Sesotho interpreters and translators for NHS trusts, solicitors, family courts, schools and employers anywhere in the UK. Face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting are all available, as is certified translation between Sesotho and English, and bookings are taken 24 hours a day for speakers from Lesotho and from South Africa alike.
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Sesotho interpreting services
Sesotho, Setswana and Sepedi share a great deal of grammar and vocabulary, and speakers of one can often follow the gist of another. The gist is not enough for a consent form or a police interview, so we book an interpreter whose own language is Sesotho. Tell us whether the speaker comes from Lesotho or South Africa, and whether they grew up in the countryside or in a city like Johannesburg, where speech borrows freely from other languages. Consecutive interpreting is the usual method. Sesotho is a tonal language, but tone is not marked in writing, so names and single words heard over a poor phone line can be misheard; video, where the interpreter can ask for a spelling on screen, is often the safer remote option.
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 Sesotho 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 Sesotho translation
Lesotho uses English alongside Sesotho for official business, and South African civil certificates are usually in English (older ones in English and Afrikaans), so many official papers need no Sesotho translation at all. What remains is mostly personal: letters, affidavits written in Sesotho, WhatsApp messages produced as evidence, or a statement for a family court. Each of our translators translates into their native language, so Sesotho text is put into English by a native English speaker.
Spelling needs care. The two countries follow different conventions, so the founding king of the Basotho is written Moshoeshoe in Lesotho and Moshweshwe in South African spelling. We keep a person's name exactly as it appears on their passport or identity document, even when the letter or statement spells it another way.
- 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 Sesotho audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Sesotho translation
For a UK organisation writing to Sesotho speakers, the first question is which country the readers come from, because a leaflet in Lesotho spelling looks slightly odd to a reader schooled in South Africa, and the other way round. We use the everyday written standard, keep official terms in English where readers will meet them in English anyway, such as the names of benefits and NHS services, and explain them in plain Sesotho.
Sesotho court and police interpreters
Sesotho interpreters are needed in UK family courts, criminal cases and immigration tribunals, though far less often than the major languages, so book as soon as a hearing is listed. We look for Sesotho interpreters with legal experience and, where interpreters holding them exist for Sesotho, the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or NRPSI registration. A litigant who speaks English well day to day may still ask for an interpreter when giving evidence, and that request deserves to be taken seriously.
How to book a Sesotho 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 Sesotho language
Sesotho is a Sotho-Tswana (Bantu) language, also called Southern Sotho. It is spoken mainly in Lesotho and South Africa, especially the Free State and Gauteng. Sesotho is an official language of Lesotho and of South Africa.
Sesotho is written in the Latin alphabet.
Before you book: Lesotho and South Africa spell Sesotho slightly differently, so tell us which country a document is for.
| Language family | Sotho-Tswana (Bantu) language, also called Southern Sotho |
|---|---|
| Where it is spoken | Lesotho and South Africa, especially the Free State and Gauteng |
| Writing system | Latin alphabet |
| Language code | st |
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Sesotho interpreters near you
We send Sesotho 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.
Sesotho interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Sesotho 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 Sesotho interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Sesotho 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 Sesotho 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 Sesotho 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 Sesotho interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
