Burmese interpreters and translators for immigration lawyers, the NHS, councils, universities and employers anywhere in the UK. We supply face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting, certified translation between Burmese and English, and take bookings 24/7 for urgent and planned work alike.
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Burmese interpreting services
The standard is the Burmese of the Irrawaddy valley, heard in Yangon and Mandalay, and it is what schools and broadcasters use. Rakhine (Arakanese), Dawei and Myeik speech are close relatives with their own sounds and words, and a speaker from the coast may be easier to follow for an interpreter who knows them. Pronouns change with the speaker: a man says kyun-daw for "I" in polite speech and a woman kyun-ma, and the interpreter should not carry that into English as anything but "I".
Burmese is a tonal language with long, particle-heavy sentences. Consecutive interpreting in short sections works best, and a break every hour helps in a long asylum interview.
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 Burmese 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 Burmese translation
Common papers from Myanmar include the Citizenship Scrutiny Card, the pink national identity card, the household list that records who lives in a home, birth and marriage certificates and school or university certificates. Many use Burmese digits and some carry dates from the traditional lunar calendar as well as the Western one. Each translator translates into their own native language, so your Burmese to English work goes to a native English speaker.
Digital files need a check first. For years most Burmese text was typed in the Zawgyi font rather than Unicode, and a Zawgyi file opened on another computer turns into scrambled letters. Send the original PDF or a photograph as well, and we will confirm we are reading what the author wrote. Names follow the passport's romanisation: Kyaw, for instance, is said "Chaw".
- 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 Burmese audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Burmese translation
Written Burmese has a formal literary style used in official letters and a spoken style closer to how people talk. Council notices and health advice read better in a plain, near-spoken style, while a legal document may need the formal one. We deliver in Unicode, which Myanmar adopted as its standard in 2019, and supply a PDF too, so the text shows correctly on older phones.
Burmese court and police interpreters
Burmese legal work in the UK often means immigration and asylum: appeals before the First-tier Tribunal, meetings with legal representatives and witness statements that will be read closely for consistency. For these we look for Burmese interpreters with legal experience, and for the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or registration with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI) where interpreters with them exist for Burmese. We ask interpreters to declare any link to political groups or to the other party before accepting.
How to book a Burmese 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 Burmese language
Burmese is a Lolo-Burmese language of the Sino-Tibetan family, spoken mainly in Myanmar. It is the official language of Myanmar.
Burmese is written in the Burmese script, with its rounded letters.
Before you book: Many people from Myanmar belong to ethnic groups with languages of their own, such as Karen, Chin or Kachin. Check whether the person would rather have an interpreter in that language than in Burmese.
| Name in Burmese | မြန်မာဘာသာ |
|---|---|
| Language family | Lolo-Burmese language of the Sino-Tibetan family |
| Where it is spoken | Myanmar |
| Writing system | Burmese script, with its rounded letters |
| Language code | my |
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Burmese interpreters near you
We send Burmese 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.
Burmese interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Burmese 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 Burmese interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Burmese 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 Burmese 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 Burmese is not written in the Latin alphabet, send us the passport spelling of every name so the translation matches it.
Do you provide Burmese 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 Burmese interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
