diff --git a/crunchy-cli-core/src/archive/command.rs b/crunchy-cli-core/src/archive/command.rs
index bf61fdf..600065a 100644
--- a/crunchy-cli-core/src/archive/command.rs
+++ b/crunchy-cli-core/src/archive/command.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use crate::utils::download::{
 use crate::utils::ffmpeg::FFmpegPreset;
 use crate::utils::filter::Filter;
 use crate::utils::format::{Format, SingleFormat};
-use crate::utils::locale::all_locale_in_locales;
+use crate::utils::locale::{all_locale_in_locales, resolve_locales, LanguageTagging};
 use crate::utils::log::progress;
 use crate::utils::os::{free_file, has_ffmpeg, is_special_file};
 use crate::utils::parse::parse_url;
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ use crunchyroll_rs::Locale;
 use log::{debug, warn};
 use regex::Regex;
 use std::fmt::{Display, Formatter};
+use std::iter::zip;
 use std::ops::Sub;
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 use std::process::{Command, Stdio};
@@ -31,15 +32,19 @@ pub struct Archive {
     #[arg(help = format!("Audio languages. Can be used multiple times. \
     Available languages are: {}", Locale::all().into_iter().map(|l| l.to_string()).collect::<Vec<String>>().join(", ")))]
     #[arg(long_help = format!("Audio languages. Can be used multiple times. \
-    Available languages are:\n  {}", Locale::all().into_iter().map(|l| format!("{:<6} → {}", l.to_string(), l.to_human_readable())).collect::<Vec<String>>().join("\n  ")))]
+    Available languages are:\n  {}\nIETF tagged language codes for the shown available locales can be used too", Locale::all().into_iter().map(|l| format!("{:<6} → {}", l.to_string(), l.to_human_readable())).collect::<Vec<String>>().join("\n  ")))]
     #[arg(short, long, default_values_t = vec![Locale::ja_JP, crate::utils::locale::system_locale()])]
     pub(crate) audio: Vec<Locale>,
+    #[arg(skip)]
+    output_audio_locales: Vec<String>,
     #[arg(help = format!("Subtitle languages. Can be used multiple times. \
     Available languages are: {}", Locale::all().into_iter().map(|l| l.to_string()).collect::<Vec<String>>().join(", ")))]
     #[arg(long_help = format!("Subtitle languages. Can be used multiple times. \
-    Available languages are: {}", Locale::all().into_iter().map(|l| l.to_string()).collect::<Vec<String>>().join(", ")))]
+    Available languages are: {}\nIETF tagged language codes for the shown available locales can be used too", Locale::all().into_iter().map(|l| l.to_string()).collect::<Vec<String>>().join(", ")))]
     #[arg(short, long, default_values_t = Locale::all())]
     pub(crate) subtitle: Vec<Locale>,
+    #[arg(skip)]
+    output_subtitle_locales: Vec<String>,
 
     #[arg(help = "Name of the output file")]
     #[arg(long_help = "Name of the output file. \
@@ -95,12 +100,22 @@ pub struct Archive {
     #[arg(short, long, default_value = "auto")]
     #[arg(value_parser = MergeBehavior::parse)]
     pub(crate) merge: MergeBehavior,
-
     #[arg(
         help = "If the merge behavior is 'auto', only download multiple video tracks if their length difference is higher than the given milliseconds"
     )]
     #[arg(long, default_value_t = 200)]
     pub(crate) merge_auto_tolerance: u32,
+    #[arg(
+        long,
+        help = "Specified which language tagging the audio and subtitle tracks and language specific format options should have. \
+        Valid options are: 'default' (how Crunchyroll uses it internally), 'ietf' (according to the IETF standard)"
+    )]
+    #[arg(
+        long_help = "Specified which language tagging the audio and subtitle tracks and language specific format options should have. \
+        Valid options are: 'default' (how Crunchyroll uses it internally), 'ietf' (according to the IETF standard; you might run in issues as there are multiple locales which resolve to the same IETF language code, e.g. 'es-LA' and 'es-ES' are both resolving to 'es')"
+    )]
+    #[arg(value_parser = LanguageTagging::parse)]
+    pub(crate) language_tagging: Option<LanguageTagging>,
 
     #[arg(help = format!("Presets for converting the video to a specific coding format. \
     Available presets: \n  {}", FFmpegPreset::available_matches_human_readable().join("\n  ")))]
@@ -217,6 +232,26 @@ impl Execute for Archive {
         self.audio = all_locale_in_locales(self.audio.clone());
         self.subtitle = all_locale_in_locales(self.subtitle.clone());
 
+        if let Some(language_tagging) = &self.language_tagging {
+            self.audio = resolve_locales(&self.audio);
+            self.subtitle = resolve_locales(&self.subtitle);
+            self.output_audio_locales = language_tagging.convert_locales(&self.audio);
+            self.output_subtitle_locales = language_tagging.convert_locales(&self.subtitle);
+        } else {
+            self.output_audio_locales = self
+                .audio
+                .clone()
+                .into_iter()
+                .map(|l| l.to_string())
+                .collect();
+            self.output_subtitle_locales = self
+                .subtitle
+                .clone()
+                .into_iter()
+                .map(|l| l.to_string())
+                .collect();
+        }
+
         Ok(())
     }
 
@@ -259,7 +294,13 @@ impl Execute for Archive {
                     .audio_sort(Some(self.audio.clone()))
                     .subtitle_sort(Some(self.subtitle.clone()))
                     .no_closed_caption(self.no_closed_caption)
-                    .threads(self.threads);
+                    .threads(self.threads)
+                    .audio_locale_output_map(
+                        zip(self.audio.clone(), self.output_audio_locales.clone()).collect(),
+                    )
+                    .subtitle_locale_output_map(
+                        zip(self.subtitle.clone(), self.output_subtitle_locales.clone()).collect(),
+                    );
 
             for single_formats in single_format_collection.into_iter() {
                 let (download_formats, mut format) = get_format(&self, &single_formats).await?;
@@ -275,9 +316,14 @@ impl Execute for Archive {
                             .as_ref()
                             .map_or((&self.output).into(), |so| so.into()),
                         self.universal_output,
+                        self.language_tagging.as_ref(),
                     )
                 } else {
-                    format.format_path((&self.output).into(), self.universal_output)
+                    format.format_path(
+                        (&self.output).into(),
+                        self.universal_output,
+                        self.language_tagging.as_ref(),
+                    )
                 };
                 let (mut path, changed) = free_file(formatted_path.clone());
 
diff --git a/crunchy-cli-core/src/download/command.rs b/crunchy-cli-core/src/download/command.rs
index 08756e0..843f5cd 100644
--- a/crunchy-cli-core/src/download/command.rs
+++ b/crunchy-cli-core/src/download/command.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ use crate::utils::download::{DownloadBuilder, DownloadFormat, DownloadFormatMeta
 use crate::utils::ffmpeg::{FFmpegPreset, SOFTSUB_CONTAINERS};
 use crate::utils::filter::Filter;
 use crate::utils::format::{Format, SingleFormat};
+use crate::utils::locale::{resolve_locales, LanguageTagging};
 use crate::utils::log::progress;
 use crate::utils::os::{free_file, has_ffmpeg, is_special_file};
 use crate::utils::parse::parse_url;
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ use anyhow::Result;
 use crunchyroll_rs::media::Resolution;
 use crunchyroll_rs::Locale;
 use log::{debug, warn};
+use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::path::Path;
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, clap::Parser)]
@@ -23,14 +25,18 @@ pub struct Download {
     #[arg(help = format!("Audio language. Can only be used if the provided url(s) point to a series. \
     Available languages are: {}", Locale::all().into_iter().map(|l| l.to_string()).collect::<Vec<String>>().join(", ")))]
     #[arg(long_help = format!("Audio language. Can only be used if the provided url(s) point to a series. \
-    Available languages are:\n  {}", Locale::all().into_iter().map(|l| format!("{:<6} → {}", l.to_string(), l.to_human_readable())).collect::<Vec<String>>().join("\n  ")))]
+    Available languages are:\n  {}\nIETF tagged language codes for the shown available locales can be used too", Locale::all().into_iter().map(|l| format!("{:<6} → {}", l.to_string(), l.to_human_readable())).collect::<Vec<String>>().join("\n  ")))]
     #[arg(short, long, default_value_t = crate::utils::locale::system_locale())]
     pub(crate) audio: Locale,
+    #[arg(skip)]
+    output_audio_locale: String,
     #[arg(help = format!("Subtitle language. Available languages are: {}", Locale::all().into_iter().map(|l| l.to_string()).collect::<Vec<String>>().join(", ")))]
     #[arg(long_help = format!("Subtitle language. If set, the subtitle will be burned into the video and cannot be disabled. \
-    Available languages are: {}", Locale::all().into_iter().map(|l| l.to_string()).collect::<Vec<String>>().join(", ")))]
+    Available languages are: {}\nIETF tagged language codes for the shown available locales can be used too", Locale::all().into_iter().map(|l| l.to_string()).collect::<Vec<String>>().join(", ")))]
     #[arg(short, long)]
     pub(crate) subtitle: Option<Locale>,
+    #[arg(skip)]
+    output_subtitle_locale: String,
 
     #[arg(help = "Name of the output file")]
     #[arg(long_help = "Name of the output file. \
@@ -75,6 +81,18 @@ pub struct Download {
     #[arg(value_parser = crate::utils::clap::clap_parse_resolution)]
     pub(crate) resolution: Resolution,
 
+    #[arg(
+        long,
+        help = "Specified which language tagging the audio and subtitle tracks and language specific format options should have. \
+        Valid options are: 'default' (how Crunchyroll uses it internally), 'ietf' (according to the IETF standard)"
+    )]
+    #[arg(
+        long_help = "Specified which language tagging the audio and subtitle tracks and language specific format options should have. \
+        Valid options are: 'default' (how Crunchyroll uses it internally), 'ietf' (according to the IETF standard; you might run in issues as there are multiple locales which resolve to the same IETF language code, e.g. 'es-LA' and 'es-ES' are both resolving to 'es')"
+    )]
+    #[arg(value_parser = LanguageTagging::parse)]
+    pub(crate) language_tagging: Option<LanguageTagging>,
+
     #[arg(help = format!("Presets for converting the video to a specific coding format. \
     Available presets: \n  {}", FFmpegPreset::available_matches_human_readable().join("\n  ")))]
     #[arg(long_help = format!("Presets for converting the video to a specific coding format. \
@@ -178,6 +196,27 @@ impl Execute for Download {
             warn!("The '{{resolution}}' format option is deprecated and will be removed in a future version. Please use '{{width}}' and '{{height}}' instead")
         }
 
+        if let Some(language_tagging) = &self.language_tagging {
+            self.audio = resolve_locales(&[self.audio.clone()]).remove(0);
+            self.subtitle = self
+                .subtitle
+                .as_ref()
+                .map(|s| resolve_locales(&[s.clone()]).remove(0));
+            self.output_audio_locale = language_tagging.for_locale(&self.audio);
+            self.output_subtitle_locale = self
+                .subtitle
+                .as_ref()
+                .map(|s| language_tagging.for_locale(s))
+                .unwrap_or_default()
+        } else {
+            self.output_audio_locale = self.audio.to_string();
+            self.output_subtitle_locale = self
+                .subtitle
+                .as_ref()
+                .map(|s| s.to_string())
+                .unwrap_or_default();
+        }
+
         Ok(())
     }
 
@@ -240,7 +279,16 @@ impl Execute for Download {
                     })
                     .ffmpeg_preset(self.ffmpeg_preset.clone().unwrap_or_default())
                     .ffmpeg_threads(self.ffmpeg_threads)
-                    .threads(self.threads);
+                    .threads(self.threads)
+                    .audio_locale_output_map(HashMap::from([(
+                        self.audio.clone(),
+                        self.output_audio_locale.clone(),
+                    )]))
+                    .subtitle_locale_output_map(
+                        self.subtitle.as_ref().map_or(HashMap::new(), |s| {
+                            HashMap::from([(s.clone(), self.output_subtitle_locale.clone())])
+                        }),
+                    );
 
             for mut single_formats in single_format_collection.into_iter() {
                 // the vec contains always only one item
@@ -268,9 +316,14 @@ impl Execute for Download {
                             .as_ref()
                             .map_or((&self.output).into(), |so| so.into()),
                         self.universal_output,
+                        self.language_tagging.as_ref(),
                     )
                 } else {
-                    format.format_path((&self.output).into(), self.universal_output)
+                    format.format_path(
+                        (&self.output).into(),
+                        self.universal_output,
+                        self.language_tagging.as_ref(),
+                    )
                 };
                 let (path, changed) = free_file(formatted_path.clone());
 
diff --git a/crunchy-cli-core/src/utils/download.rs b/crunchy-cli-core/src/utils/download.rs
index c768195..f3dc631 100644
--- a/crunchy-cli-core/src/utils/download.rs
+++ b/crunchy-cli-core/src/utils/download.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ use regex::Regex;
 use reqwest::Client;
 use std::borrow::Borrow;
 use std::cmp::Ordering;
-use std::collections::BTreeMap;
+use std::collections::{BTreeMap, HashMap};
 use std::io::Write;
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 use std::process::{Command, Stdio};
@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ pub struct DownloadBuilder {
     no_closed_caption: bool,
     threads: usize,
     ffmpeg_threads: Option<usize>,
+    audio_locale_output_map: HashMap<Locale, String>,
+    subtitle_locale_output_map: HashMap<Locale, String>,
 }
 
 impl DownloadBuilder {
@@ -78,6 +80,8 @@ impl DownloadBuilder {
             no_closed_caption: false,
             threads: num_cpus::get(),
             ffmpeg_threads: None,
+            audio_locale_output_map: HashMap::new(),
+            subtitle_locale_output_map: HashMap::new(),
         }
     }
 
@@ -99,6 +103,9 @@ impl DownloadBuilder {
             ffmpeg_threads: self.ffmpeg_threads,
 
             formats: vec![],
+
+            audio_locale_output_map: self.audio_locale_output_map,
+            subtitle_locale_output_map: self.subtitle_locale_output_map,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -138,6 +145,9 @@ pub struct Downloader {
     ffmpeg_threads: Option<usize>,
 
     formats: Vec<DownloadFormat>,
+
+    audio_locale_output_map: HashMap<Locale, String>,
+    subtitle_locale_output_map: HashMap<Locale, String>,
 }
 
 impl Downloader {
@@ -426,7 +436,12 @@ impl Downloader {
             maps.extend(["-map".to_string(), (i + videos.len()).to_string()]);
             metadata.extend([
                 format!("-metadata:s:a:{}", i),
-                format!("language={}", meta.language),
+                format!(
+                    "language={}",
+                    self.audio_locale_output_map
+                        .get(&meta.language)
+                        .unwrap_or(&meta.language.to_string())
+                ),
             ]);
             metadata.extend([
                 format!("-metadata:s:a:{}", i),
@@ -457,7 +472,12 @@ impl Downloader {
                 ]);
                 metadata.extend([
                     format!("-metadata:s:s:{}", i),
-                    format!("language={}", meta.language),
+                    format!(
+                        "language={}",
+                        self.subtitle_locale_output_map
+                            .get(&meta.language)
+                            .unwrap_or(&meta.language.to_string())
+                    ),
                 ]);
                 metadata.extend([
                     format!("-metadata:s:s:{}", i),
diff --git a/crunchy-cli-core/src/utils/format.rs b/crunchy-cli-core/src/utils/format.rs
index 8956a04..7146a55 100644
--- a/crunchy-cli-core/src/utils/format.rs
+++ b/crunchy-cli-core/src/utils/format.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use crate::utils::filter::real_dedup_vec;
+use crate::utils::locale::LanguageTagging;
 use crate::utils::log::tab_info;
 use crate::utils::os::{is_special_file, sanitize};
 use anyhow::Result;
@@ -417,7 +418,12 @@ impl Format {
     }
 
     /// Formats the given string if it has specific pattern in it. It also sanitizes the filename.
-    pub fn format_path(&self, path: PathBuf, universal: bool) -> PathBuf {
+    pub fn format_path(
+        &self,
+        path: PathBuf,
+        universal: bool,
+        language_tagging: Option<&LanguageTagging>,
+    ) -> PathBuf {
         let path = path
             .to_string_lossy()
             .to_string()
@@ -427,7 +433,7 @@ impl Format {
                 &sanitize(
                     self.locales
                         .iter()
-                        .map(|(a, _)| a.to_string())
+                        .map(|(a, _)| language_tagging.map_or(a.to_string(), |t| t.for_locale(a)))
                         .collect::<Vec<String>>()
                         .join(
                             &env::var("CRUNCHY_CLI_FORMAT_DELIMITER")
diff --git a/crunchy-cli-core/src/utils/locale.rs b/crunchy-cli-core/src/utils/locale.rs
index 8651078..0827299 100644
--- a/crunchy-cli-core/src/utils/locale.rs
+++ b/crunchy-cli-core/src/utils/locale.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,124 @@
 use crunchyroll_rs::Locale;
+use log::warn;
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+#[allow(clippy::upper_case_acronyms)]
+pub enum LanguageTagging {
+    Default,
+    IETF,
+}
+
+impl LanguageTagging {
+    pub fn parse(s: &str) -> Result<Self, String> {
+        Ok(match s.to_lowercase().as_str() {
+            "default" => Self::Default,
+            "ietf" => Self::IETF,
+            _ => return Err(format!("'{}' is not a valid language tagging", s)),
+        })
+    }
+
+    pub fn convert_locales(&self, locales: &[Locale]) -> Vec<String> {
+        let ietf_language_codes = ietf_language_codes();
+        let mut converted = vec![];
+
+        match &self {
+            LanguageTagging::Default => {
+                for locale in locales {
+                    let Some((_, available)) =
+                        ietf_language_codes.iter().find(|(_, l)| l.contains(locale))
+                    else {
+                        // if no matching IETF language code was found, just pass it as it is
+                        converted.push(locale.to_string());
+                        continue;
+                    };
+                    converted.push(available.first().unwrap().to_string())
+                }
+            }
+            LanguageTagging::IETF => {
+                for locale in locales {
+                    let Some((tag, _)) =
+                        ietf_language_codes.iter().find(|(_, l)| l.contains(locale))
+                    else {
+                        // if no matching IETF language code was found, just pass it as it is
+                        converted.push(locale.to_string());
+                        continue;
+                    };
+                    converted.push(tag.to_string())
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        converted
+    }
+
+    pub fn for_locale(&self, locale: &Locale) -> String {
+        match &self {
+            LanguageTagging::Default => ietf_language_codes()
+                .iter()
+                .find(|(_, l)| l.contains(locale))
+                .map_or(locale.to_string(), |(_, l)| l[0].to_string()),
+            LanguageTagging::IETF => ietf_language_codes()
+                .iter()
+                .find(|(_, l)| l.contains(locale))
+                .map_or(locale.to_string(), |(tag, _)| tag.to_string()),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+pub fn resolve_locales(locales: &[Locale]) -> Vec<Locale> {
+    let ietf_language_codes = ietf_language_codes();
+    let all_locales = Locale::all();
+
+    let mut resolved = vec![];
+    for locale in locales {
+        if all_locales.contains(locale) {
+            resolved.push(locale.clone())
+        } else if let Some((_, resolved_locales)) = ietf_language_codes
+            .iter()
+            .find(|(tag, _)| tag == &locale.to_string().as_str())
+        {
+            let (first, alternatives) = resolved_locales.split_first().unwrap();
+
+            resolved.push(first.clone());
+            // ignoring `Locale::en_IN` because I think the majority of users which want english
+            // audio / subs want the "actual" english version and not the hindi accent dub
+            if !alternatives.is_empty() && resolved_locales.first().unwrap() != &Locale::en_IN {
+                warn!("Resolving locale '{}' to '{}', but there are some alternatives: {}. If you an alternative instead, please write it completely out instead of '{}'", locale, first, alternatives.iter().map(|l| format!("'{l}'")).collect::<Vec<String>>().join(", "), locale)
+            }
+        } else {
+            resolved.push(locale.clone());
+            warn!("Unknown locale '{}'", locale)
+        }
+    }
+
+    resolved
+}
+
+fn ietf_language_codes<'a>() -> Vec<(&'a str, Vec<Locale>)> {
+    vec![
+        ("ar", vec![Locale::ar_ME, Locale::ar_SA]),
+        ("ca", vec![Locale::ca_ES]),
+        ("de", vec![Locale::de_DE]),
+        ("en", vec![Locale::en_US, Locale::hi_IN]),
+        ("es", vec![Locale::es_ES, Locale::es_419, Locale::es_LA]),
+        ("fr", vec![Locale::fr_FR]),
+        ("hi", vec![Locale::hi_IN]),
+        ("id", vec![Locale::id_ID]),
+        ("it", vec![Locale::it_IT]),
+        ("ja", vec![Locale::ja_JP]),
+        ("ko", vec![Locale::ko_KR]),
+        ("ms", vec![Locale::ms_MY]),
+        ("pl", vec![Locale::pl_PL]),
+        ("pt", vec![Locale::pt_PT, Locale::pt_BR]),
+        ("ru", vec![Locale::ru_RU]),
+        ("ta", vec![Locale::ta_IN]),
+        ("te", vec![Locale::te_IN]),
+        ("th", vec![Locale::th_TH]),
+        ("tr", vec![Locale::tr_TR]),
+        ("vi", vec![Locale::vi_VN]),
+        ("zh", vec![Locale::zh_CN, Locale::zh_HK, Locale::zh_TW]),
+    ]
+}
 
 /// Return the locale of the system.
 pub fn system_locale() -> Locale {