diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d25ac18e..a6dae2ec 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ The EditorConfig Vim plugin supports the following EditorConfig [properties][]:
   or [PreserveNoEOL][] is required for this property)
 * `trim_trailing_whitespace`
 * `max_line_length`
+* `spelling_language`
 * `root` (only used by EditorConfig core)
 
 ## Selected Options
diff --git a/plugin/editorconfig.vim b/plugin/editorconfig.vim
index 76377269..72ead64d 100644
--- a/plugin/editorconfig.vim
+++ b/plugin/editorconfig.vim
@@ -586,6 +586,10 @@ function! s:ApplyConfig(bufnr, config) abort
         endif
     endif
 
+    if s:IsRuleActive('spelling_language', a:config)
+        let &l:spelllang=s:ConvertLanguage(a:config['spelling_language'])
+    endif
+
     call editorconfig#ApplyHooks(a:config)
 endfunction
 
@@ -612,4 +616,16 @@ endfunction "}}}1
 let &cpo = s:saved_cpo
 unlet! s:saved_cpo
 
+" {{{
+function! s:ConvertLanguage(language)
+    " Only accept xx or xx-YY language codes (as per editorconfig specification)
+    if a:language =~ '^[a-z]\{2}\(-[A-Z]\{2}\)\?$'
+        " Convert to vim-style xx_yy
+        return tolower(substitute(a:language, "-", "_", ""))
+    elseif g:EditorConfig_verbose
+        echom "'" . a:language . "'' does not match specification for spelling_language. Try 'en' or 'en-GB'"
+        return ""
+    endif
+endfunction
+" }}}
 " vim: fdm=marker fdc=3