diff --git a/gluon/languages.py b/gluon/languages.py
index b157201e..17c28146 100644
--- a/gluon/languages.py
+++ b/gluon/languages.py
@@ -974,7 +974,7 @@ class translator(object):
                     word = w[1:]
                     fun = cap_fun
                 s = fun(self.plural(word, n))
-                return to_unicode(s).encode()
+                return to_unicode(s) if PY2 else s
 
             s = m.group(1)
             part = regex_plural_tuple.sub(sub_tuple, s)