Interpreters and translators for the Portuguese-based creoles of West Africa and beyond, available anywhere in the UK. We arrange face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting, certified translation between Portuguese Creole and English, including the Portuguese documents these speakers carry, and take bookings 24/7.
- 8,000+ linguists
- 350+ languages
- Bookings 24/7, every day of the year
- Free quotes
Portuguese Creole interpreting services
Linguists split the African creoles into two groups. The Upper Guinea group covers Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and the Casamance region of Senegal. The Gulf of Guinea group covers Santome (also called Forro), the most widely spoken creole of São Tomé; Angolar, used in the island's southern towns; Principense, now spoken by only a few hundred people on Príncipe; and Fa d'Ambô on Annobón. A speaker from one group does not simply follow the other, so we match the group first and the island second.
The Asian creoles, among them Kristang in Malacca, the Patuá of Macau and the creole of Korlai village in India, have small, mostly older speech communities. Their speakers usually also use English, Malay, Cantonese or Marathi, and one of those is normally the practical choice for an interpreted appointment.
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 Portuguese Creole 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 Portuguese Creole translation
Very little official paper is ever written in a creole. Birth and marriage certificates, identity cards and court papers issued in Cape Verde, in Guinea-Bissau or on the islands of São Tomé are in Portuguese, and those from Annobón in Spanish, so a certified translation for the Home Office or a UK court is usually made from Portuguese. Each of our translators translates into their native language, so it is a native English speaker who produces that version, and names are copied exactly as the passport spells them.
Creole does turn up in evidence: voice notes, text messages, recorded calls. Those need someone who speaks the specific creole to transcribe them first, then translate.
- 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 Portuguese Creole audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Portuguese Creole translation
Most of these creoles are spoken far more than they are read, and spelling varies from writer to writer. Before paying for a written translation into a creole, ask whether the readers would find Portuguese easier to read. For people who read neither well, a short recorded message in the creole, or a sight translation by an interpreter at the appointment, often reaches them better than a printed leaflet.
Portuguese Creole court and police interpreters
In legal settings the risk is a quiet default to Portuguese that the defendant or witness only half follows. We look for creole interpreters who have worked in legal settings and, where interpreters with those qualifications exist for the creole concerned, the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or registration on the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI). For the smaller creoles no such interpreter may exist, and we will say so. Raise the language question at the first hearing, before the record is built on answers given in a second language.
How to book a Portuguese Creole 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 Portuguese creoles
Portuguese creoles grew up where Portuguese traders settled: in Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and São Tomé and Príncipe, and historically in parts of Asia.
Portuguese Creole is written in the Latin alphabet.
Before you book: Tell us which creole you need. Cape Verdean Kriolu, Guinea-Bissau Kriol and the creoles of São Tomé are distinct languages.
Related languages
Portuguese Creole interpreters near you
We send Portuguese Creole 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.
Portuguese Creole interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Portuguese Creole 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 Portuguese Creole interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Portuguese Creole 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 Portuguese Creole 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 Portuguese Creole 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 Portuguese Creole interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
