Shilha (Tashelhit) interpreters and translators anywhere in the UK for Moroccan families, the NHS, solicitors and councils, with face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting by native Tashelhit speakers, certified translation between Shilha and English, and bookings taken 24 hours a day.
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Shilha interpreting services
Tashelhit, also spelt Tachelhit, is spoken across southern Morocco, in and around Agadir, Taroudant, Tiznit, Guelmim and Ouarzazate, and by settled communities in most of the big cities further north. So "southern Moroccan" describes where the language comes from better than any single town does.
Interpreting is consecutive. A Tashelhit interpreter who also speaks Darija lets the client move between the two languages as they would at home. For a hospital appointment or a meeting about a child, ask the client whether they would prefer a man or a woman to interpret, and tell us when you book.
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 Shilha 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 Shilha translation
Written Tashelhit has a longer history than many people expect. Manuscripts in Arabic script survive from the late sixteenth century onwards, and the religious poetry of Mohammed Awzal, from the early eighteenth, is still read. Today's official papers, though, are in Arabic or French, so most translation for a Tashelhit-speaking family is from those languages into English. Our translators work only into their native language, which for this work means a native English speaker. Where a Tashelhit text itself needs translating, such as a recorded call or a letter, we use a translator who speaks the language.
- 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 Shilha audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Shilha translation
For anything written in Tashelhit, the script is the first question. Arabic letters have the longest tradition, the Latin alphabet is the most widely used for Berber languages today, and Tifinagh is used as well. Readers are used to different ones, so ask the reader, or send us the text and tell us who it is for. For a message that must reach older readers, record it in Tashelhit as well.
Shilha court and police interpreters
For a Tashelhit speaker in a criminal, family or immigration case, the right interpreter speaks Tashelhit, not only Moroccan Arabic. We look for Shilha interpreters with legal experience, and for any who hold the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or are registered with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI), where interpreters with those qualifications exist in this language. There may be very few. If so, we will tell you early, so the court or solicitor can decide whether a remote Tashelhit interpreter or a Darija one is the better course for that hearing.
How to book a Shilha 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 Tashelhit language
Tashelhit is a Berber language of the Afroasiatic family, spoken mainly in the Souss valley and the High and Anti-Atlas mountains of southern Morocco.
Tashelhit is written in the Latin alphabet, the Arabic script and Tifinagh.
Before you book: Shilha is usually called Tashelhit. It is the most widely spoken Berber language in Morocco.
| Name in Tashelhit | Taclḥit |
|---|---|
| Language family | Berber language of the Afroasiatic family |
| Where it is spoken | The Souss valley and the High and Anti-Atlas mountains of southern Morocco |
| Writing system | Latin alphabet, the Arabic script and Tifinagh |
| Language code | shi |
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Shilha interpreters near you
We send Shilha 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.
Shilha interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Shilha 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 Shilha interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Shilha 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 Shilha 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 Shilha 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 Shilha interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
