Malagasy interpreters and translators anywhere in the UK for families, students and workers from Madagascar and for the hospitals, law firms and councils that serve them. Face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting are all available, as is certified translation between Malagasy and English or from French, and we take bookings 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Malagasy interpreting services
Malagasy is spoken right across Madagascar, but not in one form. The official language taught in schools grew out of Merina, the speech of the highlands around Antananarivo, and speakers of Betsileo and other central varieties follow it easily. Further from the centre the gap widens, and some northern and southern varieties are hard work for a highland speaker. When you book, give us the client's home region and their level of schooling. A client who studied in French may switch to French for technical terms, and an interpreter who knows both languages can follow that. Consecutive interpreting suits Malagasy best, and remote interpreting by video brings in interpreters who live outside the UK when none is free locally.
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 Malagasy 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 Malagasy translation
Civil records from Madagascar can be in French, in Malagasy, or partly in both, depending on when and where they were issued. Birth and marriage records, school certificates and police clearance letters are among the papers people bring, and a UK office will generally want a certified English translation. Each of our translators translates into their native language, so a Malagasy document bound for English is handled by a native English speaker.
Dates are written day, month, year, and the month names are Malagasy forms of the French ones: Janoary, Febroary, Martsa and so on, which are easy to mistake if handwritten. Long names are copied letter for letter, as a single dropped syllable makes a different name.
- 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 Malagasy audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Malagasy translation
For readers in the UK we translate into Official Malagasy, the standard used in schools, newspapers and government notices across Madagascar, so that a reader from any region can follow it. Where English uses a technical term with no settled Malagasy equivalent, the translator gives a short plain explanation, sometimes with the French term in brackets, because that is often the word an educated reader will already know.
Malagasy court and police interpreters
Malagasy interpreters appear in UK courts and tribunals for criminal cases, family proceedings and immigration hearings involving people from Madagascar. Our aim for any legal booking is a Malagasy interpreter experienced in legal work, ideally one who holds the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or is on the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI), where interpreters with those credentials exist for Malagasy. Because Malagasy places the subject at the end of the sentence, the interpreter needs the speaker to pause at the end of each sentence, and it helps if counsel and the bench know this before evidence begins.
How to book a Malagasy 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 Malagasy language
Malagasy is an Austronesian language, spoken mainly in Madagascar. It is an official language of Madagascar, with French.
Malagasy is written in the Latin alphabet.
Before you book: Despite Madagascar's position off Africa, Malagasy's closest relatives are languages of south-east Borneo.
| Language family | Austronesian language |
|---|---|
| Where it is spoken | Madagascar |
| Writing system | Latin alphabet |
| Language code | mg |
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Malagasy interpreters near you
We send Malagasy 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.
Malagasy interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Malagasy 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 Malagasy interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Malagasy 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 Malagasy 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 Malagasy 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 Malagasy interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
