diff --git a/crates/typst-library/src/meta/figure.rs b/crates/typst-library/src/meta/figure.rs
index bab7790a9..0a02df570 100644
--- a/crates/typst-library/src/meta/figure.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-library/src/meta/figure.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use std::str::FromStr;
+use typst::util::option_eq;
 
 use super::{
     Count, Counter, CounterKey, CounterUpdate, LocalName, Numbering, NumberingPattern,
@@ -380,7 +381,7 @@ impl Outlinable for FigureElem {
                 supplement += TextElem::packed('\u{a0}');
             }
 
-            let separator = caption.separator(StyleChain::default());
+            let separator = caption.get_separator(StyleChain::default());
 
             realized = supplement + numbers + separator + caption.body();
         }
@@ -455,8 +456,10 @@ pub struct FigureCaption {
     ///   caption: [A rectangle],
     /// )
     /// ```
-    #[default(TextElem::packed(": "))]
-    pub separator: Content,
+    ///
+    /// If set to `{auto}`, the separator will be adapted to the current
+    /// [language]($text.lang) and [region]($text.region).
+    pub separator: Smart<Content>,
 
     /// The caption's body.
     ///
@@ -498,10 +501,40 @@ pub struct FigureCaption {
     pub location: Option<Location>,
 }
 
+impl FigureCaption {
+    /// Gets the default separator in the given language and (optionally)
+    /// region.
+    fn local_separator(lang: Lang, region: Option<Region>) -> &'static str {
+        match lang {
+            Lang::CHINESE => "：",
+            Lang::FRENCH if option_eq(region, "CH") => "\u{202f}: ",
+            Lang::FRENCH => "\u{a0}: ",
+            Lang::DANISH
+            | Lang::DUTCH
+            | Lang::ENGLISH
+            | Lang::GERMAN
+            | Lang::ITALIAN
+            | Lang::RUSSIAN
+            | Lang::SPANISH
+            | Lang::SWEDISH
+            | _ => ": ",
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn get_separator(&self, styles: StyleChain) -> Content {
+        self.separator(styles).unwrap_or_else(|| {
+            TextElem::packed(Self::local_separator(
+                TextElem::lang_in(styles),
+                TextElem::region_in(styles),
+            ))
+        })
+    }
+}
+
 impl Synthesize for FigureCaption {
     fn synthesize(&mut self, _: &mut Vt, styles: StyleChain) -> SourceResult<()> {
         self.push_position(self.position(styles));
-        self.push_separator(self.separator(styles));
+        self.push_separator(Smart::Custom(self.get_separator(styles)));
         Ok(())
     }
 }
@@ -518,7 +551,7 @@ impl Show for FigureCaption {
             if !supplement.is_empty() {
                 supplement += TextElem::packed('\u{a0}');
             }
-            realized = supplement + numbers + self.separator(styles) + realized;
+            realized = supplement + numbers + self.get_separator(styles) + realized;
         }
 
         Ok(realized)
diff --git a/tests/ref/meta/figure.png b/tests/ref/meta/figure.png
index 83bd7b7ff..1bc3b0dcf 100644
Binary files a/tests/ref/meta/figure.png and b/tests/ref/meta/figure.png differ
diff --git a/tests/typ/meta/figure.typ b/tests/typ/meta/figure.typ
index 7d618d062..36e2da471 100644
--- a/tests/typ/meta/figure.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/meta/figure.typ
@@ -109,3 +109,25 @@ We can clearly see that @fig-cylinder and
   table(columns: 2)[a][b],
   caption: [The table with custom separator.],
 )
+
+---
+// Test localized default separator
+#set text(lang: "fr", region: "CH")
+
+#figure(
+    circle(),
+    caption: [Un cercle.],
+)
+#set text(lang: "es")
+
+#figure(
+    polygon.regular(size: 1cm, vertices: 3),
+    caption: [Un triángulo.],
+)
+
+#set text(lang: "fr", region: "CA")
+
+#figure(
+    square(),
+    caption: [Un carré.],
+)