diff --git a/i18n/en/cosmic_files.ftl b/i18n/en/cosmic_files.ftl
index 7d36216..a8dc296 100644
--- a/i18n/en/cosmic_files.ftl
+++ b/i18n/en/cosmic_files.ftl
@@ -104,9 +104,22 @@ open-with = Open with
 owner = Owner
 group = Group
 other = Other
-read = Read
-write = Write
-execute = Execute
+### Mode 0
+none = None
+### Mode 1 (unusual)
+execute-only = Execute-only
+### Mode 2 (unusual)
+write-only = Write-only
+### Mode 3 (unusual)
+write-execute = Write and execute
+### Mode 4
+read-only = Read-only
+### Mode 5
+read-execute = Read and execute
+### Mode 6
+read-write = Read and write
+### Mode 7
+read-write-execute = Read, write, and execute
 
 # Context Pages
 
diff --git a/src/tab.rs b/src/tab.rs
index 085f521..ef33a97 100644
--- a/src/tab.rs
+++ b/src/tab.rs
@@ -343,30 +343,39 @@ fn format_permissions_owner(metadata: &Metadata, owner: PermissionOwner) -> Stri
 }
 
 fn format_permissions(metadata: &Metadata, owner: PermissionOwner) -> String {
-    let mut perms: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
+    let mut mode = 0;
     if match owner {
         PermissionOwner::Owner => metadata.permissions().readable_by_owner(),
         PermissionOwner::Group => metadata.permissions().readable_by_group(),
         PermissionOwner::Other => metadata.permissions().readable_by_other(),
     } {
-        perms.push(fl!("read"));
+        mode |= 4;
     }
     if match owner {
         PermissionOwner::Owner => metadata.permissions().writable_by_owner(),
         PermissionOwner::Group => metadata.permissions().writable_by_group(),
         PermissionOwner::Other => metadata.permissions().writable_by_other(),
     } {
-        perms.push(fl!("write"));
+        mode |= 2;
     }
     if match owner {
         PermissionOwner::Owner => metadata.permissions().executable_by_owner(),
         PermissionOwner::Group => metadata.permissions().executable_by_group(),
         PermissionOwner::Other => metadata.permissions().executable_by_other(),
     } {
-        perms.push(fl!("execute"));
+        mode |= 1;
+    }
+    match mode {
+        0 => fl!("none"),
+        1 => fl!("execute-only"),
+        2 => fl!("write-only"),
+        3 => fl!("write-execute"),
+        4 => fl!("read-only"),
+        5 => fl!("read-execute"),
+        6 => fl!("read-write"),
+        7 => fl!("read-write-execute"),
+        _ => unreachable!(),
     }
-
-    perms.join(" ")
 }
 
 struct FormatTime(SystemTime);