Sepedi (Northern Sotho) interpreters and translators for hospitals, solicitors, courts, local authorities and families anywhere in the UK. Choose face-to-face, telephone or video interpreting, or certified translation between Sepedi and English, and book with us 24/7, whether the appointment is next month or this afternoon.
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Sepedi interpreting services
The name on the booking can confuse people. South Africa's Constitution lists the language as Sepedi, while dictionaries, universities and schoolbooks often call the standard written form Sesotho sa Leboa. That standard grew mainly out of the speech of the Bapedi around Sekhukhuneland, but Northern Sotho covers other varieties too, the best known being Khelobedu, spoken by the Balobedu near Modjadji. A Khelobedu speaker will understand a standard interpreter, yet may find them formal; if you know the person's home area, tell us.
Like its neighbours, Sepedi is tonal, and meaning can change with pitch alone. Consecutive interpreting, where each speaker pauses for the interpreter, is the norm for medical and legal work.
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 Sepedi 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 Sepedi translation
South African birth, marriage and death certificates and identity documents are issued by the Department of Home Affairs in English, so most people never need them translated. The Sepedi documents we see are private ones: letters between families, statements from relatives, church records and messages that someone wants to put before a solicitor or the Home Office.
Every translator we use translates into their native language only. For names we give the Sepedi spelling with š and the form used in the person's passport side by side, so that a reader in the UK can match the two, and we certify the finished English translation.
- 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 Sepedi audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Sepedi translation
For health leaflets, tenancy letters or school notices, ask for standard Sesotho sa Leboa in plain modern wording. A text translated into Sesotho, the language of Lesotho, is not a Sepedi text: spelling and common words differ enough for readers to notice at once. We keep š in the finished file, so check that your printer or website can display it.
Sepedi court and police interpreters
Sepedi is seldom heard in UK courts, which is exactly why a hearing needs planning. Tell the court early that an interpreter is required, and for which language. For legal work we look for Sepedi interpreters who have experience of courts or solicitors, and, where interpreters holding them exist for Sepedi, the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or registration with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI). With so few in the country, we may propose a video interpreter if the judge is content with that.
How to book a Sepedi 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 Sepedi language
Sepedi is a Sotho-Tswana (Bantu) language, also called Northern Sotho. It is spoken mainly in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa. Sepedi is one of the official languages of South Africa.
Sepedi is written in the Latin alphabet.
Before you book: Sepedi, Sesotho and Setswana are closely related, but each is a separate official language of South Africa.
| Name in Sepedi | Sesotho sa Leboa |
|---|---|
| Language family | Sotho-Tswana (Bantu) language, also called Northern Sotho |
| Where it is spoken | Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa |
| Writing system | Latin alphabet |
| Language code | nso |
Related languages
Sepedi interpreters near you
We send Sepedi 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.
Sepedi interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Sepedi 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 Sepedi interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Sepedi 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 Sepedi 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 Sepedi 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 Sepedi interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
