Two Languages – Directory Setup ?

Google recommends to have always an identical folder structure, especially for using different languages.

https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/189077?hl=en

However, there is still one point unclear.

If I plan to have only two languages for my site (english and german) – do I have to create for each language a sub-directory ?

meaning, does it have to look like

Option 1:

example.com/en/english_page.html
example.com/de/german_page.html

or.. let’s say I would like to have english as my main language..
is it really necessary to create for the english language also the sub-directory /en/ ?

meaning.. would it be also ok to set it up like this:

Option 2:

example.com/english_page.html
example.com/de/german_page.html

as you can see.. Option 2 does not have a sub-directory for the english language.

I am really unclear about it.. however – I think google recommends to have the folder hierachie similar..

hmmm… what you think is better to do ?

Option 1 vs. option 2 ?

Thank you so much

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