diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index b61dbf6..62b0943 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -22,6 +22,14 @@ from its first tag onward.
 
 ### Added
 
+- **The query builder's notes follow the user's language.** Every note the
+  composer or the builder service writes now carries a locale key and its
+  values (`QueryNote.message_key`, `message_params`); both surfaces render it
+  from `en.json` / `es.json` through the shared `format_result_lines`, and
+  fall back to the English sentence (still in `message`) when a key is
+  missing. Still English for now: the item names inside the "cannot carry"
+  refusal, `QueryBuilderError` messages, and the catalog's own labels and
+  explanations.
 - **The query builder is finished: the GUI window, one vocabulary on both
   surfaces, and the last silent drops said aloud.** File → Build a Search…
   offers everything the CLI offers (engine, platform and company searches,
diff --git a/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/adapters/primary/cli/search_builder_screen.py b/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/adapters/primary/cli/search_builder_screen.py
index 5e32a24..79b99b1 100644
--- a/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/adapters/primary/cli/search_builder_screen.py
+++ b/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/adapters/primary/cli/search_builder_screen.py
@@ -58,8 +58,8 @@ def _parse_options(raw: list[str] | None) -> tuple[tuple[str, str], ...]:
 
 
 def _render(result) -> None:
-    """Print the result: labels through the locale, notes verbatim (they are
-    the composer's plain-language sentences)."""
+    """Print the result: labels and notes through the locale, with English
+    sentences as fallbacks."""
     for line in format_result_lines(result, translate=get_text):
         print(line)  # noqa: T201
 
diff --git a/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/adapters/primary/gui/app.py b/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/adapters/primary/gui/app.py
index 4fa689f..02d1af1 100644
--- a/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/adapters/primary/gui/app.py
+++ b/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/adapters/primary/gui/app.py
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@
 from auto_apply.adapters.primary.gui.research_window import ResearchWindow
 from auto_apply.adapters.primary.gui.search_window import SearchBuilderWindow
 from auto_apply.adapters.primary.gui.settings_editor import SettingsEditor
-from auto_apply.adapters.primary.gui.strings import get_strings
+from auto_apply.adapters.primary.gui.strings import get_strings, locale_text
 from auto_apply.adapters.primary.gui.wizard import SessionConfigWizard as GUIWizard
 from auto_apply.application.services.profile_validator import TEMPLATE_PROFILE_NAME
 from auto_apply.application.services.ui_schema import UIField, build_ui_schema
@@ -765,7 +765,9 @@ def _open_search_builder(self) -> None:
         if builder is None:
             builder = build_query_builder(self.profile)
         strings = get_strings()
-        SearchBuilderWindow(self, builder, translate=lambda key: strings.get(key, key))
+        SearchBuilderWindow(
+            self, builder, translate=lambda key: strings.get(key) or locale_text(key)
+        )
 
     # =====================================================================
     # LIFECYCLE (Install / Repair…, Uninstall…)
diff --git a/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/adapters/primary/gui/strings.py b/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/adapters/primary/gui/strings.py
index 6879b78..b681802 100644
--- a/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/adapters/primary/gui/strings.py
+++ b/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/adapters/primary/gui/strings.py
@@ -27,6 +27,15 @@ def _tr(key: str, default: str) -> str:
     return value if value and value != key else default
 
 
+def locale_text(key: str) -> str:
+    """The active locale's text for *key*, or *key* itself when it has none.
+
+    For text the window does not list in get_strings(), such as the query
+    builder's note templates: the caller falls back when it gets the key back.
+    """
+    return _tr(key, key)
+
+
 def get_strings(lang_code: str | None = None) -> dict[str, str]:
     """Returns a flat dict of UI labels for the given locale.
 
diff --git a/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/application/services/query_builder.py b/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/application/services/query_builder.py
index 000697d..fc81bcc 100644
--- a/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/application/services/query_builder.py
+++ b/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/application/services/query_builder.py
@@ -309,9 +309,10 @@ def build_company_query(self, url: str, request: QueryRequest) -> QueryResult:
                         severity="refused",
                         topic="platform",
                         message=(
-                            "that address is not on a hiring platform AA "
+                            "That address is not on a hiring platform AA "
                             "knows, so no search was built."
                         ),
+                        message_key="builder.note.company_unknown_platform",
                     ),
                 ),
             )
diff --git a/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/domain/models/search_query.py b/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/domain/models/search_query.py
index 2e5db74..36a27f8 100644
--- a/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/domain/models/search_query.py
+++ b/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/domain/models/search_query.py
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ class QueryNote(_Frozen):
     severity: Literal["info", "refused"]
     topic: str
     message: str
+    message_key: str = ""
+    message_params: tuple[tuple[str, str], ...] = ()
 
 
 class QueryResult(_Frozen):
@@ -174,9 +176,12 @@ def format_result_lines(
 ) -> list[str]:
     """The result as display lines.
 
-    Notes render verbatim: they are the composer's plain-language sentences
-    and carry their own wording. The two labels are locale-dependent, so the
-    caller injects its translator; the default returns keys unchanged.
+    The translator takes one key and returns the locale's text for it (or
+    the key itself when the locale lacks it). Labels render through it
+    directly. A note with a message_key renders from its locale template,
+    filled with the note's own values; a missing key, or a template that
+    cannot be filled, falls back to the note's English sentence, so a note
+    is never blank and never a raw key.
     """
     lines: list[str] = []
     if result.bar_text is not None:
@@ -184,10 +189,22 @@ def format_result_lines(
     if result.url is not None:
         lines.append(f"{translate('builder.result.link')}: {result.url}")
     for note in result.notes:
-        lines.append(f"  {note.message}")
+        lines.append(f"  {note_text(note, translate)}")
     return lines
 
 
+def note_text(note: QueryNote, translate: Callable[[str], str]) -> str:
+    """One note in the active locale, or its English sentence."""
+    if note.message_key:
+        template = translate(note.message_key)
+        if template and template != note.message_key:
+            try:
+                return template.format(**dict(note.message_params))
+            except (KeyError, IndexError, ValueError):
+                pass
+    return note.message
+
+
 def resolved_remember_request(
     request: QueryRequest, restriction: str | None
 ) -> QueryRequest:
diff --git a/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/domain/services/query_composer.py b/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/domain/services/query_composer.py
index a19a343..a1f757b 100644
--- a/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/domain/services/query_composer.py
+++ b/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/domain/services/query_composer.py
@@ -73,12 +73,24 @@ def _clean_site(text: str) -> str:
     return site.strip().rstrip("/")
 
 
-def _info(topic: str, message: str) -> QueryNote:
-    return QueryNote(severity="info", topic=topic, message=message)
+def _info(topic: str, message: str, message_key: str = "", **kwargs: str) -> QueryNote:
+    return QueryNote(
+        severity="info",
+        topic=topic,
+        message=message,
+        message_key=message_key,
+        message_params=tuple(kwargs.items()),
+    )
 
 
-def _refused(topic: str, message: str) -> QueryNote:
-    return QueryNote(severity="refused", topic=topic, message=message)
+def _refused(topic: str, message: str, message_key: str = "", **kwargs: str) -> QueryNote:
+    return QueryNote(
+        severity="refused",
+        topic=topic,
+        message=message,
+        message_key=message_key,
+        message_params=tuple(kwargs.items()),
+    )
 
 
 def _offered_operators(spec: SearchSurfaceSpec) -> dict[str, OperatorSpec]:
@@ -132,24 +144,32 @@ def _compose_bar(
             f"{spec.display_name} has no way to limit a typed search to one "
             "site, so no search text or link was written — one without the "
             "site limit would be a different search.",
+            message_key="builder.note.site_no_typed",
+            surface=spec.display_name,
         )], True
     if request.any_of and ("any_of" not in ops or not tq.or_token):
         return None, [_refused(
             "any_of",
             f"{spec.display_name} has no way to say 'any of these' in its "
             "search bar, so no search text or link was written.",
+            message_key="builder.note.any_of_no_typed",
+            surface=spec.display_name,
         )], True
     if request.exclude and "exclude" not in ops:
         return None, [_refused(
             "exclude",
             f"{spec.display_name} has no way to exclude words in its search "
             "bar, so no search text or link was written.",
+            message_key="builder.note.exclude_no_typed",
+            surface=spec.display_name,
         )], True
     if request.in_title and "intitle" not in ops:
         return None, [_refused(
             "intitle",
             f"{spec.display_name} has no title filter in its search bar, so "
             "no search text or link was written.",
+            message_key="builder.note.intitle_no_typed",
+            surface=spec.display_name,
         )], True
 
     quote = tq.phrase_quote
@@ -159,6 +179,8 @@ def _compose_bar(
             "phrase",
             f"{spec.display_name} has no exact-phrase quoting; your phrase "
             "was written without quotes.",
+            message_key="builder.note.phrase_no_quotes",
+            surface=spec.display_name,
         ))
     for phrase in request.phrases:
         content = _clean_content(phrase)
@@ -204,6 +226,11 @@ def _compose_bar(
             f"is reported to stop reading after {tq.max_words}{source}. "
             "Nothing was written — cutting it down would not be the search "
             "you asked for.",
+            message_key="builder.note.length",
+            count=str(len(bar.split())),
+            surface=spec.display_name,
+            limit=str(tq.max_words),
+            source=source,
         ))
         return None, notes, True
     return bar, notes, False
@@ -235,6 +262,10 @@ def _compose_url(
             "template",
             f"{spec.display_name} has no link form called '{template_name}'. "
             f"Choices: {', '.join(spec.urls)}.",
+            message_key="builder.note.template_missing",
+            surface=spec.display_name,
+            template=template_name,
+            choices=", ".join(spec.urls),
         )]
 
     if bar is not None:
@@ -255,6 +286,8 @@ def _compose_url(
                 "phrase",
                 f"{spec.display_name} has no exact-phrase quoting AA can "
                 "verify, so your words went into the link without quotes.",
+                message_key="builder.note.phrase_url_unverified",
+                surface=spec.display_name,
             ))
         bits.extend(normalize_confusables(t) for t in request.required)
         # Every restriction a surface cannot carry stops the link in
@@ -267,9 +300,14 @@ def _compose_url(
                 "options",
                 "Settings without any search terms make no link, so they were "
                 "not applied.",
+                message_key="builder.note.options_empty",
             ))
         else:
-            notes.append(_info("empty", "Nothing to build yet — add at least one term."))
+            notes.append(_info(
+                "empty",
+                "Nothing to build yet — add at least one term.",
+                message_key="builder.note.empty",
+            ))
         return None, notes
 
     # Empty parameters are never written (an empty "l=" claims a location
@@ -294,6 +332,9 @@ def _compose_url(
             f"{request.location!r} was left out of the search. "
             "Add the place to your search words, or pick a surface that "
             "takes a location.",
+            message_key="builder.note.location_unsupported",
+            surface=spec.display_name,
+            location=request.location,
         ))
 
     for key, value in request.options:
@@ -305,11 +346,18 @@ def _compose_url(
                     key,
                     f"{spec.display_name}'s '{key}' setting is not offered: "
                     f"{known.explanation}",
+                    message_key="builder.note.option_not_offered",
+                    surface=spec.display_name,
+                    option=key,
+                    explanation=known.explanation,
                 ))
             else:
                 notes.append(_refused(
                     key,
                     f"{spec.display_name} has no '{key}' setting, so it was left out.",
+                    message_key="builder.note.option_missing",
+                    surface=spec.display_name,
+                    option=key,
                 ))
             continue
         if opt.free_form:
@@ -319,6 +367,10 @@ def _compose_url(
                     key,
                     f"'{value}' is not a value {spec.display_name}'s '{key}' "
                     "setting can carry.",
+                    message_key="builder.note.option_invalid_value",
+                    surface=spec.display_name,
+                    option=key,
+                    value=value,
                 ))
                 continue
             code = cleaned
@@ -328,6 +380,10 @@ def _compose_url(
                 notes.append(_refused(
                     key,
                     f"'{value}' is not offered for {opt.label}. Choices: {choices}.",
+                    message_key="builder.note.option_invalid_choice",
+                    label=opt.label,
+                    value=value,
+                    choices=choices,
                 ))
                 continue
             looked_up = opt.codes.get(value)
@@ -338,6 +394,10 @@ def _compose_url(
                 notes.append(_refused(
                     key,
                     f"'{value}' is not a choice for {opt.label}. Choices: {choices}.",
+                    message_key="builder.note.option_invalid_choice",
+                    label=opt.label,
+                    value=value,
+                    choices=choices,
                 ))
                 continue
             code = looked_up
@@ -356,12 +416,19 @@ def _compose_url(
                 key,
                 f"{opt.label} cannot be typed into {spec.display_name}'s "
                 f"search bar — the link carries it. {opt.typed_equivalent_note}",
+                message_key="builder.note.option_url_only_with_note",
+                label=opt.label,
+                surface=spec.display_name,
+                note=opt.typed_equivalent_note,
             ))
         elif opt.channel == "url":
             notes.append(_info(
                 key,
                 f"{opt.label} cannot be typed into {spec.display_name}'s "
                 "search bar — the link carries it.",
+                message_key="builder.note.option_url_only",
+                label=opt.label,
+                surface=spec.display_name,
             ))
 
     return f"{template.base}?{urlencode(params)}", notes
@@ -399,6 +466,9 @@ def compose(request: QueryRequest, spec: SearchSurfaceSpec) -> QueryResult:
                 f"{spec.display_name} has no way to carry "
                 f"{', '.join(unexpressible)}, so no search text or link was "
                 "written — one without it would be a different search.",
+                message_key="builder.note.unexpressible",
+                surface=spec.display_name,
+                unexpressible=", ".join(unexpressible),
             ))
             hard_stop = True
         elif request.phrases or request.required:
@@ -406,6 +476,8 @@ def compose(request: QueryRequest, spec: SearchSurfaceSpec) -> QueryResult:
                 "bar",
                 f"{spec.display_name} has no typed search form AA can write for "
                 "you — the link below is the way to use it.",
+                message_key="builder.note.no_typed_form",
+                surface=spec.display_name,
             ))
 
     url: str | None = None
@@ -414,7 +486,11 @@ def compose(request: QueryRequest, spec: SearchSurfaceSpec) -> QueryResult:
         notes.extend(url_notes)
 
     if bar is None and url is None and not notes:
-        notes.append(_info("empty", "Nothing to build yet — add at least one term."))
+        notes.append(_info(
+            "empty",
+            "Nothing to build yet — add at least one term.",
+            message_key="builder.note.empty",
+        ))
 
     return QueryResult(
         surface=spec.name,
diff --git a/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/resources/locales/en.json b/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/resources/locales/en.json
index 0b2b391..9c65c74 100644
--- a/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/resources/locales/en.json
+++ b/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/resources/locales/en.json
@@ -212,6 +212,28 @@
       "bar": "Search bar text",
       "link": "Link"
     },
+    "note": {
+      "site_no_typed": "{surface} has no way to limit a typed search to one site, so no search text or link was written — one without the site limit would be a different search.",
+      "any_of_no_typed": "{surface} has no way to say 'any of these' in its search bar, so no search text or link was written.",
+      "exclude_no_typed": "{surface} has no way to exclude words in its search bar, so no search text or link was written.",
+      "intitle_no_typed": "{surface} has no title filter in its search bar, so no search text or link was written.",
+      "phrase_no_quotes": "{surface} has no exact-phrase quoting; your phrase was written without quotes.",
+      "length": "That search is {count} words; {surface} is reported to stop reading after {limit}{source}. Nothing was written — cutting it down would not be the search you asked for.",
+      "template_missing": "{surface} has no link form called '{template}'. Choices: {choices}.",
+      "phrase_url_unverified": "{surface} has no exact-phrase quoting AA can verify, so your words went into the link without quotes.",
+      "options_empty": "Settings without any search terms make no link, so they were not applied.",
+      "empty": "Nothing to build yet — add at least one term.",
+      "location_unsupported": "{surface} has no place for a location, so '{location}' was left out of the search. Add the place to your search words, or pick a surface that takes a location.",
+      "option_not_offered": "{surface}'s '{option}' setting is not offered: {explanation}",
+      "option_missing": "{surface} has no '{option}' setting, so it was left out.",
+      "option_invalid_value": "'{value}' is not a value {surface}'s '{option}' setting can carry.",
+      "option_invalid_choice": "'{value}' is not a choice for {label}. Choices: {choices}.",
+      "option_url_only_with_note": "{label} cannot be typed into {surface}'s search bar — the link carries it. {note}",
+      "option_url_only": "{label} cannot be typed into {surface}'s search bar — the link carries it.",
+      "unexpressible": "{surface} has no way to carry {unexpressible}, so no search text or link was written — one without it would be a different search.",
+      "no_typed_form": "{surface} has no typed search form AA can write for you — the link below is the way to use it.",
+      "company_unknown_platform": "That address is not on a hiring platform AA knows, so no search was built."
+    },
     "platform": {
       "unverified": "Unverified: the search mechanism is documented, but how much of this platform it reaches is not yet known. Open the link yourself and check that results come from the platform; the user guide shows how to report the outcome.",
       "third_party": "Reported by others; AA has not checked it."
diff --git a/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/resources/locales/es.json b/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/resources/locales/es.json
index c338945..3975fa9 100644
--- a/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/resources/locales/es.json
+++ b/packages/auto_apply/src/auto_apply/resources/locales/es.json
@@ -174,6 +174,28 @@
       "bar": "Texto de la barra de búsqueda",
       "link": "Enlace"
     },
+    "note": {
+      "site_no_typed": "{surface} no tiene forma de limitar una búsqueda escrita a un solo sitio, por lo que no se escribió texto de búsqueda ni enlace — una sin el límite del sitio sería una búsqueda diferente.",
+      "any_of_no_typed": "{surface} no tiene forma de decir 'cualquiera de estos' en su barra de búsqueda, por lo que no se escribió texto de búsqueda ni enlace.",
+      "exclude_no_typed": "{surface} no tiene forma de excluir palabras en su barra de búsqueda, por lo que no se escribió texto de búsqueda ni enlace.",
+      "intitle_no_typed": "{surface} no tiene filtro de título en su barra de búsqueda, por lo que no se escribió texto de búsqueda ni enlace.",
+      "phrase_no_quotes": "{surface} no tiene uso de comillas para frases exactas; su frase se escribió sin comillas.",
+      "length": "Esa búsqueda tiene {count} palabras; se reporta que {surface} deja de leer después de {limit}{source}. No se escribió nada — reducirla no sería la búsqueda que usted pidió.",
+      "template_missing": "{surface} no tiene un formulario de enlace llamado '{template}'. Opciones: {choices}.",
+      "phrase_url_unverified": "{surface} no tiene uso de comillas para frases exactas que AA pueda verificar, por lo que sus palabras se incluyeron en el enlace sin comillas.",
+      "options_empty": "La configuración sin ningún término de búsqueda no genera un enlace, por lo que no se aplicó.",
+      "empty": "No hay nada que construir todavía — agregue al menos un término.",
+      "location_unsupported": "{surface} no tiene lugar para una ubicación, por lo que '{location}' se omitió de la búsqueda. Agregue el lugar a sus palabras de búsqueda, o elija una superficie que acepte ubicación.",
+      "option_not_offered": "La configuración '{option}' de {surface} no se ofrece: {explanation}",
+      "option_missing": "{surface} no tiene configuración '{option}', por lo que se omitió.",
+      "option_invalid_value": "'{value}' no es un valor que la configuración '{option}' de {surface} pueda llevar.",
+      "option_invalid_choice": "'{value}' no es una opción para {label}. Opciones: {choices}.",
+      "option_url_only_with_note": "{label} no se puede escribir en la barra de búsqueda de {surface} — el enlace lo lleva. {note}",
+      "option_url_only": "{label} no se puede escribir en la barra de búsqueda de {surface} — el enlace lo lleva.",
+      "unexpressible": "{surface} no tiene forma de llevar {unexpressible}, por lo que no se escribió texto de búsqueda ni enlace — una sin esto sería una búsqueda diferente.",
+      "no_typed_form": "{surface} no tiene un formulario de búsqueda escrito que AA pueda escribir por usted — el enlace a continuación es la forma de usarlo.",
+      "company_unknown_platform": "Esa dirección no pertenece a una plataforma de contratación que AA conozca, por lo que no se construyó ninguna búsqueda."
+    },
     "platform": {
       "unverified": "Sin verificar: el mecanismo de búsqueda está documentado, pero aún no se sabe qué parte de esta plataforma alcanza. Abra el enlace usted mismo y compruebe que los resultados provienen de la plataforma; la guía del usuario muestra cómo informar del resultado.",
       "third_party": "Reportado por otros; AA no lo ha comprobado."
diff --git a/packages/auto_apply/tests/adapters/test_gui_search_window.py b/packages/auto_apply/tests/adapters/test_gui_search_window.py
index da16f8c..a24ce0e 100644
--- a/packages/auto_apply/tests/adapters/test_gui_search_window.py
+++ b/packages/auto_apply/tests/adapters/test_gui_search_window.py
@@ -160,3 +160,26 @@ def test_window_announces_and_closes_accessibly():
     assert "WM_DELETE_WINDOW" in source
     assert "takefocus=True" in source
     assert "_status_var.set" in source
+
+
+def test_gui_notes_follow_the_locale_and_never_crash__teeth(tmp_path):
+    """TEETH: the GUI's translator path (window labels first, then the
+    locale) renders a note with values in Spanish, without raising. Mutation
+    caught: a translator contract that passes values the GUI's one-argument
+    translator cannot take (it raised TypeError), or notes left in English
+    because the GUI translator only knew the window's labels."""
+    from auto_apply.adapters.primary.gui.strings import locale_text  # noqa: PLC0415
+    from auto_apply.application.services.i18n import configure_locale  # noqa: PLC0415
+
+    result = _service(tmp_path / "recent.json").build_query(
+        build_request(surface="google", terms="Software Engineer", location="Seattle, WA")
+    )
+    labels = {"builder.result.bar": "Texto", "builder.result.link": "Enlace"}
+    try:
+        configure_locale(language="es")
+        lines = gw.result_lines(result, lambda key: labels.get(key) or locale_text(key))
+    finally:
+        configure_locale(language="en")  # restore default for other tests
+    text = "\n".join(lines)
+    assert "no tiene lugar para una ubicación" in text
+    assert "Seattle, WA" in text
diff --git a/packages/auto_apply/tests/adapters/test_search_builder_cli.py b/packages/auto_apply/tests/adapters/test_search_builder_cli.py
index bd671a3..3550979 100644
--- a/packages/auto_apply/tests/adapters/test_search_builder_cli.py
+++ b/packages/auto_apply/tests/adapters/test_search_builder_cli.py
@@ -196,6 +196,72 @@ def test_format_result_lines_renders_refusal_notes_when_nothing_built__teeth() -
     assert lines == ["  no site limit exists"]
 
 
+def test_format_result_lines_translates_notes_and_falls_back__teeth() -> None:
+    """TEETH: a note with a message_key is translated using the injected
+    translator, substituting its parameters. A missing key falls back to the
+    English message. Mutation caught: ignoring message_key, failing to pass
+    kwargs, or failing to fall back."""
+    result = QueryResult(
+        surface="google", display_name="Google", bar_text=None, url=None,
+        notes=(
+            QueryNote(
+                severity="info",
+                topic="location",
+                message="Fallback Paris",
+                message_key="builder.note.location",
+                message_params=(("location", "Paris"),),
+            ),
+            QueryNote(
+                severity="info",
+                topic="other",
+                message="Fallback Other",
+                message_key="builder.note.missing",
+                message_params=(),
+            ),
+        ),
+    )
+    def fake_translate(key):
+        if key == "builder.note.location":
+            return "Translated {location}"
+        return key
+
+    lines = format_result_lines(result, translate=fake_translate)
+    assert lines == ["  Translated Paris", "  Fallback Other"]
+
+
+def test_a_note_renders_in_spanish_through_the_real_locale__teeth(tmp_path) -> None:
+    """TEETH: the location note renders in Spanish through the real locale
+    and the shared helper - what a person sees in the CLI. Mutation caught:
+    format_result_lines printing note.message again (the English sentence),
+    or the es.json template missing."""
+    from auto_apply.application.services.i18n import configure_locale  # noqa: PLC0415
+
+    result = _service(tmp_path).build_query(
+        build_request(surface="google", terms="Software Engineer", location="Seattle, WA")
+    )
+    try:
+        configure_locale(language="es")
+        text = "\n".join(format_result_lines(result, translate=get_text))
+    finally:
+        configure_locale(language="en")  # restore default for other tests
+    assert "no tiene lugar para una ubicación" in text
+    assert "Seattle, WA" in text
+    assert "has no place for a location" not in text
+
+
+def test_a_template_that_cannot_be_filled_falls_back_to_english__teeth() -> None:
+    """TEETH (never a raw key, never a crash): a locale template naming a
+    value the note does not carry falls back to the English sentence.
+    Mutation caught: the KeyError guard in note_text removed."""
+    result = QueryResult(
+        surface="google", display_name="Google", bar_text=None, url=None,
+        notes=(QueryNote(severity="info", topic="location", message="English sentence",
+                         message_key="builder.note.x", message_params=(("a", "1"),)),),
+    )
+    lines = format_result_lines(result, translate=lambda key: "Needs {b}")
+    assert lines == ["  English sentence"]
+
+
 def test_resolved_remember_request_folds_site_only__teeth() -> None:
     """TEETH (remembered platform/company queries are stored resolved).
     Mutation caught: folding anything but `site`, or folding an empty