Wherever you are in the UK, we can find interpreters and translators for Behdini (Badini) Kurdish, for families from Iraq's Duhok governorate and the services that work with them. We offer certified translation between Behdini and English as well as face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting, with bookings taken 24/7.
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Behdini interpreting services
Behdini sits at the south-eastern end of Kurmanji, and the Kurmanji spoken just across the border in Turkey's Hakkari province is close to it. Inside Iraq it is the everyday language of Duhok, Zakho, Akre and Amedi and of parts of Erbil governorate, while Erbil city and Sulaymaniyah speak Sorani. So the best match is an interpreter who grew up speaking Behdini; the next best, with the client's agreement, is a Kurmanji speaker from Turkey or Syria. Consecutive interpreting suits almost every appointment, and a video link widens the search a great deal when no Behdini interpreter is near.
Face-to-face interpreting
The interpreter comes to you: a hospital ward, a courtroom, a council office, a home visit or a business meeting. It is the best choice when people need to read expressions as well as words, or when the conversation is long or sensitive.
Telephone interpreting
The quickest option to set up. It works well for short calls, triage, appointment reminders and quick checks with a client.
Video interpreting
A Behdini interpreter joins by video for remote hearings, consultations and meetings, which helps when there is no interpreter near you.
We also provide medical interpreting and conference interpreting.
Certified Behdini translation
Many official papers from Duhok are Iraqi documents in Arabic, and we translate them from Arabic. Behdini itself turns up in letters, statements and recordings, written in the Arabic script as Sorani is but with Kurmanji words and grammar, so the translator has to be a Behdini reader, not simply someone who reads Sorani. Place names vary too: Duhok also appears as Dohuk and Dihok, and Amedi as Amadiya, so we use the form on the passport or the Home Office file and keep to it throughout.
Each translator translates into their native language, which for a document going into Behdini means a native speaker from the Duhok area rather than a Sorani writer.
- Certified translation of birth, marriage and death certificates, passports, driving licences, degree certificates and bank statements, for the Home Office, courts, universities and employers.
- Legal translation: witness statements, court bundles, contracts and immigration papers.
- Document translation of medical reports, letters, leaflets and patient information.
- Urgent translation when a deadline is close.
- Transcription of Behdini audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Behdini translation
For a leaflet or letter going to families from Duhok, the right choice is Behdini in Arabic script. Don't assume a Sorani translation will do because both come from Iraq: Sorani grammar and vocabulary will slow a Behdini reader down. If your readers also include Kurds from Turkey or Syria, they need a separate Kurmanji version in Latin letters. If you're unsure how many versions you need, describe your readers and we'll advise.
Behdini court and police interpreters
In court, at an immigration tribunal or in a police interview, confirm at the start that the client and the interpreter are both speaking Behdini, and get it on the record. Legal work in Behdini draws on a small pool of interpreters, so we look for those with legal experience and, where one holding the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or NRPSI registration exists for Behdini, we book that interpreter first. Where a court or tribunal arranges its own interpreter, make sure the request says Behdini or Badini, not just Kurdish or Iraqi.
How to book a Behdini interpreter
- Tell us about the assignment: the date, time and address, or that you need telephone or video; how long it should last; and what it is for, such as a hospital appointment, a hearing or a business meeting.
- Tell us about the speaker: their country or region and, if you know it, their dialect. Mention any preference for a male or female interpreter.
- Get your quote. We email you a quote, with no obligation to book.
Call 0800 2425 125, email info@uklinguisticservices.co.uk or request a quote online.
About the Behdini language
Behdini is the Kurmanji Kurdish of the Duhok region, spoken mainly in Duhok and Amedi in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Behdini is written in the Arabic script.
At the 2021 Census, 66,443 usual residents of England and Wales aged three or over gave Kurdish as their main language. The local authorities with the most were Birmingham (3,271 people), Leeds (2,898) and Manchester (2,425). The census counts all forms of Kurdish together. Source: Office for National Statistics.
Before you book: Behdini (Badini) is a form of Kurmanji, but in Iraq it is written in Arabic script, while Kurmanji from Turkey and Syria is written in Latin letters. A Sorani interpreter is not a substitute.
| Language family | Kurmanji Kurdish of the Duhok region |
|---|---|
| Where it is spoken | Duhok and Amedi in Iraqi Kurdistan |
| Writing system | Arabic script |
| Language code | kmr |
| Main language in England and Wales (Census 2021) | 66,443 people |
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Behdini interpreters near you
We send Behdini interpreters to appointments across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and telephone and video interpreting work wherever you are. Choose a town for its local page.
Behdini interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Behdini interpreter?
We take bookings 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Telephone and video interpreting are usually the quickest to arrange. For a face-to-face appointment, give us as much notice as you can: same-day cover is often possible, but it depends on where you are and how many Behdini interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Behdini interpreter cost?
The price depends on the type of interpreting (face-to-face, telephone or video), how long the appointment lasts, where it is and how much notice you give. We quote before anything is booked, and quotes are free: call 0800 2425 125 or use our online quote form.
Can you certify Behdini translations for a UK visa or immigration application?
Yes. We translate and certify documents such as birth and marriage certificates, passports and police certificates for visa, settlement and citizenship applications. UK Visas and Immigration asks for each translation to confirm that it is accurate and to show the date and the translator's full name, signature and contact details, so tell us when you order that the document is for an immigration application. Because Behdini is not written in the Latin alphabet, send us the passport spelling of every name so the translation matches it.
Do you provide Behdini interpreters for courts, tribunals and police interviews?
Yes. Tell us the setting when you book, for example a Crown Court trial, an immigration tribunal hearing or a police interview under caution, so we can match a Behdini interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
How many people speak Behdini in the UK?
At the 2021 Census, 66,443 usual residents of England and Wales aged three or over gave Kurdish as their main language. The local authorities with the most were Birmingham (3,271 people), Leeds (2,898) and Manchester (2,425). The census counts all forms of Kurdish together. The census asked for each person's main language, so people who speak Behdini at home but gave English as their main language are not in that figure. Scotland and Northern Ireland count languages in their own censuses.
