Wolof interpreters and translators for GP surgeries, hospitals, solicitors, police stations, schools and employers anywhere in the UK, covering the Wolof of both Senegal and the Gambia, with face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting, certified translation between Wolof and English, and bookings taken 24 hours a day.
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Wolof interpreting services
Start with the country. Senegalese Wolof, and especially the city speech of Dakar, is full of French; Gambian Wolof borrows from English instead, and the accents differ enough that a speaker can usually tell which side of the border you grew up on. Two features of the grammar shape the interpreter's work. Wolof has one pronoun for he and she, so the English has to be settled from context, and the interpreter should check rather than assume when it matters, as it does in a witness account. And Wolof marks emphasis inside the verb itself, with separate forms for "it was he who took it" and "he took it", which English conveys mostly through stress. Consecutive interpreting, a sentence or two at a time, suits most Wolof appointments, in the room or by video.
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 Wolof 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 Wolof translation
A Senegalese birth, marriage or school certificate is issued in French, and a Gambian one in English, so the Wolof itself usually shows up in letters, statements and, more and more, in WhatsApp voice notes that need transcribing before they can be translated. Senegalese marriage certificates record whether the husband opted for monogamy or polygamy, and a UK caseworker will read that line closely, so it has to be translated exactly. Every translator we use works into their native language: Wolof into English is done by a native English speaker, English into Wolof by a native Wolof speaker.
Family names change spelling at the border. The Senegalese Ndiaye, Diouf and Diop, written the French way, appear in the Gambia as Njie, Joof and Jobe. We keep whatever the passport says and flag any paper that uses the other form.
- 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 Wolof audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Wolof translation
Written Wolof has an official Latin spelling with letters such as ë, ñ and the velar ng, but many adults, literate in French or English, were never taught it and read it slowly. For a leaflet, keep the sentences short and choose vocabulary from the reader's own country. For health messages, a recorded Wolof version often travels further than a printed one, passed from phone to phone.
Wolof court and police interpreters
Wolof comes up in immigration appeals, in criminal cases, where a speaker's city Wolof may be thick with French slang, and in family court. For legal work we look for Wolof interpreters with legal experience and, where interpreters holding them exist for Wolof, the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or registration with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI). When the defendant is Gambian, we try to send a Gambian interpreter, because the English borrowings will then sound natural rather than foreign.
How to book a Wolof 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 Wolof language
Wolof is an Atlantic language of the Niger-Congo family, spoken mainly in Senegal, the Gambia and Mauritania.
Wolof is written in the Latin alphabet; the Arabic script (Wolofal) is also used.
Before you book: Wolof is Senegal's everyday common language, spoken by most Senegalese whatever their first language. French is used for official documents.
| Language family | Atlantic language of the Niger-Congo family |
|---|---|
| Where it is spoken | Senegal, the Gambia and Mauritania |
| Writing system | Latin alphabet; the Arabic script (Wolofal) is also used |
| Language code | wo |
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Wolof interpreters near you
We send Wolof 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.
Wolof interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Wolof 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 Wolof interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Wolof 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 Wolof 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 Wolof 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 Wolof interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
