diff --git a/sphinx/builders/latex/__init__.py b/sphinx/builders/latex/__init__.py
index a3bc89161..35382b173 100644
--- a/sphinx/builders/latex/__init__.py
+++ b/sphinx/builders/latex/__init__.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from sphinx.builders.latex.transforms import (
     FootnoteDocnameUpdater, LaTeXFootnoteTransform, LiteralBlockTransform,
     ShowUrlsTransform, DocumentTargetTransform,
 )
+from sphinx.builders.latex.util import ExtBabel
 from sphinx.config import ENUM
 from sphinx.environment import NoUri
 from sphinx.environment.adapters.asset import ImageAdapter
@@ -129,6 +130,7 @@ class LaTeXBuilder(Builder):
 
     def init(self):
         # type: () -> None
+        self.babel = None           # type: ExtBabel
         self.context = {}           # type: Dict[str, Any]
         self.docnames = []          # type: Iterable[str]
         self.document_data = []     # type: List[Tuple[str, str, str, str, str, bool]]
@@ -136,6 +138,7 @@ class LaTeXBuilder(Builder):
         texescape.init()
 
         self.init_context()
+        self.init_babel()
 
     def get_outdated_docs(self):
         # type: () -> Union[str, List[str]]
@@ -210,6 +213,15 @@ class LaTeXBuilder(Builder):
             # Show the release label only if release value exists
             self.context['releasename'] = _('Release')
 
+    def init_babel(self):
+        # type: () -> None
+        self.babel = ExtBabel(self.config.language, not self.context['babel'])
+        if self.config.language and not self.babel.is_supported_language():
+            # emit warning if specified language is invalid
+            # (only emitting, nothing changed to processing)
+            logger.warning(__('no Babel option known for language %r'),
+                           self.config.language)
+
     def write_stylesheet(self):
         # type: () -> None
         highlighter = highlighting.PygmentsBridge('latex', self.config.pygments_style)
@@ -407,8 +419,16 @@ class LaTeXBuilder(Builder):
 
     def write_message_catalog(self):
         # type: () -> None
+        context = {
+            'addtocaptions': '',
+            'figurename': self.config.numfig_format.get('figure', '').split('%s', 1),
+        }
+
+        if self.context['babel'] or self.context['polyglossia']:
+            context['addtocaptions'] = r'\addto\captions%s' % self.babel.get_language()
+
         filename = path.join(package_dir, 'templates', 'latex', 'sphinxmessages.sty_t')
-        copy_asset_file(filename, self.outdir, context={}, renderer=LaTeXRenderer())
+        copy_asset_file(filename, self.outdir, context=context, renderer=LaTeXRenderer())
 
 
 def validate_config_values(app, config):
diff --git a/sphinx/templates/latex/sphinxmessages.sty_t b/sphinx/templates/latex/sphinxmessages.sty_t
index c5c661bb4..382583e6f 100644
--- a/sphinx/templates/latex/sphinxmessages.sty_t
+++ b/sphinx/templates/latex/sphinxmessages.sty_t
@@ -11,3 +11,8 @@
 \renewcommand{\sphinxsymbolsname}{<%= _('Symbols') | e %>}
 \renewcommand{\sphinxnumbersname}{<%= _('Numbers') | e %>}
 \def\pageautorefname{<%= _('page') | e %>}
+
+<%= addtocaptions %>{\renewcommand{\figurename}{<%= figurename[0].strip() | e %>}}
+<%- if figurename[1] %>
+\def\fnum@figure{\figurename\thefigure\relax{}<%= figurename[1].strip() | e %>}
+<%- endif %>
diff --git a/tests/test_build_latex.py b/tests/test_build_latex.py
index d7d6326c7..2ae6bcbb1 100644
--- a/tests/test_build_latex.py
+++ b/tests/test_build_latex.py
@@ -203,7 +203,6 @@ def test_numref(app, status, warning):
     print(result)
     print(status.getvalue())
     print(warning.getvalue())
-    assert '\\addto\\captionsenglish{\\renewcommand{\\figurename}{Fig.}}' in result
     assert '\\addto\\captionsenglish{\\renewcommand{\\tablename}{Table}}' in result
     assert '\\addto\\captionsenglish{\\renewcommand{\\literalblockname}{Listing}}' in result
     assert ('\\hyperref[\\detokenize{index:fig1}]'
@@ -227,6 +226,11 @@ def test_numref(app, status, warning):
     assert ('\\hyperref[\\detokenize{foo:foo}]{Sect.\\ref{\\detokenize{foo:foo}} '
             '\\nameref{\\detokenize{foo:foo}}}') in result
 
+    # sphinxmessages.sty
+    result = (app.outdir / 'sphinxmessages.sty').text(encoding='utf8')
+    print(result)
+    assert r'\addto\captionsenglish{\renewcommand{\figurename}{Fig.}}' in result
+
 
 @pytest.mark.sphinx(
     'latex', testroot='numfig',
@@ -241,7 +245,6 @@ def test_numref_with_prefix1(app, status, warning):
     print(result)
     print(status.getvalue())
     print(warning.getvalue())
-    assert '\\addto\\captionsenglish{\\renewcommand{\\figurename}{Figure:}}' in result
     assert '\\addto\\captionsenglish{\\renewcommand{\\tablename}{Tab\\_}}' in result
     assert '\\addto\\captionsenglish{\\renewcommand{\\literalblockname}{Code-}}' in result
     assert '\\ref{\\detokenize{index:fig1}}' in result
@@ -271,6 +274,11 @@ def test_numref_with_prefix1(app, status, warning):
     assert ('\\hyperref[\\detokenize{foo:foo}]{Sect.\\ref{\\detokenize{foo:foo}} '
             '\\nameref{\\detokenize{foo:foo}}}') in result
 
+    # sphinxmessages.sty
+    result = (app.outdir / 'sphinxmessages.sty').text(encoding='utf8')
+    print(result)
+    assert r'\addto\captionsenglish{\renewcommand{\figurename}{Figure:}}' in result
+
 
 @pytest.mark.sphinx(
     'latex', testroot='numfig',
@@ -285,8 +293,6 @@ def test_numref_with_prefix2(app, status, warning):
     print(result)
     print(status.getvalue())
     print(warning.getvalue())
-    assert '\\addto\\captionsenglish{\\renewcommand{\\figurename}{Figure:}}' in result
-    assert '\\def\\fnum@figure{\\figurename\\thefigure.}' in result
     assert '\\addto\\captionsenglish{\\renewcommand{\\tablename}{Tab\\_}}' in result
     assert '\\def\\fnum@table{\\tablename\\thetable:}' in result
     assert '\\addto\\captionsenglish{\\renewcommand{\\literalblockname}{Code-}}' in result
@@ -311,6 +317,12 @@ def test_numref_with_prefix2(app, status, warning):
     assert ('\\hyperref[\\detokenize{foo:foo}]{Sect.\\ref{\\detokenize{foo:foo}} '
             '\\nameref{\\detokenize{foo:foo}}}') in result
 
+    # sphinxmessages.sty
+    result = (app.outdir / 'sphinxmessages.sty').text(encoding='utf8')
+    print(result)
+    assert r'\addto\captionsenglish{\renewcommand{\figurename}{Figure:}}' in result
+    assert r'\def\fnum@figure{\figurename\thefigure\relax{}.}' in result
+
 
 @pytest.mark.sphinx(
     'latex', testroot='numfig',
@@ -321,7 +333,6 @@ def test_numref_with_language_ja(app, status, warning):
     print(result)
     print(status.getvalue())
     print(warning.getvalue())
-    assert '\\renewcommand{\\figurename}{\u56f3}' in result  # 図
     assert '\\renewcommand{\\tablename}{\u8868}' in result  # 表
     assert '\\renewcommand{\\literalblockname}{\u30ea\u30b9\u30c8}' in result  # リスト
     assert ('\\hyperref[\\detokenize{index:fig1}]'
@@ -345,6 +356,11 @@ def test_numref_with_language_ja(app, status, warning):
     assert ('\\hyperref[\\detokenize{foo:foo}]{Sect.\\ref{\\detokenize{foo:foo}} '
             '\\nameref{\\detokenize{foo:foo}}}') in result
 
+    # sphinxmessages.sty
+    result = (app.outdir / 'sphinxmessages.sty').text(encoding='utf8')
+    print(result)
+    assert '\n{\\renewcommand{\\figurename}{図}}' in result
+
 
 @pytest.mark.sphinx('latex', testroot='latex-numfig')
 def test_latex_obey_numfig_is_false(app, status, warning):
@@ -419,7 +435,6 @@ def test_babel_with_no_language_settings(app, status, warning):
     assert '\\usepackage[Bjarne]{fncychap}' in result
     assert ('\\addto\\captionsenglish{\\renewcommand{\\contentsname}{Table of content}}\n'
             in result)
-    assert '\\addto\\captionsenglish{\\renewcommand{\\figurename}{Fig.}}\n' in result
     assert '\\addto\\captionsenglish{\\renewcommand{\\tablename}{Table.}}\n' in result
     assert '\\shorthandoff' not in result
 
@@ -427,6 +442,7 @@ def test_babel_with_no_language_settings(app, status, warning):
     result = (app.outdir / 'sphinxmessages.sty').text(encoding='utf8')
     print(result)
     assert r'\def\pageautorefname{page}' in result
+    assert r'\addto\captionsenglish{\renewcommand{\figurename}{Fig.}}' in result
 
 
 @pytest.mark.sphinx(
@@ -444,7 +460,6 @@ def test_babel_with_language_de(app, status, warning):
     assert '\\usepackage[Sonny]{fncychap}' in result
     assert ('\\addto\\captionsngerman{\\renewcommand{\\contentsname}{Table of content}}\n'
             in result)
-    assert '\\addto\\captionsngerman{\\renewcommand{\\figurename}{Fig.}}\n' in result
     assert '\\addto\\captionsngerman{\\renewcommand{\\tablename}{Table.}}\n' in result
     assert '\\shorthandoff{"}' in result
 
@@ -452,6 +467,7 @@ def test_babel_with_language_de(app, status, warning):
     result = (app.outdir / 'sphinxmessages.sty').text(encoding='utf8')
     print(result)
     assert r'\def\pageautorefname{Seite}' in result
+    assert r'\addto\captionsngerman{\renewcommand{\figurename}{Fig.}}' in result
 
 
 @pytest.mark.sphinx(
@@ -469,7 +485,6 @@ def test_babel_with_language_ru(app, status, warning):
     assert '\\usepackage[Sonny]{fncychap}' in result
     assert ('\\addto\\captionsrussian{\\renewcommand{\\contentsname}{Table of content}}\n'
             in result)
-    assert '\\addto\\captionsrussian{\\renewcommand{\\figurename}{Fig.}}\n' in result
     assert '\\addto\\captionsrussian{\\renewcommand{\\tablename}{Table.}}\n' in result
     assert '\\shorthandoff{"}' in result
 
@@ -477,6 +492,7 @@ def test_babel_with_language_ru(app, status, warning):
     result = (app.outdir / 'sphinxmessages.sty').text(encoding='utf8')
     print(result)
     assert r'\def\pageautorefname{страница}' in result
+    assert r'\addto\captionsrussian{\renewcommand{\figurename}{Fig.}}' in result
 
 
 @pytest.mark.sphinx(
@@ -494,7 +510,6 @@ def test_babel_with_language_tr(app, status, warning):
     assert '\\usepackage[Sonny]{fncychap}' in result
     assert ('\\addto\\captionsturkish{\\renewcommand{\\contentsname}{Table of content}}\n'
             in result)
-    assert '\\addto\\captionsturkish{\\renewcommand{\\figurename}{Fig.}}\n' in result
     assert '\\addto\\captionsturkish{\\renewcommand{\\tablename}{Table.}}\n' in result
     assert '\\shorthandoff{=}' in result
 
@@ -502,6 +517,7 @@ def test_babel_with_language_tr(app, status, warning):
     result = (app.outdir / 'sphinxmessages.sty').text(encoding='utf8')
     print(result)
     assert r'\def\pageautorefname{sayfa}' in result
+    assert r'\addto\captionsturkish{\renewcommand{\figurename}{Fig.}}' in result
 
 
 @pytest.mark.sphinx(
@@ -518,7 +534,6 @@ def test_babel_with_language_ja(app, status, warning):
     assert '\\usepackage{times}' in result
     assert '\\usepackage[Sonny]{fncychap}' not in result
     assert '\\renewcommand{\\contentsname}{Table of content}\n' in result
-    assert '\\renewcommand{\\figurename}{Fig.}\n' in result
     assert '\\renewcommand{\\tablename}{Table.}\n' in result
     assert '\\shorthandoff' not in result
 
@@ -526,6 +541,7 @@ def test_babel_with_language_ja(app, status, warning):
     result = (app.outdir / 'sphinxmessages.sty').text(encoding='utf8')
     print(result)
     assert r'\def\pageautorefname{ページ}' in result
+    assert '\n{\\renewcommand{\\figurename}{Fig.}}' in result
 
 
 @pytest.mark.sphinx(
@@ -543,7 +559,6 @@ def test_babel_with_unknown_language(app, status, warning):
     assert '\\usepackage[Sonny]{fncychap}' in result
     assert ('\\addto\\captionsenglish{\\renewcommand{\\contentsname}{Table of content}}\n'
             in result)
-    assert '\\addto\\captionsenglish{\\renewcommand{\\figurename}{Fig.}}\n' in result
     assert '\\addto\\captionsenglish{\\renewcommand{\\tablename}{Table.}}\n' in result
     assert '\\shorthandoff' in result
 
@@ -553,6 +568,7 @@ def test_babel_with_unknown_language(app, status, warning):
     result = (app.outdir / 'sphinxmessages.sty').text(encoding='utf8')
     print(result)
     assert r'\def\pageautorefname{page}' in result
+    assert r'\addto\captionsenglish{\renewcommand{\figurename}{Fig.}}' in result
 
 
 @pytest.mark.sphinx(
@@ -571,7 +587,6 @@ def test_polyglossia_with_language_de(app, status, warning):
     assert '\\usepackage[Sonny]{fncychap}' in result
     assert ('\\addto\\captionsgerman{\\renewcommand{\\contentsname}{Table of content}}\n'
             in result)
-    assert '\\addto\\captionsgerman{\\renewcommand{\\figurename}{Fig.}}\n' in result
     assert '\\addto\\captionsgerman{\\renewcommand{\\tablename}{Table.}}\n' in result
     assert '\\shorthandoff' not in result
 
@@ -579,6 +594,7 @@ def test_polyglossia_with_language_de(app, status, warning):
     result = (app.outdir / 'sphinxmessages.sty').text(encoding='utf8')
     print(result)
     assert r'\def\pageautorefname{Seite}' in result
+    assert r'\addto\captionsgerman{\renewcommand{\figurename}{Fig.}}' in result
 
 
 @pytest.mark.sphinx(
@@ -597,7 +613,6 @@ def test_polyglossia_with_language_de_1901(app, status, warning):
     assert '\\usepackage[Sonny]{fncychap}' in result
     assert ('\\addto\\captionsgerman{\\renewcommand{\\contentsname}{Table of content}}\n'
             in result)
-    assert '\\addto\\captionsgerman{\\renewcommand{\\figurename}{Fig.}}\n' in result
     assert '\\addto\\captionsgerman{\\renewcommand{\\tablename}{Table.}}\n' in result
     assert '\\shorthandoff' not in result
 
@@ -605,6 +620,7 @@ def test_polyglossia_with_language_de_1901(app, status, warning):
     result = (app.outdir / 'sphinxmessages.sty').text(encoding='utf8')
     print(result)
     assert r'\def\pageautorefname{page}' in result
+    assert r'\addto\captionsgerman{\renewcommand{\figurename}{Fig.}}' in result
 
 
 @pytest.mark.sphinx('latex')
diff --git a/tests/test_markup.py b/tests/test_markup.py
index 1dce09558..218dc0c83 100644
--- a/tests/test_markup.py
+++ b/tests/test_markup.py
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ def verify_re_latex(app, parse):
         app.builder = LaTeXBuilder(app)
         app.builder.set_environment(app.env)
         app.builder.init_context()
+        app.builder.init_babel()
         latex_translator = ForgivingLaTeXTranslator(document, app.builder)
         latex_translator.first_document = -1  # don't write \begin{document}
         document.walkabout(latex_translator)