diff --git a/src/calibre/web/feeds/news.py b/src/calibre/web/feeds/news.py
index 4c5b19ea99..14021cb142 100644
--- a/src/calibre/web/feeds/news.py
+++ b/src/calibre/web/feeds/news.py
@@ -842,12 +842,22 @@ class BasicNewsRecipe(Recipe):
         finally:
             self.cleanup()
 
+    @property
+    def lang_for_html(self):
+        try:
+            lang = self.language.replace('_', '-').partition('-')[0].lower()
+            if lang == 'und':
+                lang = None
+        except:
+            lang = None
+        return lang
+
     def feeds2index(self, feeds):
-        templ = templates.IndexTemplate()
+        templ = (templates.TouchscreenIndexTemplate if self.touchscreen else
+                templates.IndexTemplate)
+        templ = templ(lang=self.lang_for_html)
         css = self.template_css + '\n\n' +(self.extra_css if self.extra_css else '')
         timefmt = self.timefmt
-        if self.touchscreen:
-            templ = templates.TouchscreenIndexTemplate()
         return templ.generate(self.title, "mastheadImage.jpg", timefmt, feeds,
                               extra_css=css).render(doctype='xhtml')
 
@@ -871,8 +881,6 @@ class BasicNewsRecipe(Recipe):
             return ans+u'\u2026' if isinstance(ans, unicode) else ans + '...'
         return ans
 
-
-
     def feed2index(self, f, feeds):
         feed = feeds[f]
         if feed.image_url is not None: # Download feed image
@@ -900,12 +908,11 @@ class BasicNewsRecipe(Recipe):
                 feed.image_url = feed.image_url.decode(sys.getfilesystemencoding(), 'strict')
 
 
-        templ = templates.FeedTemplate()
+        templ = (templates.TouchscreenFeedTemplate if self.touchscreen else
+                    templates.FeedTemplate)
+        templ = templ(lang=self.lang_for_html)
         css = self.template_css + '\n\n' +(self.extra_css if self.extra_css else '')
 
-        if self.touchscreen:
-            templ = templates.TouchscreenFeedTemplate()
-
         return templ.generate(f, feeds, self.description_limiter,
                               extra_css=css).render(doctype='xhtml')
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/web/feeds/templates.py b/src/calibre/web/feeds/templates.py
index 225a78be5c..6fd40848c3 100644
--- a/src/calibre/web/feeds/templates.py
+++ b/src/calibre/web/feeds/templates.py
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ class Template(object):
 
     IS_HTML = True
 
+    def __init__(self, lang=None):
+        self.html_lang = lang
+
     def generate(self, *args, **kwargs):
         if not kwargs.has_key('style'):
             kwargs['style'] = ''
@@ -100,6 +103,8 @@ class IndexTemplate(Template):
                 ul,
                 CLASS('calibre_rescale_100'))
         self.root = HTML(head, BODY(div))
+        if self.html_lang:
+            self.root.set('lang', self.html_lang)
 
 class FeedTemplate(Template):
 
@@ -174,6 +179,9 @@ class FeedTemplate(Template):
         div.append(ul)
         div.append(self.get_navbar(f, feeds, top=False))
         self.root = HTML(head, body)
+        if self.html_lang:
+            self.root.set('lang', self.html_lang)
+
 
 class NavBarTemplate(Template):
 
@@ -262,6 +270,9 @@ class TouchscreenIndexTemplate(Template):
                 DIV(CLASS('divider')),
                 toc)
         self.root = HTML(head, BODY(div))
+        if self.html_lang:
+            self.root.set('lang', self.html_lang)
+
 
 class TouchscreenFeedTemplate(Template):
 
@@ -363,6 +374,9 @@ class TouchscreenFeedTemplate(Template):
         div.append(BR())
         div.append(bottom_navbar)
         self.root = HTML(head, body)
+        if self.html_lang:
+            self.root.set('lang', self.html_lang)
+
 
 class TouchscreenNavBarTemplate(Template):