Luo interpreters and translators for Kenyan and Tanzanian families, solicitors, the NHS and local authorities anywhere in the UK. We provide face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting and certified translation between Luo and English, and take bookings 24 hours a day, for speakers from the Kenyan lakeside counties and from Tanzania's Mara region.
- 8,000+ linguists
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Luo interpreting services
Many of the Dholuo speakers we work with move between Luo, Swahili and English inside a single conversation, and the interpreter has to follow each switch rather than smooth it away. Consecutive interpreting suits almost every Luo booking. Two details help us choose the right person. First, where the speaker grew up: the South Nyanza variety is the one heard on radio and taught as the standard, while speakers from the Trans-Yala area have noticeably different vocabulary and pronunciation. Second, which country they are from. Speakers of Acholi, Alur or Adhola in Uganda share a great deal with Dholuo, yet for a medical history or a legal interview they deserve an interpreter in their own language, and we will look for one before offering a Luo interpreter as the fallback.
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 Luo 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 Luo translation
Official Kenyan records are issued in English, so Luo translation work tends to be personal material: handwritten letters, statements, text and WhatsApp messages produced as evidence, and voice notes that need transcribing before they can be translated. Every one of our translators translates into their native language, which means Luo into English is done by a native English speaker who reads Dholuo fluently.
Spelling needs care. Dholuo writes the sound at the start of "singer" as ng' with an apostrophe, and names such as Ochieng' appear with and without it across different papers. We follow the passport and point out any document that disagrees, and a certified translation comes with our signed statement of accuracy for a UK solicitor, university or the Home Office.
- 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 Luo audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Luo translation
For written Luo we use the standard spelling based on South Nyanza speech, the form most readers learned from church books and school. Dholuo has fewer settled terms for medical and legal ideas than English, so the translator explains a term in plain words the first time it appears and may keep the English word alongside in brackets. Many Luo readers also read English well, so for a leaflet aimed at older people with little schooling, ask us whether a recorded version or an interpreter would reach them better than print.
Luo court and police interpreters
Luo interpreting in UK legal settings covers asylum and immigration appeals, family proceedings, police interviews and criminal trials where a Kenyan or Tanzanian witness or defendant needs to give evidence in their first language. We look for a Luo interpreter with a track record in legal settings and, where Luo interpreters holding them can be found, the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or registration with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI). Qualified Luo court interpreters are scarce, so give as much notice as the listing allows, and ask the court whether an interpreter may join by video if nobody suitable can travel.
How to book a Luo 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 Luo language
Luo is a Western Nilotic language, spoken mainly in western Kenya around Lake Victoria, and northern Tanzania.
Luo is written in the Latin alphabet.
Before you book: Luo usually means the Dholuo of Kenya and Tanzania. Acholi and Alur in Uganda are related Luo languages.
| Name in Luo | Dholuo |
|---|---|
| Language family | Western Nilotic language |
| Where it is spoken | Western Kenya around Lake Victoria, and northern Tanzania |
| Writing system | Latin alphabet |
| Language code | luo |
Related languages
Luo interpreters near you
We send Luo 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.
Luo interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Luo 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 Luo interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Luo 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 Luo 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 Luo 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 Luo interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
