diff --git a/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml b/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
index 3ed966f377..a648a9e7a9 100644
--- a/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
+++ b/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
@@ -1304,6 +1304,35 @@ Core layer for images cannot be removed
             </glossdef>
         </glossentry>
 
+        <glossentry id='var-IMAGE_LINGUAS'><glossterm>IMAGE_LINGUAS</glossterm>
+            <glossdef>
+                <para>
+                    Specifies the list of locales to install into the image
+                    during the packaging process.
+                    The OpenEmbedded build system automatically splits locale 
+                    files, which are used for localization, into separate 
+                    packages. 
+                    Setting the <filename>IMAGE_LINGUAS</filename> variable
+                    ensures that any locale packages that correspond to packages 
+                    already selected for installation into the image are also 
+                    installed. 
+                    Here is an example:
+                    <literallayout class='monospaced'>
+     IMAGE_LINGUAS = "pt-br de-de"
+                    </literallayout>
+                    In this example, the build system ensures any Brazilian 
+                    Portuguese and German locale files that correspond to 
+                    packages in the image are installed (i.e. 
+                    <filename>*-locale-pt-br</filename>
+                    and <filename>*-locale-de-de</filename> as well as 
+                    <filename>*-locale-pt</filename>
+                    and <filename>*-locale-de</filename>, since some software 
+                    packages only provide locale files by language and not by
+                    country-specific language).
+                </para>
+            </glossdef>
+        </glossentry>
+
         <glossentry id='var-IMAGE_OVERHEAD_FACTOR'><glossterm>IMAGE_OVERHEAD_FACTOR</glossterm>
             <glossdef>
                 <para>