Setswana interpreters and translators for GP surgeries, hospitals, solicitors, social services and universities anywhere in the UK. Choose face-to-face, telephone or video interpreting, order certified translation between Setswana and English, and book at any hour, because we take bookings 24/7 for clients from Botswana and South Africa.
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Setswana interpreting services
Setswana has regional dialects tied to the historic Tswana nations, such as Sekwena, Sengwato and Sengwaketse in Botswana and Serolong, heard on both sides of the border, but they are close enough that a trained interpreter moves between them without trouble. It is also near enough to Sesotho and Sepedi for speakers to follow each other's talk in part. Near enough is not good enough for a diagnosis or a caution, so we book a Setswana interpreter, not one who speaks a neighbouring language. Consecutive interpreting, sentence by sentence, is what most settings need. If an interpreter cannot travel in time, video keeps the conversation face to face, which matters to speakers who read a great deal from expression and tone.
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 Setswana 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 Setswana translation
Botswana conducts government business in English, so passports, the Omang identity card, birth certificates and degree certificates arrive in English already. Setswana translation work is therefore more about people's own words: letters from family, affidavits, messages submitted to a tribunal, or records from a customary court, where cases are heard in Setswana. Every translator on the job translates into their native language.
Setswana names often carry meanings, such as Kagiso (peace) or Masego (blessings), and many Batswana use an English name too. We keep both exactly as the passport gives them.
- 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 Setswana audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Setswana translation
English into Setswana is worth commissioning when the readers are older, recently arrived or more at ease reading their home language, for example with patient leaflets or care plans. Tell us whether the readers are from Botswana or South Africa, so the vocabulary for places, institutions and money fits their experience. We write in plain, modern standard Setswana rather than the formal style of older church and school books.
Setswana court and police interpreters
Setswana interpreters are needed in UK courts only occasionally, in family, criminal or immigration cases involving someone from Botswana or South Africa. We look for Setswana interpreters who know legal procedure and, where interpreters with those credentials exist for Setswana, who hold the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or are registered with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI). Give us the hearing date early; with remote interpreting, the court can often widen the search if it agrees to a video link.
How to book a Setswana 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 Setswana language
Setswana is a Sotho-Tswana (Bantu) language, spoken mainly in Botswana and South Africa's North West province. It is the national language of Botswana and one of the official languages of South Africa.
Setswana is written in the Latin alphabet.
| Language family | Sotho-Tswana (Bantu) language |
|---|---|
| Where it is spoken | Botswana and South Africa's North West province |
| Writing system | Latin alphabet |
| Language code | tn |
Related languages
Setswana interpreters near you
We send Setswana 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.
Setswana interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Setswana 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 Setswana interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Setswana 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 Setswana 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 Setswana 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 Setswana interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
