Latin translators and interpreters for family historians, solicitors, churches, schools and universities anywhere in the UK, with face-to-face, telephone and video sessions, certified translation between Latin and English, and bookings taken 24 hours a day. Most Latin work is written translation of old records, and we price it from a scan.
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Latin interpreting services
Live Latin interpreting is rare, and we would rather say so than pretend otherwise. What people do book is sight translation: a specialist sits with a solicitor, an archivist or a family and reads a Latin document into English on the spot, answering questions as they go. Occasionally a church, college or ceremony needs Latin read aloud correctly.
For that, the pronunciation matters. The Italianate style used in the Catholic Church, where "caelum" starts with a "ch" sound, differs from the restored classical pronunciation taught in many schools, with a hard "k". Tell us which tradition the occasion follows. The Latin of a medieval charter also differs from Cicero's, in spelling and vocabulary, so we match the specialist to the period.
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 Latin 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 Latin translation
Typical Latin documents are baptism, marriage and burial entries, manorial court rolls, wills and probate grants, deeds and charters, university diplomas and church certificates. Catholic parishes in Ireland and in much of continental Europe kept their registers in Latin long after English parishes had stopped, so records for Irish, Polish or Italian ancestors can arrive in Latin too. First names in these entries are Latinised and surnames often spelled as the clerk heard them, so our translations keep the original spelling and give the English form beside it.
No one speaks Latin as a native language today, so each translator translates into their native language, English, and brings a classicist's or archivist's training to the Latin side. Translations can be certified for UK use, for a solicitor, a probate registry or a genealogical society.
- 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 Latin audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Latin translation
Translation into Latin is usually a motto, an inscription, a dedication or a line on a certificate. Latin changes the ending of a word according to its job in the sentence, so a phrase that looks right to someone without the grammar is often wrong in a way any classicist will spot on a plaque or a coat of arms. Tell us whether you want classical style or church Latin, and send the English with a note on where it will appear.
Latin court and police interpreters
Latin does not come up in British courtrooms as a spoken language, only in documents: old conveyances, manorial rights, historic wills and the maxims lawyers still quote. When a legal matter does need someone to work from Latin, we look for a linguist with experience of legal documents, and we would ask for the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or registration with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI) wherever someone holding them works in Latin. In practice those are qualifications for living languages, so for Latin we rely on legal and archival experience and a certified written translation that can go in the bundle.
How to book a Latin 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 Latin language
Latin is the classical language of ancient Rome and the ancestor of Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Romanian. Nobody speaks it as a first language today, but it is still used by the Catholic Church and in scholarship. It is the official language of the Holy See.
Latin is written in the Latin alphabet.
Before you book: Latin work is translation, not interpreting: typically older parish registers, deeds, certificates and inscriptions. Send a scan so the translator can check the handwriting and the period before we quote.
| Name in Latin | lingua Latina |
|---|---|
| Writing system | Latin alphabet |
| Language code | la |
Related languages
Latin interpreters near you
We send Latin 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.
Latin interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Latin 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 Latin interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Latin 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 Latin 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 Latin 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 Latin interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
