Laotian (Lao) interpreters and translators anywhere in the UK, for NHS trusts, solicitors, councils, the Home Office and employers. We arrange face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting, provide certified translation between Laotian and English, and take bookings 24 hours a day.
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Laotian interpreting services
The standard is the Lao of Vientiane, heard on national radio and taught in schools. Speakers from Luang Prabang in the north or from Champasak and Pakse in the south have accents and words of their own, and people from Isan in Thailand speak dialects that sit between Lao and Thai. Many people born in Laos are not ethnically Lao at all: Hmong and Khmu families often use Lao only as a second language, so ask which language the person grew up with before you book.
Politeness is carried in small words. A respectful "yes" in Lao is jao or doy rather than a bare ee, and an older patient will expect the interpreter to use it. Consecutive interpreting, a few sentences at a time, suits almost 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 Laotian 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 Laotian translation
Papers from Laos usually include a birth certificate, an identity card, a marriage certificate and the family book, the household register that lists everyone living at an address. Anyone from Isan will bring Thai documents instead, written in Thai script, and those go to a Thai translator, so tell us which country issued the paper. Each of our translators works into their native language, which means Lao to English is done by a native English speaker.
Lao script runs words together without spaces and writes some vowels above, below or before the consonant, so a name can be read in more than one way. We copy the spelling already used in the passport or residence permit, and point out any document where it differs.
- 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 Laotian audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Laotian translation
For readers from Laos we translate into standard Vientiane Lao, in Lao script, using plain everyday words rather than the formal vocabulary of government notices. Readers from Isan are a different case: they speak Lao at home but learned to read in Thai, so a Thai-script version may serve them better. Tell us who the leaflet or letter is for, and check the final file on a phone, since some design software shows boxes in place of Lao letters.
Laotian court and police interpreters
A Lao speaker in a UK court may have grown up with a very different legal system, shaped by French civil law and a single-party state, so solicitors should expect to explain bail, juries or the role of a duty solicitor, and the interpreter will render that explanation plainly. For legal work we look for Laotian interpreters with experience of courts and police stations, and for holders of the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or people on the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI) where any exist for Lao. Because the pool is small, a video link is often the realistic way to cover a hearing.
How to book a Laotian 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 Lao language
Lao is a Tai language of the Kra-Dai family, close to Thai. It is spoken mainly in Laos and north-eastern Thailand (Isan). Lao is the official language of Laos.
Lao is written in the Lao script.
Before you book: Laotian is usually called Lao. Lao and Thai speakers understand much of each other's speech, but the scripts differ.
| Name in Lao | ພາສາລາວ |
|---|---|
| Language family | Tai language of the Kra-Dai family, close to Thai |
| Where it is spoken | Laos and north-eastern Thailand (Isan) |
| Writing system | Lao script |
| Language code | lo |
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Laotian interpreters near you
We send Laotian 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.
Laotian interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Laotian 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 Laotian interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Laotian 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 Laotian 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 Lao is not written in the Latin alphabet, send us the passport spelling of every name so the translation matches it.
Do you provide Laotian 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 Laotian interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
