Crioulo interpreters and translators for Cape Verdean and Bissau-Guinean clients anywhere in the UK, with face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting for health, legal, housing and family matters, certified translation between Crioulo and English (and of the Portuguese papers that go with it), and bookings taken 24 hours a day.
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Crioulo interpreting services
Cape Verdean Kriolu itself divides in two. The Sotavento, or leeward, islands of Santiago, Fogo, Brava and Maio speak one broad variety, with Santiago's the most widely heard. The Barlavento, or windward, islands, with São Vicente and its port city of Mindelo the best known, speak another. The differences are in sounds, pronouns and everyday words, and a speaker from Mindelo will notice at once an interpreter from Santiago. For Guinea-Bissau, the Kriol of the capital is the common standard, understood across the country.
For a long appointment, tell us the island or the country and any other languages the client speaks; we will match on all of it where we can.
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 Crioulo 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 Crioulo translation
Written Crioulo rarely reaches a UK office. Certificates, identity cards, school records and court papers from both countries are issued in Portuguese, so the certified translation a UK authority wants is almost always from Portuguese into English. Every translator we use translates into their native language, and we keep names and dates exactly as the originals show them.
The Crioulo itself appears in voice messages, WhatsApp chats and letters between family members, which sometimes become evidence in family or criminal proceedings. We transcribe those with a Crioulo speaker before translating.
- 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 Crioulo audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Crioulo translation
Cape Verde has an official alphabet for Kriolu, known as ALUPEC, adopted on a trial basis in 1998 and later confirmed. It follows the sounds of the Sotavento varieties, so some readers from São Vicente find it awkward. Guinea-Bissau Kriol is written less consistently and usually borrows Portuguese spelling habits. For a written text, tell us which country the readers come from; for public notices, consider whether Portuguese would reach more of them.
Crioulo court and police interpreters
Legal work in Crioulo includes police interviews, criminal trials, family court and immigration appeals. We look for Crioulo interpreters who have worked in legal settings and, where any hold them for this language, the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or a place on the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI). Such interpreters are scarce for Crioulo, so give the court or the tribunal the specific variety early, and let us know the hearing date as soon as it is listed.
How to book a Crioulo 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 Crioulo language
Crioulo is a Portuguese-based creole, spoken mainly in Guinea-Bissau (Kriol) and Cape Verde (Kriolu).
Crioulo is written in the Latin alphabet.
Before you book: Crioulo usually means the Kriol of Guinea-Bissau or the Kriolu of Cape Verde. They are related but distinct, and Portuguese is the written official language in both countries.
| Language family | Portuguese-based creole |
|---|---|
| Where it is spoken | Guinea-Bissau (Kriol) and Cape Verde (Kriolu) |
| Writing system | Latin alphabet |
| Language code | pov |
Related languages
Crioulo interpreters near you
Some Cape Verdeans and Bissau-Guineans spent years in Portugal before coming to Britain, and some have children who grew up speaking Portuguese and English more than Crioulo. When a family comes to an appointment, the parents and the children may need different arrangements, so ask each of them.
Crioulo interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Crioulo 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 Crioulo interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Crioulo 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 Crioulo 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 Crioulo 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 Crioulo interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
