Masai (Maa) interpreters and translators for immigration lawyers, the NHS, researchers, charities and broadcasters anywhere in the UK, with face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting, certified translation between Maa and English, and bookings taken 24/7, including remote interpreters in Kenya and Tanzania.
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Masai interpreting services
Maa is spoken across the Kenya and Tanzania border, and the Maasai are divided into sections with their own local speech, while the Arusa near Arusha and the Samburu further north speak closely related forms of the language. The first thing to establish is which country and which area the speaker comes from. The second is how comfortable they really are in Swahili and English, because Maasai who spent little time in school may have far more Maa than either.
Consecutive interpreting is the practical choice. Because interpreters are so few in Britain, most bookings are by video, and a short trial call before a long interview lets both sides check they understand each other.
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 Masai 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 Masai translation
Each of our translators translates into their native language. Official papers from Kenya and Tanzania, such as birth certificates, identity cards and court documents, are issued in English or Swahili, so written Maa seldom appears on them. Maa translation work is more often research transcripts, consent forms for studies, charity material, witness statements taken in Maa and subtitles for film. Written Maa rarely shows tone, so a translator sometimes has to go back to the audio to be sure of the meaning.
Men's names often contain ole, meaning "son of", which British forms tend to treat as part of the surname. We follow the passport spelling and point out any document that 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 Masai audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Masai translation
Before paying for English into Maa, check how the reader will use it. Plenty of Maasai adults read Swahili or English more easily than written Maa, which most learned to speak, not read. For health advice or rights information, a recorded spoken version in Maa often reaches more people than a printed page, and we can arrange both. For a written text, we keep sentences short and use the words speakers actually use for places and things in the UK.
Masai court and police interpreters
Maasai witnesses and defendants in UK courts are uncommon, and a Swahili interpreter is often booked by default. That can work, but in cross-examination a person using a second language may agree to things they have not understood. If there is any doubt, ask the witness directly which language they want. For legal bookings we try to find a Maa interpreter with courtroom or solicitor experience, and if any Maa interpreter holds the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or is on the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI), that is who we approach first. Remote interpreting by video may be the only way to have Maa in the room, with the court's agreement.
How to book a Masai 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 Maasai language
Maasai is an Eastern Nilotic language, spoken mainly in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania.
Maasai is written in the Latin alphabet.
Before you book: Maa is the Maasai's own name for the language. Most speakers also know Swahili.
| Name in Maasai | ɔl Maa |
|---|---|
| Language family | Eastern Nilotic language |
| Where it is spoken | Southern Kenya and northern Tanzania |
| Writing system | Latin alphabet |
| Language code | mas |
Related languages
Masai interpreters near you
We send Masai 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.
Masai interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Masai 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 Masai interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Masai 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 Masai 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 Masai 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 Masai interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
