diff --git a/django/utils/translation/reloader.py b/django/utils/translation/reloader.py
index 41d0623568..0e5a83699d 100644
--- a/django/utils/translation/reloader.py
+++ b/django/utils/translation/reloader.py
@@ -5,13 +5,22 @@ from asgiref.local import Local
 from django.apps import apps
 
 
+def _is_django_module(module):
+    """Return True if the given module is nested under Django."""
+    return module.__name__.startswith('django.')
+
+
 def watch_for_translation_changes(sender, **kwargs):
     """Register file watchers for .mo files in potential locale paths."""
     from django.conf import settings
 
     if settings.USE_I18N:
         directories = [Path('locale')]
-        directories.extend(Path(config.path) / 'locale' for config in apps.get_app_configs())
+        directories.extend(
+            Path(config.path) / 'locale'
+            for config in apps.get_app_configs()
+            if not _is_django_module(config.module)
+        )
         directories.extend(Path(p) for p in settings.LOCALE_PATHS)
         for path in directories:
             sender.watch_dir(path, '**/*.mo')
diff --git a/docs/releases/3.1.txt b/docs/releases/3.1.txt
index 3edc8bf6e3..c4863a3ab4 100644
--- a/docs/releases/3.1.txt
+++ b/docs/releases/3.1.txt
@@ -683,6 +683,9 @@ Miscellaneous
   the previous behavior, pass ``ensure_ascii=True`` to JSON serializer, or
   ``allow_unicode=False`` to YAML serializer.
 
+* The auto-reloader no longer monitors changes in built-in Django translation
+  files.
+
 .. _deprecated-features-3.1:
 
 Features deprecated in 3.1
diff --git a/tests/i18n/tests.py b/tests/i18n/tests.py
index cce32ea86c..8f07c14247 100644
--- a/tests/i18n/tests.py
+++ b/tests/i18n/tests.py
@@ -1865,6 +1865,12 @@ class WatchForTranslationChangesTests(SimpleTestCase):
         project_dir = Path(__file__).parent / 'sampleproject' / 'locale'
         mocked_sender.watch_dir.assert_any_call(project_dir, '**/*.mo')
 
+    def test_i18n_app_dirs_ignore_django_apps(self):
+        mocked_sender = mock.MagicMock()
+        with self.settings(INSTALLED_APPS=['django.contrib.admin']):
+            watch_for_translation_changes(mocked_sender)
+        mocked_sender.watch_dir.assert_called_once_with(Path('locale'), '**/*.mo')
+
     def test_i18n_local_locale(self):
         mocked_sender = mock.MagicMock()
         watch_for_translation_changes(mocked_sender)