diff --git a/include/wx/localedefs.h b/include/wx/localedefs.h
index 686cb2ae98..e948830c52 100644
--- a/include/wx/localedefs.h
+++ b/include/wx/localedefs.h
@@ -118,8 +118,13 @@ public:
     // Leave language empty
     wxLocaleIdent() { }
 
-    // Construct name from language
-    wxLocaleIdent(const wxString& language) : m_language(language) { }
+    // Construct from language, i.e. a two-letter ISO 639-1 code (or a
+    // three-letter ISO 639-2 code if there is no ISO 639-1 code for this
+    // language).
+    wxLocaleIdent(const char* language)
+        : m_language(wxString::FromAscii(language))
+    {
+    }
 
     // Set language
     wxLocaleIdent& Language(const wxString& language)
diff --git a/interface/wx/uilocale.h b/interface/wx/uilocale.h
index 9d37b19be3..065ca0180f 100644
--- a/interface/wx/uilocale.h
+++ b/interface/wx/uilocale.h
@@ -184,11 +184,14 @@ public:
     /**
         Constructor with language.
 
+        Note that this constructor is non-explicit, allowing to pass just a
+        simple string, such as "en", to functions taking wxLocaleIdent.
+
         @param language
             ISO 639 language code.
             See Language() for more detailed info.
     */
-    wxLocaleIdent(const wxString& language);
+    wxLocaleIdent(const char* language);
 
     /**
         Set language.