diff --git a/docs/markdown/i18n-module.md b/docs/markdown/i18n-module.md
index 767e0c87f4ab..179d91f5822b 100644
--- a/docs/markdown/i18n-module.md
+++ b/docs/markdown/i18n-module.md
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ argument which is the name of the gettext module.
 
 * `args`: list of extra arguments to pass to `xgettext` when
   generating the pot file
+* `msgfmt_args`: (*Added 1.11.0*) list of extra arguments to pass to `msgfmt` when
+  building the translations
 * `data_dirs`: (*Added 0.36.0*) list of directories to be set for
   `GETTEXTDATADIRS` env var (Requires gettext 0.19.8+), used for local
   its files
diff --git a/docs/markdown/snippets/i18n_msgfmt_args.md b/docs/markdown/snippets/i18n_msgfmt_args.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..d7106d4ae282
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/markdown/snippets/i18n_msgfmt_args.md
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+## Added `msgfmt_args` arg to `i18n.gettext`
+
+`i18n.gettext` now supports the `msgfmt_args` argument.
+This argument can be used to pass additional arguments to
+`msgfmt` when building the translations.
+
+```meson
+i18n = import('i18n')
+i18n.gettext('mycatalog',
+             args : ['-k_', '-kN_'],
+             msgfmt_args : ['--use-fuzzy'])
+```
diff --git a/mesonbuild/modules/i18n.py b/mesonbuild/modules/i18n.py
index c4d71c14aa1b..3a18168abf03 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/modules/i18n.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/modules/i18n.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ class MergeFile(TypedDict):
     class Gettext(TypedDict):
 
         args: T.List[str]
+        msgfmt_args: T.List[str]
         data_dirs: T.List[str]
         install: bool
         install_dir: T.Optional[str]
@@ -85,6 +86,14 @@ class XgettextProgramT(TypedDict):
     listify=True,
 )
 
+_MSGFMT_ARGS: KwargInfo[T.List[str]] = KwargInfo(
+    'msgfmt_args',
+    ContainerTypeInfo(list, str),
+    default=[],
+    listify=True,
+    since='1.11.0',
+)
+
 _DATA_DIRS: KwargInfo[T.List[str]] = KwargInfo(
     'data_dirs',
     ContainerTypeInfo(list, str),
@@ -349,6 +358,7 @@ def merge_file(self, state: 'ModuleState', args: T.List['TYPE_var'], kwargs: 'Me
     @typed_kwargs(
         'i18n.gettext',
         _ARGS,
+        _MSGFMT_ARGS,
         _DATA_DIRS.evolve(since='0.36.0'),
         INSTALL_KW.evolve(default=True),
         INSTALL_DIR_KW.evolve(since='0.50.0'),
@@ -418,12 +428,15 @@ def gettext(self, state: 'ModuleState', args: T.Tuple[str], kwargs: 'Gettext') -
         for l in languages:
             po_file = mesonlib.File.from_source_file(state.environment.source_dir,
                                                      state.subdir, l+'.po')
+
+            gmobasecmd: T.List[T.Union[str, Program]] = [self.tools['msgfmt'], '-o', '@OUTPUT@', '@INPUT@']
+
             gmotarget = build.CustomTarget(
                 f'{packagename}-{l}.mo',
                 path.join(state.subdir, l, 'LC_MESSAGES'),
                 state.subproject,
                 state.environment,
-                [self.tools['msgfmt'], '-o', '@OUTPUT@', '@INPUT@'],
+                gmobasecmd + T.cast(T.List[T.Union[str, 'Program']], kwargs['msgfmt_args']),
                 [po_file],
                 [f'{packagename}.mo'],
                 install=install,
diff --git a/test cases/frameworks/6 gettext/po/meson.build b/test cases/frameworks/6 gettext/po/meson.build
index 5510e424b35b..a7e72315de00 100644
--- a/test cases/frameworks/6 gettext/po/meson.build	
+++ b/test cases/frameworks/6 gettext/po/meson.build	
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 langs = ['fi', 'de', 'ru']
 
-gettext_targets = i18n.gettext('intltest', languages : langs)
+gettext_targets = i18n.gettext('intltest', languages : langs, msgfmt_args : ['--use-fuzzy'])
 mo_targets = gettext_targets[0]