Mahorian interpreters and translators for families from Mayotte, and for the NHS, schools, councils and solicitors who work with them, anywhere in the UK. We arrange face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting and certified translation between Mahorian and English, and take bookings 24/7. Because interpreters are scarce, remote sessions are often the fastest route.
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Mahorian interpreting services
On Mayotte itself Shimaore is the everyday language of roughly four in five residents, while French runs the schools, the courts and the town halls. Most Mahorais therefore live in two languages, and the right choice of interpreter depends on the person and on the subject. A young adult may discuss a tenancy in French without difficulty and still want Shimaore to talk about a bereavement. Consecutive interpreting is the norm, and because the few interpreters available are often based in France, a video link is usually easier to arrange than a visit. Mahorian is close enough to Shindzuani, the language of Anjouan, that an Anjouan interpreter is a sensible fallback; it is not a substitute for Kibushi, the Malagasy variety some Mahorais speak at home.
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 Mahorian 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 Mahorian translation
Almost nothing official from Mayotte is written in Shimaore. A birth certificate, marriage record or court judgment from the island is a French document, so what a UK office needs is a certified translation from French into English, which we provide. Shimaore translation comes up for personal material: letters, messages and recorded speech used as evidence. Spelling in the Latin alphabet varies from one writer to the next, so the translator reads for sense rather than relying on a dictionary form. Each translator translates into their native language.
Names need checking against the passport. Family names for many Mahorais were fixed only between 2000 and 2010, and papers from before that period can record the same person differently.
- 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 Mahorian audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Mahorian translation
Before commissioning a written Shimaore translation, think about who will read it. Most Mahorais learned to read and write in French, not in Shimaore, so a French version of a leaflet or letter usually reaches more readers in the UK. Where the reader is an older person who does not read French, a short recorded message in Shimaore, or an interpreter on the phone, will do more than a printed page.
Mahorian court and police interpreters
People from Mayotte hold French nationality, so Mahorian comes up in UK legal settings mainly in family, housing, criminal and residence cases, where the client may be able to follow French but wants to give evidence in their first language. Our search starts with Mahorian interpreters who know courtroom and solicitor work; should any Mahorian interpreter hold the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or registration with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI), we ask them first. Such interpreters are very scarce, so tell the court early and ask whether a remote interpreter by video will be accepted.
How to book a Mahorian 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 Shimaore language
Shimaore is a Comorian (Bantu) language, spoken mainly in Mayotte, a French department in the Indian Ocean.
Shimaore is written in the Latin alphabet.
Before you book: Mahorian is the Comorian language of Mayotte, also called Shimaore. French is used for all official documents there.
| Language family | Comorian (Bantu) language |
|---|---|
| Where it is spoken | Mayotte, a French department in the Indian Ocean |
| Writing system | Latin alphabet |
| Language code | swb |
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Mahorian interpreters near you
We send Mahorian 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.
Mahorian interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Mahorian 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 Mahorian interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Mahorian 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 Mahorian 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 Mahorian 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 Mahorian interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
