diff --git a/decls/i18n.js b/decls/i18n.js
index af44ae745..e45e4ba1e 100644
--- a/decls/i18n.js
+++ b/decls/i18n.js
@@ -61,7 +61,10 @@ declare type I18nOptions = {
   root?: I18n, // for internal
   fallbackRoot?: boolean,
   sync?: boolean,
-  silentTranslationWarn?: boolean
+  silentTranslationWarn?: boolean,
+  pluralizationRules?: {
+    [lang: string]: (choice: number, choicesLength: number) => number,
+  },
 };
 
 declare type IntlAvailability = {
@@ -100,7 +103,10 @@ declare interface I18n {
   getNumberFormat (locale: Locale): NumberFormat,
   setNumberFormat (locale: Locale, format: NumberFormat): void,
   mergeNumberFormat (locale: Locale, format: NumberFormat): void,
-  n (value: number, ...args: any): NumberFormatResult
+  n (value: number, ...args: any): NumberFormatResult,
+  pluralizationRules: {
+    [lang: string]: (choice: number, choicesLength: number) => number
+  }
 };
 
 declare interface Formatter {
diff --git a/gitbook/en/api.md b/gitbook/en/api.md
index 4ec610b03..d4da72e20 100644
--- a/gitbook/en/api.md
+++ b/gitbook/en/api.md
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@
 
   Localize the locale message of `key` with pluralization. Localize in preferentially component locale messages than global locale messages. If not specified component locale messages, localize with global locale messages. If you specified `locale`, localize the locale messages of `locale`. If you will specify string value to `values`, localize the locale messages of value. If you will specify Array or Object value to `values`, you must specify with `values` of [$t](#t).
 
+  If default pluralization does not suit your needs, see [pluralization rules in constructor options](#pluralizationrules) and [custom pluralization](pluralization.md).
+
 #### getChoiceIndex
 
 - **Arguments:**
@@ -237,7 +239,7 @@ You can specify the below some options of `I18nOptions` constructor options of [
 
   If `false`, regardless of the root level locale, localize for each component locale.
 
-### silentTranslationWarn
+#### silentTranslationWarn
 
 > 6.1+
 
@@ -249,6 +251,26 @@ You can specify the below some options of `I18nOptions` constructor options of [
 
   If `true`, supress localization fail warnings.
 
+#### pluralizationRules
+
+> 8.5+
+
+- **Type:** `Object`
+
+- **Default:** `{}`
+
+  A set of rules for word pluralization in a following format:
+  ```js
+    {
+      // Key - locale for the rule to be applied to.
+      // Value - mapping function that maps a choice index from `$tc` to the actual choice of the plural word.
+
+      'ru': function (choice, choiceIndex) => Number/* index of the plural word */;
+      'en': function (choice, choiceIndex) => Number/* index of the plural word */;
+      'jp': function (choice, choiceIndex) => Number/* index of the plural word */;
+    }
+  ```
+
 ### Properties
 
 #### locale
@@ -321,6 +343,16 @@ You can specify the below some options of `I18nOptions` constructor options of [
 
   Whether suppress warnings outputted when localization fails.
 
+#### pluralizationRules
+
+> 8.5+
+
+- **Type:** `Object`
+
+- **Default:** `{}`
+
+  A set of rules for word pluralization. Key is a locale, value is the rule function for that locale.
+
 ### Methods
 
 #### getLocaleMessage( locale )
diff --git a/gitbook/en/pluralization.md b/gitbook/en/pluralization.md
index 4d7fa2743..0b0f016b6 100644
--- a/gitbook/en/pluralization.md
+++ b/gitbook/en/pluralization.md
@@ -43,43 +43,46 @@ This will output the following HTML:
 
 Such pluralization, however, does not apply to all languages (Slavic languages, for example, have different pluralization rules).
 
-In order to implement these rules you can override the `VueI18n.prototype.getChoiceIndex` function.
+In order to implement these rules you can pass an optional `pluralizationRules` object into `VueI18n` constructor options.
 
 Very simplified example using rules for Slavic languages (Russian, Ukrainian, etc.):
 ```js
-/**
- * @param choice {number} a choice index given by the input to $tc: `$tc('path.to.rule', choiceIndex)`
- * @param choicesLength {number} an overall amount of available choices
- * @returns a final choice index to select plural word by
-**/
-VueI18n.prototype.getChoiceIndex = function (choice, choicesLength) {
-  // this === VueI18n instance, so the locale property also exists here
-  if (this.locale !== 'ru') {
-    // proceed to the default implementation
+new VueI18n({
+  pluralizationRules: {
+    /** Key - language to use the rule for, 'ru', in this case */
+    /** Value - function
+     * @param choice {number} a choice index given by the input to $tc: `$tc('path.to.rule', choiceIndex)`
+     * @param choicesLength {number} an overall amount of available choices
+     * @returns a final choice index to select plural word by
+     **/
+    'ru': function (choice, choicesLength) {
+      // this === VueI18n instance, so the locale property also exists here
+
+      if (choice === 0) {
+        return 0;
+      }
+
+      const teen = choice > 10 && choice < 20;
+      const endsWithOne = choice % 10 === 1;
+
+      if (choicesLength < 4) {
+        return (!teen && endsWithOne) ? 1 : 2;
+      }
+      if (!teen && endsWithOne) {
+        return 1;
+      }
+      if (!teen && choice % 10 >= 2 && choice % 10 <= 4) {
+        return 2;
+      }
+
+      return (choicesLength < 4) ? 2 : 3;
+    }
   }
-
-  if (choice === 0) {
-    return 0;
-  }
-
-  const teen = choice > 10 && choice < 20;
-  const endsWithOne = choice % 10 === 1;
-
-  if (!teen && endsWithOne) {
-    return 1;
-  }
-
-  if (!teen && choice % 10 >= 2 && choice % 10 <= 4) {
-    return 2;
-  }
-
-  return (choicesLength < 4) ? 2 : 3;
-}
+});
 ```
 
 This would effectively give this:
 
-
 ```javascript
 const messages = {
   ru: {
@@ -119,3 +122,7 @@ Which results in:
 <p>11 бананов</p>
 <p>31 банан</p>
 ```
+
+### Default pluralization
+
+If your current locale is not found in a pluralization map, the [default](#pluralization) rule of the english langugage will be used.
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 9b80435a1..75a4fe8e9 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@ export default class VueI18n {
   _numberFormatters: Object
   _path: I18nPath
   _dataListeners: Array<any>
+  pluralizationRules: {
+    [lang: string]: (choice: number, choicesLength: number) => number
+  }
 
   constructor (options: I18nOptions = {}) {
     // Auto install if it is not done yet and `window` has `Vue`.
@@ -88,6 +91,8 @@ export default class VueI18n {
     this._path = new I18nPath()
     this._dataListeners = []
 
+    this.pluralizationRules = options.pluralizationRules || {}
+
     this._exist = (message: Object, key: Path): boolean => {
       if (!message || !key) { return false }
       return !isNull(this._path.getPathValue(message, key))
@@ -435,17 +440,26 @@ export default class VueI18n {
    * @returns a final choice index
   */
   getChoiceIndex (choice: number, choicesLength: number): number {
-    choice = Math.abs(choice)
-
-    if (choicesLength === 2) {
-      return choice
-        ? choice > 1
-          ? 1
-          : 0
-        : 1
+    // Default (old) getChoiceIndex implementation - english-compatible
+    const defaultImpl = (_choice: number, _choicesLength: number) => {
+      _choice = Math.abs(_choice)
+
+      if (_choicesLength === 2) {
+        return _choice
+          ? _choice > 1
+            ? 1
+            : 0
+          : 1
+      }
+
+      return _choice ? Math.min(_choice, 2) : 0
     }
 
-    return choice ? Math.min(choice, 2) : 0
+    if (this.locale in this.pluralizationRules) {
+      return this.pluralizationRules[this.locale].apply(this, [choice, choicesLength])
+    } else {
+      return defaultImpl(choice, choicesLength)
+    }
   }
 
   tc (key: Path, choice?: number, ...values: any): TranslateResult {
diff --git a/test/unit/issues.test.js b/test/unit/issues.test.js
index fbfdecea9..df9abf4da 100644
--- a/test/unit/issues.test.js
+++ b/test/unit/issues.test.js
@@ -384,56 +384,6 @@ describe('issues', () => {
     })
   })
 
-  describe('#78', () => {
-    it('should allow custom pluralization', () => {
-      const defaultImpl = VueI18n.prototype.getChoiceIndex
-      VueI18n.prototype.getChoiceIndex = function (choice, choicesLength) {
-        if (this.locale !== 'ru') {
-          return defaultImpl.apply(this, arguments)
-        }
-
-        if (choice === 0) {
-          return 0
-        }
-
-        const teen = choice > 10 && choice < 20
-        const endsWithOne = choice % 10 === 1
-
-        if (choicesLength < 4) {
-          return (!teen && endsWithOne) ? 1 : 2
-        }
-
-        if (!teen && endsWithOne) {
-          return 1
-        }
-
-        if (!teen && choice % 10 >= 2 && choice % 10 <= 4) {
-          return 2
-        }
-
-        return (choicesLength < 4) ? 2 : 3
-      }
-
-
-      i18n = new VueI18n({
-        locale: 'en',
-        messages: {
-          ru: {
-            car: '0 машин | 1 машина | {n} машины | {n} машин'
-          }
-        }
-      })
-      vm = new Vue({ i18n })
-
-      assert(vm.$tc('car', 0), '0 машин')
-      assert(vm.$tc('car', 1), '1 машина')
-      assert(vm.$tc('car', 2), '2 машины')
-      assert(vm.$tc('car', 4), '4 машины')
-      assert(vm.$tc('car', 12), '12 машин')
-      assert(vm.$tc('car', 21), '21 машина')
-    })
-  })
-
   describe('#450', () => {
     it('shoulbe be translated with v-t', done => {
       const vm = new Vue({
@@ -539,4 +489,145 @@ describe('issues', () => {
       }).then(done)
     })
   })
+
+  describe('#78, #464', () => {
+    it('should fallback to default pluralization', () => {
+      // / Test default pluralization rule (english)
+      const i18n = new VueI18n({
+        locale: 'en',
+        messages: {
+          'en': {
+            test: 'no tests | 1 test | {n} tests'
+          }
+        }
+      })
+
+      assert.strictEqual(i18n.tc('test', 1), '1 test')
+      assert.strictEqual(i18n.tc('test', 0), 'no tests')
+      assert.strictEqual(i18n.tc('test', 10), '10 tests')
+    })
+
+    it('should use custom pluralization if available', () => {
+      // Test custom pluralization rule (slavic languages)
+      function slavicPluralization (choice, choicesLength) {
+        if (choice === 0) {
+          return 0
+        }
+
+        const teen = choice > 10 && choice < 20
+        const endsWithOne = choice % 10 === 1
+
+        if (choicesLength < 4) {
+          return (!teen && endsWithOne) ? 1 : 2
+        }
+
+        if (!teen && endsWithOne) {
+          return 1
+        }
+
+        if (!teen && choice % 10 >= 2 && choice % 10 <= 4) {
+          return 2
+        }
+
+        return (choicesLength < 4) ? 2 : 3
+      }
+
+      let i18n = new VueI18n({
+        locale: 'en',
+        messages: {
+          'en': {
+            test: 'no tests | 1 test | {n} tests'
+          },
+          'ru': {
+            test: 'нет тестов | 1 тест | {n} теста | {n} тестов'
+          }
+        },
+        pluralizationRules: {
+          'ru': slavicPluralization
+        }
+      })
+
+      assert.strictEqual(i18n.tc('test', 1), '1 test')
+      assert.strictEqual(i18n.tc('test', 0), 'no tests')
+      assert.strictEqual(i18n.tc('test', 10), '10 tests')
+
+      i18n.locale = 'ru'
+
+      assert.strictEqual(i18n.tc('test', 1), '1 тест')
+      assert.strictEqual(i18n.tc('test', 3), '3 теста')
+      assert.strictEqual(i18n.tc('test', 0), 'нет тестов')
+      assert.strictEqual(i18n.tc('test', 10), '10 тестов')
+
+      i18n = new VueI18n({
+        locale: 'ru',
+        messages: {
+          ru: {
+            car: '0 машин | 1 машина | {n} машины | {n} машин'
+          }
+        },
+        pluralizationRules: {
+          ru: slavicPluralization
+        }
+      })
+      vm = new Vue({ i18n })
+
+      assert(vm.$tc('car', 0), '0 машин')
+      assert(vm.$tc('car', 1), '1 машина')
+      assert(vm.$tc('car', 2), '2 машины')
+      assert(vm.$tc('car', 4), '4 машины')
+      assert(vm.$tc('car', 12), '12 машин')
+      assert(vm.$tc('car', 21), '21 машина')
+    })
+
+    it('ensures backward-compatibility with #451', () => {
+      const defaultImpl = VueI18n.prototype.getChoiceIndex
+      VueI18n.prototype.getChoiceIndex = function (choice, choicesLength) {
+        if (this.locale !== 'ru') {
+          return defaultImpl.apply(this, arguments)
+        }
+
+        if (choice === 0) {
+          return 0
+        }
+
+        const teen = choice > 10 && choice < 20
+        const endsWithOne = choice % 10 === 1
+
+        if (choicesLength < 4) {
+          return (!teen && endsWithOne) ? 1 : 2
+        }
+
+        if (!teen && endsWithOne) {
+          return 1
+        }
+
+        if (!teen && choice % 10 >= 2 && choice % 10 <= 4) {
+          return 2
+        }
+
+        return (choicesLength < 4) ? 2 : 3
+      }
+
+
+      i18n = new VueI18n({
+        locale: 'en',
+        messages: {
+          ru: {
+            car: '0 машин | 1 машина | {n} машины | {n} машин'
+          }
+        }
+      })
+      vm = new Vue({ i18n })
+
+      assert(vm.$tc('car', 0), '0 машин')
+      assert(vm.$tc('car', 1), '1 машина')
+      assert(vm.$tc('car', 2), '2 машины')
+      assert(vm.$tc('car', 4), '4 машины')
+      assert(vm.$tc('car', 12), '12 машин')
+      assert(vm.$tc('car', 21), '21 машина')
+
+      // Set the default implementation back
+      VueI18n.prototype.getChoiceIndex = defaultImpl
+    })
+  })
 })
diff --git a/types/index.d.ts b/types/index.d.ts
index 047a66df6..0fec49b02 100644
--- a/types/index.d.ts
+++ b/types/index.d.ts
@@ -44,6 +44,14 @@ declare namespace VueI18n {
   interface NumberFormat { [key: string]: NumberFormatOptions; }
   interface NumberFormats { [key: string]: NumberFormat; }
   type NumberFormatResult = string;
+  type PluralizationRulesMap = {
+    /**
+     * @param choice {number} a choice index given by the input to $tc: `$tc('path.to.rule', choiceIndex)`
+     * @param choicesLength {number} an overall amount of available choices
+     * @returns a final choice index
+    */
+    [lang: string]: (choice: number, choicesLength: number) => number;
+  };
 
   interface Formatter {
     interpolate(message: string, values?: Values): any[];
@@ -68,6 +76,7 @@ declare namespace VueI18n {
     fallbackRoot?: boolean;
     sync?: boolean;
     silentTranslationWarn?: boolean;
+    pluralizationRules?: PluralizationRulesMap;
   }
 }
 
@@ -103,6 +112,7 @@ export declare interface IVueI18n {
   missing: VueI18n.MissingHandler;
   formatter: VueI18n.Formatter;
   silentTranslationWarn: boolean;
+  pluralizationRules: VueI18n.PluralizationRulesMap;
 }
 
 declare class VueI18n {