Hindustani interpreters and translators anywhere in the UK, drawing on interpreters from both the Hindi and the Urdu side of the language, for health services, councils, schools, solicitors and courts. We offer face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting, certified translation between Hindustani (written as Hindi or as Urdu) and English, and bookings taken 24 hours a day.
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Hindustani interpreting services
In everyday conversation Hindi and Urdu work as one language, with a shared grammar and a shared core vocabulary, which is why linguists call it Hindustani or Hindi-Urdu. The differences lie in accent, in a few everyday words and above all in formal vocabulary, so the practical question when booking is which way the speaker leans. A speaker from India usually leans towards Hindi and one from Pakistan towards Urdu, though plenty of people cross the line. Tell us where the person grew up and which script, if any, they read, and we will choose the interpreter accordingly. Consecutive interpreting suits nearly every appointment.
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 Hindustani 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 Hindustani translation
There is no written Hindustani standard, so every translation into it has to be made in Hindi, in Devanagari, or in Urdu, in the Perso-Arabic script. Our translators each work into their native language, and translations of Hindi or Urdu documents into English are done by native English speakers. Documents people bring may be in either script, occasionally in both, and a name can be spelt differently in each, so we use the spelling in the person's passport and record any variant. Hindustani is also sometimes written in Latin letters, as Roman Urdu or romanised Hindi; we can work from that too, though for anything official a proper script version is better.
- 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 Hindustani audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Hindustani translation
If your readers are Hindi and Urdu speakers together, there are two sound options. Two written versions, one in Hindi and one in Urdu, are the safer choice for anything people must keep or sign. A single spoken version, recorded as audio or delivered through an interpreter by phone, reaches both groups at once, because the everyday spoken language is the same. Either way we keep the vocabulary to common everyday words, avoiding both the Sanskrit terms of formal Hindi and the Persian and Arabic terms of formal Urdu.
Hindustani court and police interpreters
In legal work the choice between the Hindi and Urdu sides matters most, because formal legal vocabulary is where the two diverge: a witness who reads Urdu should have an interpreter from the Urdu side, and one educated in Hindi an interpreter from the Hindi side, even though everyday conversation would work either way. For courts, tribunals and police interviews we look for interpreters with legal experience and, where interpreters holding them exist for the variety concerned, the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or registration with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI). Ask a Caribbean Hindustani speaker early whether they would rather give evidence in English, in standard Hindi or in another language they know well.
How to book a Hindustani 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 Hindustani language
Hindustani is the everyday language that Hindi and Urdu share, spoken mainly in northern India and Pakistan.
Hindustani is written in Devanagari (as Hindi) or the Perso-Arabic script (as Urdu).
Before you book: Hindustani is an older name for the everyday spoken language behind Hindi and Urdu. For a document, tell us whether the reader expects Hindi in Devanagari or Urdu in Arabic script.
| Language family | Everyday language that Hindi and Urdu share |
|---|---|
| Where it is spoken | Northern India and Pakistan |
| Writing system | Devanagari (as Hindi) or the Perso-Arabic script (as Urdu) |
| Language code | hi |
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Hindustani interpreters near you
We send Hindustani 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.
Hindustani interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Hindustani 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 Hindustani interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Hindustani 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 Hindustani 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 Hindustani is not written in the Latin alphabet, send us the passport spelling of every name so the translation matches it.
Do you provide Hindustani 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 Hindustani interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
