diff --git a/doc/extdev/i18n.rst b/doc/extdev/i18n.rst
index c5ffc848306..3c476820fbd 100644
--- a/doc/extdev/i18n.rst
+++ b/doc/extdev/i18n.rst
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ In practice, you have to:
       :caption: src/__init__.py
 
       def setup(app):
-          package_dir = path.abspath(path.dirname(__file__))
-          locale_dir = os.path.join(package_dir, 'locales')
+          package_dir = Path(__file__).parent.resolve()
+          locale_dir = package_dir / 'locales'
           app.add_message_catalog(MESSAGE_CATALOG_NAME, locale_dir)
 
 #. Generate message catalog template ``*.pot`` file, usually in ``locale/``
diff --git a/sphinx/application.py b/sphinx/application.py
index 417dd3f7bc3..2d650dc231f 100644
--- a/sphinx/application.py
+++ b/sphinx/application.py
@@ -1616,7 +1616,7 @@ def add_html_math_renderer(
         """
         self.registry.add_html_math_renderer(name, inline_renderers, block_renderers)
 
-    def add_message_catalog(self, catalog: str, locale_dir: str) -> None:
+    def add_message_catalog(self, catalog: str, locale_dir: str | os.PathLike[str]) -> None:
         """Register a message catalog.
 
         :param catalog: The name of the catalog
diff --git a/sphinx/locale/__init__.py b/sphinx/locale/__init__.py
index 1d66c8e1e45..d1a70d05b36 100644
--- a/sphinx/locale/__init__.py
+++ b/sphinx/locale/__init__.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 import locale
 import sys
 from gettext import NullTranslations, translation
-from os import path
+from pathlib import Path
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -141,11 +141,11 @@ def init(
     return translator, has_translation
 
 
-_LOCALE_DIR = path.abspath(path.dirname(__file__))
+_LOCALE_DIR = Path(__file__).parent.resolve()
 
 
 def init_console(
-    locale_dir: str | None = None,
+    locale_dir: str | os.PathLike[str] | None = None,
     catalog: str = 'sphinx',
 ) -> tuple[NullTranslations, bool]:
     """Initialize locale for console.
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index bf8b3eb2ebe..8501825a025 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 
 def _init_console(
-    locale_dir: str | None = sphinx.locale._LOCALE_DIR,
+    locale_dir: str | os.PathLike[str] | None = sphinx.locale._LOCALE_DIR,
     catalog: str = 'sphinx',
 ) -> tuple[gettext.NullTranslations, bool]:
     """Monkeypatch ``init_console`` to skip its action.