Breton interpreters and translators for researchers, broadcasters, cultural organisations, families and businesses anywhere in the UK. We arrange face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting, certified translation between Breton and English, and take bookings 24 hours a day, though Breton is rare enough that early notice helps.
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Breton interpreting services
Breton has four traditional dialects, named after the old dioceses of Leon, Treger, Kernev and Gwened. The first three, known together as KLT, are close to one another; the Gwened speech around Vannes stands further off. Traditional speakers are now mostly retired, and the number of people who can hold a conversation fell sharply between the surveys of 2018 and 2024. The Breton heard in schools and on the radio today is largely the standard learned by new speakers.
When you book, say which kind of speaker you will be working with and where in Brittany they are from. Because every Breton speaker also speaks French, an interpreter who works from both into English can keep the conversation moving when someone switches language mid-sentence, which older speakers often do.
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 Breton 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 Breton translation
Official records from Brittany are in French: birth, marriage and death certificates, deeds and court papers. Those need translating from French, and we certify the English for UK use. Breton itself turns up in family letters, songs, parish and local history, literature and academic sources. Each of our translators works into their native language, so Breton to English is done by a native English speaker who reads Breton well.
Two features catch out non-specialists. Breton changes the first consonant of a word after certain words, so tad, father, becomes da dad, your father, and a dictionary search for the changed form finds nothing. Personal names also exist in two forms, Yann alongside Jean, Soizig alongside Françoise, and we keep whichever form the person uses on official papers.
- 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 Breton audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Breton translation
For almost any text going into Breton today we use the unified spelling created in 1941, peurunvan, which the large majority of readers learned and which schools, publishers and signage use. A few older writers prefer other spellings, so if your text is for a specific group or publication, tell us. Choose a neutral standard vocabulary unless the readers belong to one area, and remember that a bilingual Breton and French version reaches everyone.
Breton court and police interpreters
Breton is almost never needed in the courts of the UK, since any Breton speaker involved in a case will also speak French and a French court interpreter is normally the right booking. If a Breton interpreter is specifically requested, perhaps to take evidence from an elderly witness, we look for interpreters with legal experience and, where Breton interpreters holding them exist, the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or registration with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI). Expect that search to take time, and a video link may be the only way to bring the interpreter into the hearing.
How to book a Breton 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 Breton language
Breton is a Celtic language of the Brythonic branch, close to Welsh and Cornish. It is spoken mainly in Brittany in north-west France.
Breton is written in the Latin alphabet.
Before you book: Nearly all Breton speakers also speak French, and most documents from Brittany are in French.
| Name in Breton | brezhoneg |
|---|---|
| Language family | Celtic language of the Brythonic branch, close to Welsh and Cornish |
| Where it is spoken | Brittany in north-west France |
| Writing system | Latin alphabet |
| Language code | br |
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Breton interpreters near you
We send Breton 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.
Breton interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Breton 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 Breton interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Breton 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 Breton 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.
Do you provide Breton 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 Breton interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
