?string}
+     */
+    this.viewerLanguageCode_ = Services.viewerForDoc(element).getParam('lang');
+
     /**
      * A mapping of language code to localized string bundle.
      * @private @const {!Object<string, !../localized-strings.LocalizedStringBundleDef>}
@@ -109,7 +115,13 @@ export class LocalizationService {
   getLanguageCodesForElement_(element) {
     const languageEl = closest(element, (el) => el.hasAttribute('lang'));
     const languageCode = languageEl ? languageEl.getAttribute('lang') : null;
-    return getLanguageCodesFromString(languageCode || '');
+    const languageCodesToUse = getLanguageCodesFromString(languageCode || '');
+
+    if (this.viewerLanguageCode_) {
+      languageCodesToUse.unshift(this.viewerLanguageCode_);
+    }
+
+    return languageCodesToUse;
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/test/unit/test-localization.js b/test/unit/test-localization.js
index 0ae26975610a..a4d7dedeecc7 100644
--- a/test/unit/test-localization.js
+++ b/test/unit/test-localization.js
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import {
   LocalizedStringId,
   createPseudoLocale,
 } from '../../src/localized-strings';
+import {Services} from '../../src/services';
 
 describes.fakeWin('localization', {amp: true}, (env) => {
   let win;
@@ -164,3 +165,65 @@ describes.fakeWin('localization', {amp: true}, (env) => {
     });
   });
 });
+
+describes.fakeWin('viewer localization', {amp: true}, (env) => {
+  describe('viewer language override', () => {
+    let win;
+
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      win = env.win;
+      env.sandbox
+        .stub(Services.viewerForDoc(env.ampdoc), 'getParam')
+        .returns('fr');
+    });
+
+    it('should take precedence over document language', () => {
+      const localizationService = new LocalizationService(win.document.body);
+      localizationService.registerLocalizedStringBundle('fr', {
+        'test_string_id': {
+          string: 'oui',
+        },
+      });
+      localizationService.registerLocalizedStringBundle('en', {
+        'test_string_id': {
+          string: 'yes',
+        },
+      });
+
+      expect(localizationService.getLocalizedString('test_string_id')).to.equal(
+        'oui'
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('should fall back if string is not found', () => {
+      const localizationService = new LocalizationService(win.document.body);
+      localizationService.registerLocalizedStringBundle('fr', {
+        'incorrect_test_string_id': {
+          string: 'non',
+        },
+      });
+      localizationService.registerLocalizedStringBundle('en', {
+        'correct_test_string_id': {
+          string: 'yes',
+        },
+      });
+
+      expect(
+        localizationService.getLocalizedString('correct_test_string_id')
+      ).to.equal('yes');
+    });
+
+    it('should fall back if language code is not registered', () => {
+      const localizationService = new LocalizationService(win.document.body);
+      localizationService.registerLocalizedStringBundle('en', {
+        'test_string_id': {
+          string: 'yes',
+        },
+      });
+
+      expect(localizationService.getLocalizedString('test_string_id')).to.equal(
+        'yes'
+      );
+    });
+  });
+});