Hausa interpreters and translators for NHS trusts, GP practices, solicitors, the immigration system and employers anywhere in the UK: face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting, certified translation between Hausa and English, and bookings taken 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
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Hausa interpreting services
The Hausa taught in schools and heard on radio is based on the speech of Kano. Western varieties, around Sokoto, and eastern ones, towards Bauchi, differ in accent and in a share of everyday words, yet a trained interpreter handles all of them without much trouble. The bigger question is usually whether the person learned Hausa at home or as an adult alongside another first language, because that decides how fine-grained a conversation can safely be.
For clinics, meetings with a solicitor and interviews, consecutive interpreting is the norm, a few sentences at a time. Hausa is a tonal language, and a clear phone or video line matters more than it would for many languages, so ask the speaker to use a headset or sit close to the microphone if the call is remote.
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 Hausa 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 Hausa translation
Because Nigeria's official business runs in English, birth certificates, school results and court papers from Kano or Kaduna rarely need translating at all. What does arrive in Hausa is letters from family, statements, religious marriage documents and, now and then, handwriting in Ajami. Papers from Niger are a different case: most civil records there have been issued in French. Every translator on our list translates into their native language, and certified translations carry the statement a UK body expects to see.
Names need a careful eye. A northern Nigerian's second name is often their father's given name rather than a family surname, so relatives can carry different last names, and we keep to the spelling in the passport.
- 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 Hausa audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Hausa translation
For readers in the UK, English-to-Hausa work goes into the Latin alphabet with the hooked letters typed properly (ɓ, ɗ and ƙ) and the apostrophe in 'y kept. Swapping them for plain b, d and k changes words, and printed leaflets that do so look careless to a Hausa reader. Keep the style plain and direct. For older readers whose reading is limited, a short recorded version of the message is sometimes worth more than a printed one.
Hausa court and police interpreters
Hausa comes up in UK courts and tribunals mainly in immigration and asylum appeals, and now and then in criminal and family cases. When a case is legal, we choose a Hausa interpreter who has worked in legal settings before, and we look for the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or a listing on the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI) wherever Hausa interpreters with those credentials can be found. If the witness also speaks Fulfulde or Kanuri at home, tell the court and us early: their strongest language may not be Hausa.
How to book a Hausa 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 Hausa language
Hausa is a Chadic language of the Afroasiatic family, spoken mainly in northern Nigeria and southern Niger, and as a trade language across West Africa.
Hausa is written in the Latin alphabet (Boko), and the Arabic script (Ajami).
Before you book: Hausa is the common language of northern Nigeria, so many speakers of smaller northern languages use it as a second language.
| Name in Hausa | Harshen Hausa |
|---|---|
| Language family | Chadic language of the Afroasiatic family |
| Where it is spoken | Northern Nigeria and southern Niger, and as a trade language across West Africa |
| Writing system | Latin alphabet (Boko), and the Arabic script (Ajami) |
| Language code | ha |
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Hausa interpreters near you
We send Hausa 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.
Hausa interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Hausa 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 Hausa interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Hausa 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 Hausa 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 Hausa 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 Hausa interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
