Items in the Apple menu do not appear in the preferred system language. When an application appears in a different language, the Apple menu takes on the language of that application.
Tip: This document applies to Mac OS X 10.0 through 10.3.9.
When an application is not localized for the preferred language, as defined in the International pane of System Preferences, it appear in the next-highest ranked language for which a localization is available. The Apple menu in this instance follows the language of the application, and not of the system. You may work around this issue by clicking the Finder icon in the Dock prior to opening the Apple menu.