diff --git a/docs/api/openapi.yaml b/docs/api/openapi.yaml
index 42491d862..96cbdf70c 100644
--- a/docs/api/openapi.yaml
+++ b/docs/api/openapi.yaml
@@ -34485,6 +34485,8 @@ components:
         locale:
           type: string
           maxLength: 16
+        englishOriginal:
+          type: boolean
         source:
           default: WEB
           type: string
@@ -34501,8 +34503,9 @@ components:
       description: "Record one completed screener administration: PHQ-9 (9 items, 0–3), GAD-7 (7 items, 0–3), WHO-5 (5 items,
         0–5) or SCI (8 items, 0–4). The array length and per-item ceiling must match the instrument. The item answers
         are encrypted at rest and never returned. The server computes the total (WHO-5 reports raw-sum × 4 as 0–100) +
-        severity band + item-9 safety flag. Opt-in, beside mood tracking — this is a screening surface, not a
-        diagnosis."
+        severity band + item-9 safety flag. `locale` is the reader's app language; set `englishOriginal` when the reader
+        answered in the English original instead of their language's text, and the server records the resulting
+        `wording`. Opt-in, beside mood tracking — this is a screening surface, not a diagnosis."
     CreateAllergyRequest:
       type: object
       properties:
@@ -44792,6 +44795,14 @@ components:
               locale:
                 type: string
                 minLength: 1
+              wording:
+                anyOf:
+                  - type: string
+                    enum:
+                      - validated
+                      - unvalidated_translation
+                      - original_en
+                  - type: "null"
               version:
                 type: string
               responsesEncrypted:
@@ -78040,6 +78051,19 @@ components:
             - SCI
         locale:
           type: string
+        wording:
+          anyOf:
+            - type: string
+              enum:
+                - validated
+                - unvalidated_translation
+                - original_en
+            - type: "null"
+          description: "Which text the answers were given in. `validated`: the published validated version for `locale` (the
+            original for English). `unvalidated_translation`: a translation written for HealthLog where no validated
+            version exists; clients show that the result is orientation only. `original_en`: the English original,
+            chosen by a reader of another language (`englishOriginal` on create). Null on administrations recorded
+            before v1.46."
         version:
           type: string
         totalScore:
@@ -78060,6 +78084,7 @@ components:
         - id
         - instrument
         - locale
+        - wording
         - version
         - totalScore
         - severityBand
@@ -78265,6 +78290,19 @@ components:
             - SCI
         locale:
           type: string
+        wording:
+          anyOf:
+            - type: string
+              enum:
+                - validated
+                - unvalidated_translation
+                - original_en
+            - type: "null"
+          description: "Which text the answers were given in. `validated`: the published validated version for `locale` (the
+            original for English). `unvalidated_translation`: a translation written for HealthLog where no validated
+            version exists; clients show that the result is orientation only. `original_en`: the English original,
+            chosen by a reader of another language (`englishOriginal` on create). Null on administrations recorded
+            before v1.46."
         version:
           type: string
         totalScore:
@@ -78301,6 +78339,7 @@ components:
         - id
         - instrument
         - locale
+        - wording
         - version
         - totalScore
         - severityBand
diff --git a/prisma/migrations/0475_mental_health_assessment_wording/migration.sql b/prisma/migrations/0475_mental_health_assessment_wording/migration.sql
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6591fa1e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/prisma/migrations/0475_mental_health_assessment_wording/migration.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+-- Questionnaires in every app language: an administration records which text
+-- its answers were given in. "validated" is a published validated version,
+-- "unvalidated_translation" a translation written for the app (shown with a
+-- note), "original_en" the English original chosen by a reader of another
+-- language.
+--
+-- Nullable, no default, no backfill: earlier rows did not record it, and
+-- which text they showed depended on releases since replaced, so null reads
+-- as "not recorded" rather than as a guess.
+--
+-- Reversibility: dropping the column loses only that marker; the scores and
+-- the encrypted answers do not depend on it.
+
+ALTER TABLE "mental_health_assessments" ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS "wording" TEXT;
diff --git a/prisma/schema.prisma b/prisma/schema.prisma
index 970aeaa03..e78805032 100644
--- a/prisma/schema.prisma
+++ b/prisma/schema.prisma
@@ -1808,9 +1808,16 @@ model MentalHealthAssessment {
   id                 String               @id @default(cuid())
   userId             String               @map("user_id")
   instrument         AssessmentInstrument
-  /// The validated translation actually presented (officially-validated wording
-  /// per locale, English fallback otherwise — recorded for the audit trail).
+  /// The reader's app language when the administration was taken. It selects
+  /// the crisis-resource copy; with `wording` it says which text was shown.
   locale             String
+  /// Which text the answers were given in: "validated" (the published
+  /// validated version for `locale`, the original for English),
+  /// "unvalidated_translation" (the app's own translation, shown with a note)
+  /// or "original_en" (the English original, chosen by a reader of another
+  /// language). Null on rows recorded before it was stored. Closed set:
+  /// ASSESSMENT_WORDINGS in src/lib/mental-health/instrument-wording.ts.
+  wording            String?
   /// Instrument variant identifier (e.g. "standard"); future-proofs revisions.
   version            String               @default("standard")
   /// Encrypted JSON blob: { items: number[], functionalDifficulty?: 0..3, schema: 1 }.
diff --git a/src/app/api/mental-health/assessments/[id]/route.ts b/src/app/api/mental-health/assessments/[id]/route.ts
index a2a720862..180962387 100644
--- a/src/app/api/mental-health/assessments/[id]/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/mental-health/assessments/[id]/route.ts
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@ export const GET = apiHandler(
         userId: true,
         instrument: true,
         locale: true,
+        wording: true,
         version: true,
         totalScore: true,
         severityBand: true,
@@ -165,6 +166,7 @@ export const GET = apiHandler(
         id: row.id,
         instrument: row.instrument,
         locale: row.locale,
+        wording: row.wording,
         version: row.version,
         totalScore: row.totalScore,
         severityBand: row.severityBand,
diff --git a/src/app/api/mental-health/assessments/route.ts b/src/app/api/mental-health/assessments/route.ts
index 740ae8d0d..02f57d119 100644
--- a/src/app/api/mental-health/assessments/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/mental-health/assessments/route.ts
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ import {
   type InstrumentId,
 } from "@/lib/mental-health/instruments";
 import { crisisResourcesForLocale } from "@/lib/mental-health/crisis-resources";
+import { presentedWording } from "@/lib/mental-health/wording/resolve";
 import type {
   MeasurementType,
   MeasurementSource,
@@ -70,10 +71,26 @@ import {
 const TREND_READ_CAP = 1500;
 import { listPage } from "@/lib/http/list-query";
 
+/** The columns every read of an administration returns (`shapeRow`). */
+const ASSESSMENT_SELECT = {
+  id: true,
+  instrument: true,
+  locale: true,
+  wording: true,
+  version: true,
+  totalScore: true,
+  severityBand: true,
+  item9Flagged: true,
+  crisisShownAt: true,
+  takenAt: true,
+  createdAt: true,
+} as const;
+
 function shapeRow(row: {
   id: string;
   instrument: string;
   locale: string;
+  wording: string | null;
   version: string;
   totalScore: number;
   severityBand: string;
@@ -86,6 +103,7 @@ function shapeRow(row: {
     id: row.id,
     instrument: row.instrument,
     locale: row.locale,
+    wording: row.wording,
     version: row.version,
     totalScore: row.totalScore,
     severityBand: row.severityBand,
@@ -145,18 +163,7 @@ export const GET = apiHandler(async (request: NextRequest) => {
       orderBy: [{ takenAt: "desc" }, { id: "desc" }],
       take,
       skip: offset ?? 0,
-      select: {
-        id: true,
-        instrument: true,
-        locale: true,
-        version: true,
-        totalScore: true,
-        severityBand: true,
-        item9Flagged: true,
-        crisisShownAt: true,
-        takenAt: true,
-        createdAt: true,
-      },
+      select: ASSESSMENT_SELECT,
     }),
   );
   // v1.44 — the change of each screener against its meaningful-change
@@ -262,6 +269,7 @@ async function postAssessment(request: NextRequest): Promise<Response> {
     takenAt,
     tz,
     locale,
+    englishOriginal,
     source,
     externalId,
   } = parsed.data;
@@ -282,18 +290,7 @@ async function postAssessment(request: NextRequest): Promise<Response> {
         externalId,
         instrument: { in: [...SCREENER_INSTRUMENTS] },
       },
-      select: {
-        id: true,
-        instrument: true,
-        locale: true,
-        version: true,
-        totalScore: true,
-        severityBand: true,
-        item9Flagged: true,
-        crisisShownAt: true,
-        takenAt: true,
-        createdAt: true,
-      },
+      select: ASSESSMENT_SELECT,
     });
     if (existing) return respondExisting(existing);
   }
@@ -311,6 +308,15 @@ async function postAssessment(request: NextRequest): Promise<Response> {
   // `actor` is the caller in every case and equals `user` for everyone acting
   // on their own record, so this is the record's own locale for them.
   const presentedLocale = locale ?? actor.locale ?? "en";
+  // Which text the answers were given in, resolved here rather than taken
+  // from the client: the client says only whether the reader switched to the
+  // English original; whether their language's text is validated is the
+  // wording registry's answer.
+  const wording = presentedWording(
+    id,
+    presentedLocale,
+    englishOriginal ?? false,
+  );
   const when = takenAt ? new Date(takenAt) : new Date();
 
   // Encrypt the per-item answers + the (unscored) functional-impairment follow-up.
@@ -322,19 +328,6 @@ async function postAssessment(request: NextRequest): Promise<Response> {
     }),
   );
 
-  const assessmentSelect = {
-    id: true,
-    instrument: true,
-    locale: true,
-    version: true,
-    totalScore: true,
-    severityBand: true,
-    item9Flagged: true,
-    crisisShownAt: true,
-    takenAt: true,
-    createdAt: true,
-  } as const;
-
   let assessment;
   try {
     assessment = await prisma.mentalHealthAssessment.create({
@@ -342,6 +335,7 @@ async function postAssessment(request: NextRequest): Promise<Response> {
         userId: user.id,
         instrument: id,
         locale: presentedLocale,
+        wording,
         version: "standard",
         responsesEncrypted: blob,
         totalScore: total,
@@ -353,7 +347,7 @@ async function postAssessment(request: NextRequest): Promise<Response> {
         source,
         externalId: externalId ?? null,
       },
-      select: assessmentSelect,
+      select: ASSESSMENT_SELECT,
     });
   } catch (err: unknown) {
     // Concurrent replay: two requests carrying the same externalId raced past
@@ -373,7 +367,7 @@ async function postAssessment(request: NextRequest): Promise<Response> {
           externalId,
           instrument: { in: [...SCREENER_INSTRUMENTS] },
         },
-        select: assessmentSelect,
+        select: ASSESSMENT_SELECT,
       });
       if (winner) {
         annotate({
@@ -438,7 +432,7 @@ async function postAssessment(request: NextRequest): Promise<Response> {
   });
   annotate({
     action: { name: "mental-health.create" },
-    meta: { instrument: id, item9_flagged: flagged },
+    meta: { instrument: id, item9_flagged: flagged, wording },
   });
 
   // SAFETY: surface the locale-aware crisis resources on a positive item-9.
diff --git a/src/lib/export/sensitive-backup-schema.ts b/src/lib/export/sensitive-backup-schema.ts
index bf7ea7f17..522659d51 100644
--- a/src/lib/export/sensitive-backup-schema.ts
+++ b/src/lib/export/sensitive-backup-schema.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 import { z } from "zod/v4";
 import { AssessmentInstrument } from "@/generated/prisma/enums";
 import { base64BytesSchema, isoDateTime } from "@/lib/export/backup-schema-kit";
+import { ASSESSMENT_WORDINGS } from "@/lib/mental-health/wording/types";
 
 /**
  * A completed screener administration. `responsesEncrypted` is REQUIRED rather
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ export const mentalHealthAssessmentBackupSchema = z
     id: z.string().min(1),
     instrument: z.enum(AssessmentInstrument),
     locale: z.string().min(1),
+    wording: z.enum(ASSESSMENT_WORDINGS).nullable().optional(),
     version: z.string().optional(),
     responsesEncrypted: base64BytesSchema,
     totalScore: z.number().int(),
diff --git a/src/lib/export/sensitive-backup.ts b/src/lib/export/sensitive-backup.ts
index 383d90ce8..8204a81a7 100644
--- a/src/lib/export/sensitive-backup.ts
+++ b/src/lib/export/sensitive-backup.ts
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@
 import type { Prisma, PrismaClient } from "@/generated/prisma/client";
 
 import type { AssessmentInstrument } from "@/generated/prisma/client";
+import {
+  isAssessmentWording,
+  type AssessmentWording,
+} from "@/lib/mental-health/wording/types";
 
 export interface SensitiveBackupOptions {
   purpose?: "portable-export" | "disaster-recovery";
@@ -65,6 +69,8 @@ export interface MentalHealthAssessmentBackupEntry {
   id: string;
   instrument: AssessmentInstrument;
   locale: string;
+  /** Which text the answers were given in; null before it was recorded. */
+  wording: AssessmentWording | null;
   version: string;
   /** Ciphertext as base64. The per-item answers, including PHQ-9 item 9. */
   responsesEncrypted: string;
@@ -146,6 +152,7 @@ const MENTAL_HEALTH_BACKUP_SELECT = {
   id: true,
   instrument: true,
   locale: true,
+  wording: true,
   version: true,
   responsesEncrypted: true,
   totalScore: true,
@@ -210,6 +217,9 @@ export async function buildSensitiveBackupSection(
       id: row.id,
       instrument: row.instrument,
       locale: row.locale,
+      // The app writes only the closed set; anything else travels as null
+      // ("not recorded") rather than as a value the restore would refuse.
+      wording: isAssessmentWording(row.wording) ? row.wording : null,
       version: row.version,
       responsesEncrypted: Buffer.from(row.responsesEncrypted).toString(
         "base64",
@@ -276,6 +286,7 @@ export type RestoredMentalHealthAssessment = Pick<
     Pick<
       MentalHealthAssessmentBackupEntry,
       | "version"
+      | "wording"
       | "item9Flagged"
       | "crisisShownAt"
       | "tz"
@@ -326,6 +337,7 @@ export async function restoreSensitiveData(
         userId: ownerId,
         instrument: entry.instrument,
         locale: entry.locale,
+        wording: entry.wording ?? null,
         version: entry.version ?? "standard",
         responsesEncrypted: decodeBase64(entry.responsesEncrypted),
         totalScore: entry.totalScore,
diff --git a/src/lib/openapi/routes/mental-health.ts b/src/lib/openapi/routes/mental-health.ts
index 8a15fd8e7..ffae0a242 100644
--- a/src/lib/openapi/routes/mental-health.ts
+++ b/src/lib/openapi/routes/mental-health.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import {
   createAssessmentSchema,
   listAssessmentsSchema,
 } from "@/lib/validations/mental-health";
+import { ASSESSMENT_WORDINGS } from "@/lib/mental-health/wording/types";
 
 import {
   dataEnvelope,
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ import {
 const createMentalHealthAssessmentRequest = createAssessmentSchema.meta({
   id: "CreateMentalHealthAssessmentRequest",
   description:
-    "Record one completed screener administration: PHQ-9 (9 items, 0–3), GAD-7 (7 items, 0–3), WHO-5 (5 items, 0–5) or SCI (8 items, 0–4). The array length and per-item ceiling must match the instrument. The item answers are encrypted at rest and never returned. The server computes the total (WHO-5 reports raw-sum × 4 as 0–100) + severity band + item-9 safety flag. Opt-in, beside mood tracking — this is a screening surface, not a diagnosis.",
+    "Record one completed screener administration: PHQ-9 (9 items, 0–3), GAD-7 (7 items, 0–3), WHO-5 (5 items, 0–5) or SCI (8 items, 0–4). The array length and per-item ceiling must match the instrument. The item answers are encrypted at rest and never returned. The server computes the total (WHO-5 reports raw-sum × 4 as 0–100) + severity band + item-9 safety flag. `locale` is the reader's app language; set `englishOriginal` when the reader answered in the English original instead of their language's text, and the server records the resulting `wording`. Opt-in, beside mood tracking — this is a screening surface, not a diagnosis.",
 });
 
 const listMentalHealthAssessmentsQuery = listAssessmentsSchema.meta({
@@ -48,6 +49,12 @@ const assessmentRow = z
     id: z.string(),
     instrument: z.enum(["PHQ9", "GAD7", "WHO5", "SCI"]),
     locale: z.string(),
+    wording: z
+      .enum(ASSESSMENT_WORDINGS)
+      .nullable()
+      .describe(
+        "Which text the answers were given in. `validated`: the published validated version for `locale` (the original for English). `unvalidated_translation`: a translation written for HealthLog where no validated version exists; clients show that the result is orientation only. `original_en`: the English original, chosen by a reader of another language (`englishOriginal` on create). Null on administrations recorded before v1.46.",
+      ),
     version: z.string(),
     totalScore: z.number(),
     severityBand: z.string(),
diff --git a/src/lib/validations/mental-health.ts b/src/lib/validations/mental-health.ts
index e153bd624..6cbbd0777 100644
--- a/src/lib/validations/mental-health.ts
+++ b/src/lib/validations/mental-health.ts
@@ -60,8 +60,17 @@ export const createAssessmentSchema = z
       .max(64)
       .refine(isValidTimezone, "Invalid IANA timezone")
       .optional(),
-    /** Locale of the validated wording actually presented. */
+    /**
+     * The reader's app language: it selects the questionnaire text that was
+     * shown and the crisis resources. Defaults to the account's language.
+     */
     locale: z.string().max(16).optional(),
+    /**
+     * The reader switched to the English original instead of their
+     * language's text. The server records which wording the answers were
+     * given in from this and `locale`.
+     */
+    englishOriginal: z.boolean().optional(),
     /** Client provenance; defaults to WEB. */
     source: assessmentSourceEnum.optional().default("WEB"),
     /**
diff --git a/tests/integration/__golden__/backup-parity/export-disaster-recovery.json b/tests/integration/__golden__/backup-parity/export-disaster-recovery.json
index 48a526e97..e34d5552b 100644
--- a/tests/integration/__golden__/backup-parity/export-disaster-recovery.json
+++ b/tests/integration/__golden__/backup-parity/export-disaster-recovery.json
@@ -1905,6 +1905,7 @@
         "id": "<id:89>",
         "instrument": "GAD7",
         "locale": "en",
+        "wording": null,
         "version": "standard",
         "responsesEncrypted": "<sealed:v1:{\"items\":[1,1,0,1,0,1,0],\"schema\":1}>",
         "totalScore": 4,
@@ -1917,13 +1918,14 @@
         "externalId": null,
         "syncVersion": 0,
         "deletedAt": "<tombstone>",
-        "createdAt": "2026-05-05T13:56:01.000Z",
-        "updatedAt": "2026-05-05T13:57:01.000Z"
+        "createdAt": "2026-05-05T13:57:01.000Z",
+        "updatedAt": "2026-05-05T13:58:01.000Z"
       },
       {
         "id": "<id:90>",
         "instrument": "PHQ9",
         "locale": "de",
+        "wording": "unvalidated_translation",
         "version": "rt-MentalHealthAssessment-version",
         "responsesEncrypted": "<sealed:v1:{\"items\":[2,1,2,2,1,1,2,1,2],\"schema\":1}>",
         "totalScore": 14,
@@ -1936,8 +1938,8 @@
         "externalId": "rt-MentalHealthAssessment-externalId",
         "syncVersion": 3,
         "deletedAt": null,
-        "createdAt": "2026-05-05T13:56:00.000Z",
-        "updatedAt": "2026-05-05T13:57:00.000Z"
+        "createdAt": "2026-05-05T13:57:00.000Z",
+        "updatedAt": "2026-05-05T13:58:00.000Z"
       }
     ],
     "consentReceipts": [
@@ -4318,6 +4320,7 @@
         "id": "<id:89>",
         "instrument": "GAD7",
         "locale": "en",
+        "wording": null,
         "version": "standard",
         "responsesEncrypted": "<sealed:v1:{\"items\":[1,1,0,1,0,1,0],\"schema\":1}>",
         "totalScore": 4,
@@ -4330,13 +4333,14 @@
         "externalId": null,
         "syncVersion": 0,
         "deletedAt": "<tombstone>",
-        "createdAt": "2026-05-05T13:56:01.000Z",
-        "updatedAt": "2026-05-05T13:57:01.000Z"
+        "createdAt": "2026-05-05T13:57:01.000Z",
+        "updatedAt": "2026-05-05T13:58:01.000Z"
       },
       {
         "id": "<id:90>",
         "instrument": "PHQ9",
         "locale": "de",
+        "wording": "unvalidated_translation",
         "version": "rt-MentalHealthAssessment-version",
         "responsesEncrypted": "<sealed:v1:{\"items\":[2,1,2,2,1,1,2,1,2],\"schema\":1}>",
         "totalScore": 14,
@@ -4349,8 +4353,8 @@
         "externalId": "rt-MentalHealthAssessment-externalId",
         "syncVersion": 3,
         "deletedAt": null,
-        "createdAt": "2026-05-05T13:56:00.000Z",
-        "updatedAt": "2026-05-05T13:57:00.000Z"
+        "createdAt": "2026-05-05T13:57:00.000Z",
+        "updatedAt": "2026-05-05T13:58:00.000Z"
       }
     ],
     "consentReceipts": [
diff --git a/tests/integration/__golden__/backup-parity/restore-disaster-recovery.json b/tests/integration/__golden__/backup-parity/restore-disaster-recovery.json
index 439fe95bc..7c7b4eb59 100644
--- a/tests/integration/__golden__/backup-parity/restore-disaster-recovery.json
+++ b/tests/integration/__golden__/backup-parity/restore-disaster-recovery.json
@@ -2153,6 +2153,7 @@
         "userId": "round-trip-owner",
         "instrument": "GAD7",
         "locale": "en",
+        "wording": null,
         "version": "standard",
         "responsesEncrypted": "<sealed:v1:{\"items\":[1,1,0,1,0,1,0],\"schema\":1}>",
         "totalScore": 4,
@@ -2165,14 +2166,15 @@
         "externalId": null,
         "syncVersion": 0,
         "deletedAt": "<tombstone>",
-        "createdAt": "2026-05-05T13:56:01.000Z",
-        "updatedAt": "2026-05-05T13:57:01.000Z"
+        "createdAt": "2026-05-05T13:57:01.000Z",
+        "updatedAt": "2026-05-05T13:58:01.000Z"
       },
       {
         "id": "<id:99>",
         "userId": "round-trip-owner",
         "instrument": "PHQ9",
         "locale": "de",
+        "wording": "unvalidated_translation",
         "version": "rt-MentalHealthAssessment-version",
         "responsesEncrypted": "<sealed:v1:{\"items\":[2,1,2,2,1,1,2,1,2],\"schema\":1}>",
         "totalScore": 14,
@@ -2185,8 +2187,8 @@
         "externalId": "rt-MentalHealthAssessment-externalId",
         "syncVersion": 3,
         "deletedAt": null,
-        "createdAt": "2026-05-05T13:56:00.000Z",
-        "updatedAt": "2026-05-05T13:57:00.000Z"
+        "createdAt": "2026-05-05T13:57:00.000Z",
+        "updatedAt": "2026-05-05T13:58:00.000Z"
       }
     ],
     "ConsentReceipt": [
@@ -4800,6 +4802,7 @@
         "id": "<id:89>",
         "instrument": "GAD7",
         "locale": "en",
+        "wording": null,
         "version": "standard",
         "responsesEncrypted": "<sealed:v1:{\"items\":[1,1,0,1,0,1,0],\"schema\":1}>",
         "totalScore": 4,
@@ -4812,13 +4815,14 @@
         "externalId": null,
         "syncVersion": 0,
         "deletedAt": "<tombstone>",
-        "createdAt": "2026-05-05T13:56:01.000Z",
-        "updatedAt": "2026-05-05T13:57:01.000Z"
+        "createdAt": "2026-05-05T13:57:01.000Z",
+        "updatedAt": "2026-05-05T13:58:01.000Z"
       },
       {
         "id": "<id:90>",
         "instrument": "PHQ9",
         "locale": "de",
+        "wording": "unvalidated_translation",
         "version": "rt-MentalHealthAssessment-version",
         "responsesEncrypted": "<sealed:v1:{\"items\":[2,1,2,2,1,1,2,1,2],\"schema\":1}>",
         "totalScore": 14,
@@ -4831,8 +4835,8 @@
         "externalId": "rt-MentalHealthAssessment-externalId",
         "syncVersion": 3,
         "deletedAt": null,
-        "createdAt": "2026-05-05T13:56:00.000Z",
-        "updatedAt": "2026-05-05T13:57:00.000Z"
+        "createdAt": "2026-05-05T13:57:00.000Z",
+        "updatedAt": "2026-05-05T13:58:00.000Z"
       }
     ],
     "consentReceipts": [
diff --git a/tests/integration/__golden__/backup-parity/seeded-account.json b/tests/integration/__golden__/backup-parity/seeded-account.json
index 1622db7ff..0a7bc1df0 100644
--- a/tests/integration/__golden__/backup-parity/seeded-account.json
+++ b/tests/integration/__golden__/backup-parity/seeded-account.json
@@ -1780,6 +1780,7 @@
         "userId": "round-trip-owner",
         "instrument": "GAD7",
         "locale": "en",
+        "wording": null,
         "version": "standard",
         "responsesEncrypted": "<sealed:v1:{\"items\":[1,1,0,1,0,1,0],\"schema\":1}>",
         "totalScore": 4,
@@ -1792,14 +1793,15 @@
         "externalId": null,
         "syncVersion": 0,
         "deletedAt": "<tombstone>",
-        "createdAt": "2026-05-05T13:56:01.000Z",
-        "updatedAt": "2026-05-05T13:57:01.000Z"
+        "createdAt": "2026-05-05T13:57:01.000Z",
+        "updatedAt": "2026-05-05T13:58:01.000Z"
       },
       {
         "id": "<id:100>",
         "userId": "round-trip-owner",
         "instrument": "PHQ9",
         "locale": "de",
+        "wording": "unvalidated_translation",
         "version": "rt-MentalHealthAssessment-version",
         "responsesEncrypted": "<sealed:v1:{\"items\":[2,1,2,2,1,1,2,1,2],\"schema\":1}>",
         "totalScore": 14,
@@ -1812,8 +1814,8 @@
         "externalId": "rt-MentalHealthAssessment-externalId",
         "syncVersion": 3,
         "deletedAt": null,
-        "createdAt": "2026-05-05T13:56:00.000Z",
-        "updatedAt": "2026-05-05T13:57:00.000Z"
+        "createdAt": "2026-05-05T13:57:00.000Z",
+        "updatedAt": "2026-05-05T13:58:00.000Z"
       }
     ],
     "ConsentReceipt": [
diff --git a/tests/integration/backup-fixture.ts b/tests/integration/backup-fixture.ts
index bfe84a6c5..ddf0f990e 100644
--- a/tests/integration/backup-fixture.ts
+++ b/tests/integration/backup-fixture.ts
@@ -1401,6 +1401,8 @@ export const FILL_OVERRIDES: Readonly<Record<string, unknown>> = {
   "Biomarker.contextEncrypted": () =>
     encryptContextToBytes("fasted, morning draw"),
   "MoodEntry.tags": JSON.stringify(["round-trip-tag"]),
+  // A closed set (ASSESSMENT_WORDINGS); the export carries nothing else.
+  "MentalHealthAssessment.wording": "unvalidated_translation",
   "CorrelationPattern.qValue": 0.04,
   "CorrelationPattern.dismissedEvidenceHash": "ab".repeat(32),
   // CHECK in migration 0408: the profile is built from samples or from hour buckets.
diff --git a/tests/integration/mental-health-wording.test.ts b/tests/integration/mental-health-wording.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..76819a1f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/integration/mental-health-wording.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+/**
+ * Which text a check-in was answered in, end to end through the real routes
+ * and the real schema, checked against the published contract by the kit.
+ *
+ * The client says only two things: the reader's language and whether they
+ * switched to the English original. The server resolves the rest from the
+ * wording registry and stores it on the row, and every read returns it:
+ *   - a language with a validated translation records `validated`;
+ *   - a language with HealthLog's own translation records
+ *     `unvalidated_translation`;
+ *   - the switch records `original_en`;
+ *   - English records `validated` whatever the switch says.
+ * The PHQ-9 crisis signpost answers item 9 the same way in every wording.
+ */
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+
+import {
+  GET as listAssessments,
+  POST as createAssessment,
+} from "@/app/api/mental-health/assessments/route";
+import { GET as readAssessment } from "@/app/api/mental-health/assessments/[id]/route";
+
+import { callRoute } from "../kit/call-route";
+import { makeSession, makeUser, type SessionFixture } from "../kit/factories";
+import { getPrismaClient, truncateAllTables } from "./setup";
+
+vi.mock("@/lib/db-compat", () => ({
+  ensureDbCompatibility: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+}));
+
+// The reminder satisfy and the rollup tail hand work to pg-boss; the queue is
+// not what this file is about.
+vi.mock("@/lib/jobs/boss-instance", () => ({
+  getGlobalBoss: () => ({ send: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue("wording-job") }),
+}));
+
+interface Row {
+  id: string;
+  instrument: string;
+  locale: string;
+  wording: string | null;
+  item9Flagged: boolean;
+}
+interface Created {
+  assessment: Row;
+  crisis: { emergencyNumber: string } | null;
+}
+
+const PHQ9_ITEM9 = [0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1];
+const SCI = [2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2];
+
+let session: SessionFixture;
+
+beforeEach(async () => {
+  await truncateAllTables(getPrismaClient());
+  const user = await makeUser({
+    locale: "nl",
+    modulePreferencesJson: { mentalHealth: true },
+  });
+  session = await makeSession(user);
+});
+
+async function submit(body: Record<string, unknown>) {
+  const result = await callRoute<Created>(createAssessment, {
+    method: "POST",
+    route: "/api/mental-health/assessments",
+    body,
+    auth: session,
+  });
+  expect(result.status, JSON.stringify(result.body)).toBe(201);
+  return result.data;
+}
+
+describe("the wording a check-in records", () => {
+  it("records a validated translation, HealthLog's own translation and the English original apart", async () => {
+    const validated = await submit({
+      instrument: "PHQ9",
+      items: PHQ9_ITEM9,
+      locale: "nl",
+    });
+    const translation = await submit({
+      instrument: "SCI",
+      items: SCI,
+      locale: "nl",
+    });
+    const original = await submit({
+      instrument: "SCI",
+      items: SCI,
+      locale: "nl",
+      englishOriginal: true,
+    });
+    const english = await submit({
+      instrument: "SCI",
+      items: SCI,
+      locale: "en",
+      englishOriginal: true,
+    });
+
+    expect(validated.assessment.wording).toBe("validated");
+    expect(translation.assessment.wording).toBe("unvalidated_translation");
+    expect(original.assessment.wording).toBe("original_en");
+    expect(english.assessment.wording).toBe("validated");
+
+    const stored = await getPrismaClient().mentalHealthAssessment.findMany({
+      select: { id: true, locale: true, wording: true },
+    });
+    const byId = new Map(stored.map((row) => [row.id, row]));
+    expect(byId.get(translation.assessment.id)).toMatchObject({
+      locale: "nl",
+      wording: "unvalidated_translation",
+    });
+    expect(byId.get(original.assessment.id)).toMatchObject({
+      locale: "nl",
+      wording: "original_en",
+    });
+
+    const list = await callRoute<{ assessments: Row[] }>(listAssessments, {
+      method: "GET",
+      route: "/api/mental-health/assessments",
+      auth: session,
+    });
+    expect(list.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(
+      Object.fromEntries(list.data.assessments.map((r) => [r.id, r.wording])),
+    ).toEqual({
+      [validated.assessment.id]: "validated",
+      [translation.assessment.id]: "unvalidated_translation",
+      [original.assessment.id]: "original_en",
+      [english.assessment.id]: "validated",
+    });
+
+    const detail = await callRoute<{ assessment: Row }>(readAssessment, {
+      method: "GET",
+      route: "/api/mental-health/assessments/{id}",
+      params: { id: translation.assessment.id },
+      auth: session,
+    });
+    expect(detail.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(detail.data.assessment.wording).toBe("unvalidated_translation");
+  });
+
+  it("defaults to the account's language when the client sends none", async () => {
+    const created = await submit({ instrument: "SCI", items: SCI });
+    expect(created.assessment.locale).toBe("nl");
+    expect(created.assessment.wording).toBe("unvalidated_translation");
+  });
+
+  it("answers PHQ-9 item 9 with the crisis signpost in every wording", async () => {
+    for (const body of [
+      { locale: "nl" },
+      { locale: "ko" },
+      { locale: "pt-BR" },
+      { locale: "de" },
+      { locale: "nl", englishOriginal: true },
+      { locale: "en" },
+    ]) {
+      const created = await submit({
+        instrument: "PHQ9",
+        items: PHQ9_ITEM9,
+        ...body,
+      });
+      expect(created.assessment.item9Flagged, JSON.stringify(body)).toBe(true);
+      expect(created.crisis, JSON.stringify(body)).not.toBeNull();
+    }
+    const quiet = await submit({
+      instrument: "PHQ9",
+      items: [3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 0],
+      locale: "pt-BR",
+    });
+    expect(quiet.crisis).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("refuses a switch that is not a boolean", async () => {
+    const result = await callRoute(createAssessment, {
+      method: "POST",
+      route: "/api/mental-health/assessments",
+      body: { instrument: "SCI", items: SCI, englishOriginal: "yes" },
+      auth: session,
+    });
+    expect(result.status).toBe(422);
+    expect(await getPrismaClient().mentalHealthAssessment.count()).toBe(0);
+  });
+});