Wherever you are in the UK, we can book Frisian interpreters and translators: face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting, certified translation between Frisian and English, and bookings taken 24 hours a day, including for clients still deciding whether Frisian or Dutch will serve them better.
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Frisian interpreting services
West Frisian has a written standard taught in Frisian schools, and two main spoken forms, Clay Frisian from the west and south-west of the province and Wood Frisian from the east. They differ mainly in vowels and a handful of words, and speakers of the two understand each other without trouble. Harder cases are the town dialects of places such as Leeuwarden, which are closer to Dutch, and the old island speech of Schiermonnikoog. For most bookings a Frisian interpreter from any part of the province will do.
Consecutive interpreting suits almost every appointment. Because so many interpreters for this language live in the Netherlands, remote sessions by video are common and work well for GP reviews, legal conferences and interviews.
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 Frisian 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 Frisian translation
Before sending anything, check which language it is really in. Birth, marriage and residence records from Dutch municipalities are issued in Dutch, even in Friesland, so most of the paperwork people describe as Frisian needs a Dutch translator. Genuine Frisian text turns up in family letters, poetry, church and local-history material, and research sources.
Place names need care, because many have a Frisian and a Dutch form: Sneek is Snits, and Leeuwarden is Ljouwert. One family's papers can use both. Our translators each translate into their native language, and we follow the spelling on the passport or the original record for personal names. Certified translations are available for UK use.
- 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 Frisian audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Frisian translation
Translating English into Frisian is rarely a matter of necessity, since every reader in Friesland also reads Dutch. People commission it for other reasons: a heritage or museum project, a university study, a speech at a wedding, a letter to a grandparent who would rather read Frysk. For all of these we use the official spelling, with its circumflexes on letters such as â and û, and a translator whose first language is Frisian.
Frisian court and police interpreters
A Frisian speaker in a British police station or courtroom will almost always also understand Dutch, and the court or the police will usually decide which interpreter is used. If the person asks for Frisian, we look for Frisian interpreters with legal experience and, where interpreters holding them exist for Frisian, the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or registration with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI). Where no such interpreter is available, we explain that plainly so the solicitor can raise it with the court in good time.
How to book a Frisian 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 Frisian language
Frisian is a West Germanic language, among the closest living relatives of English. It is spoken mainly in the province of Friesland (Fryslân) in the northern Netherlands. Frisian is an official language of Friesland, alongside Dutch.
Frisian is written in the Latin alphabet.
Before you book: Almost all Frisian speakers also speak Dutch.
| Name in Frisian | Frysk |
|---|---|
| Language family | West Germanic language, among the closest living relatives of English |
| Where it is spoken | The province of Friesland (Fryslân) in the northern Netherlands |
| Writing system | Latin alphabet |
| Language code | fy |
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Frisian interpreters near you
We send Frisian 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.
Frisian interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Frisian 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 Frisian interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Frisian 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 Frisian 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 Frisian 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 Frisian interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
