Kirundi interpreters and translators for Burundian families and the services they deal with, from the Home Office and solicitors to hospitals and schools, anywhere in the UK. Choose face-to-face, telephone or video interpreting, order certified translation between Kirundi and English, and book 24 hours a day.
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Kirundi interpreting services
When booking, ask the client two things: where they grew up, and which second language, if any, they are comfortable in. Burundians who lived in Tanzania often speak Swahili well and French hardly at all; those from Bujumbura may know both. The interpreter should still work in Kirundi, but knowing the client's other languages helps them follow borrowed words. Kirundi is tonal, and pitch can change a word's meaning, so a first-language speaker is the safest choice. Consecutive interpreting suits nearly all public service work, and for long interviews plan a break every hour or so.
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 Kirundi 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 Kirundi translation
Burundian civil status documents, such as birth and marriage certificates and school records, are normally in French, and those are the papers UK authorities most often ask to see in certified English. Written Kirundi arrives as letters, statements, church documents and messages on phones.
Standard Kirundi spelling does not mark tone, so two different words can look identical on the page, and the translator has to settle the meaning from the sentence around it. That is one more reason our translators only work into their native language: a Kirundi source is read by someone who grew up hearing it, and the English is written by a native English speaker.
- 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 Kirundi audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Kirundi translation
Translations for Burundian readers should be in Kirundi, not Kinyarwanda, even though a Rwandan translator is sometimes offered as a substitute. The spelling conventions and much of the everyday vocabulary differ, and a Burundian reader notices at once. We write in the standard Kirundi used in Burundian schools and radio, keep French loanwords to the ones people use daily, and explain UK terms such as "GP" or "council tax" rather than leaving them in English.
Kirundi court and police interpreters
Kirundi is most often requested in UK legal work for asylum appeals, family proceedings about children, and criminal cases. Where the evidence covers several flights and camps, the hearing can be long and detailed. For this work we seek Kirundi interpreters experienced in legal settings and, where interpreters holding them exist for Kirundi, those with the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or registered with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI). Consider a video link if no suitable interpreter can travel.
How to book a Kirundi 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 Kirundi language
Kirundi is a Bantu language, mutually intelligible with Kinyarwanda. It is spoken mainly in Burundi. Kirundi is an official language of Burundi, with French and English.
Kirundi is written in the Latin alphabet.
Before you book: Nearly everyone in Burundi speaks Kirundi, so it is usually the right choice for Burundian clients even when they also know French or Swahili.
| Name in Kirundi | Ikirundi |
|---|---|
| Language family | Bantu language, mutually intelligible with Kinyarwanda |
| Where it is spoken | Burundi |
| Writing system | Latin alphabet |
| Language code | rn |
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Kirundi interpreters near you
We send Kirundi 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.
Kirundi interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Kirundi 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 Kirundi interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Kirundi 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 Kirundi 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 Kirundi 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 Kirundi interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
