diff --git a/src/humanize/i18n.py b/src/humanize/i18n.py
index 42447b0..dd94c7a 100644
--- a/src/humanize/i18n.py
+++ b/src/humanize/i18n.py
@@ -55,14 +55,15 @@ def get_translation() -> gettext_module.NullTranslations:
 
 
 def activate(
-    locale: str, path: str | os.PathLike[str] | None = None
+    locale: str | None, path: str | os.PathLike[str] | None = None
 ) -> gettext_module.NullTranslations:
     """Activate internationalisation.
 
     Set `locale` as current locale. Search for locale in directory `path`.
 
     Args:
-        locale (str): Language name, e.g. `en_GB`.
+        locale (str | None): Language name, e.g. `en_GB`. If `None`, defaults to no
+            transaltion. Similar to calling ``deactivate()``.
         path (str | pathlib.Path): Path to search for locales.
 
     Returns:
@@ -71,6 +72,10 @@ def activate(
     Raises:
         Exception: If humanize cannot find the locale folder.
     """
+    if locale is None or locale.startswith("en"):
+        _CURRENT.locale = None
+        return _TRANSLATIONS[None]
+
     if path is None:
         path = _get_default_locale_path()
 
diff --git a/tests/test_i18n.py b/tests/test_i18n.py
index f3721c9..83eecc8 100644
--- a/tests/test_i18n.py
+++ b/tests/test_i18n.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 import humanize
 
 with freeze_time("2020-02-02"):
-    NOW = dt.datetime.now()
+    NOW = dt.datetime.now(tz=dt.timezone.utc)
 
 
 @freeze_time("2020-02-02")
@@ -198,3 +198,35 @@ def test_default_locale_path_undefined__spec__(
         with pytest.raises(Exception) as excinfo:
             i18n.activate("ru_RU")
         assert str(excinfo.value) == self.expected_msg
+
+    @freeze_time("2020-02-02")
+    def test_en_locale(self) -> None:
+        three_seconds = NOW - dt.timedelta(seconds=3)
+        test_str = humanize.naturaltime(three_seconds)
+
+        humanize.i18n.activate("en_US")
+        assert test_str == humanize.naturaltime(three_seconds)
+
+        humanize.i18n.activate("en_GB")
+        assert test_str == humanize.naturaltime(three_seconds)
+
+        humanize.i18n.deactivate()
+
+    @freeze_time("2020-02-02")
+    def test_none_locale(self) -> None:
+        three_seconds = NOW - dt.timedelta(seconds=3)
+
+        try:
+            humanize.i18n.activate("fr")
+            assert humanize.naturaltime(three_seconds) == "il y a 3 secondes"
+
+            humanize.i18n.activate(None)
+            test_str = humanize.naturaltime(three_seconds)
+            assert test_str == "3 seconds ago"
+        except FileNotFoundError:
+            pytest.skip("Generate .mo with scripts/generate-translation-binaries.sh")
+
+        finally:
+            humanize.i18n.deactivate()
+
+        assert test_str == humanize.naturaltime(three_seconds)