Face-to-face
Avar interpreters on site for appointments, hearings and meetings.
Middle Eastern and Central Asian
Avar interpreting and translation
Avar is the largest language of Dagestan in the North Caucasus. We provide Avar interpreters and translators for immigration, legal and healthcare work.
In its own words
Магӏарул мацӏ
- Script
- Cyrillic (with the letter palochka Ӏ)
- Direction
- Left to right
- ISO 639-3
ava
Avar is a Northeast Caucasian (Nakh-Daghestanian) language and the most widely spoken language of the Republic of Dagestan in the Russian Federation, where it is one of the official languages. It is also spoken in northern Azerbaijan, in a few villages in Georgia, and by diaspora communities in Turkey and Europe. For a long time Avar served as a common language between speakers of the smaller Andic and Tsezic languages of western Dagestan, many of whom still speak it.
Avar is known for its many consonants, including ejectives, and for its system of noun classes and grammatical cases. Its dialects fall into northern and southern groups, and the literary language is based on the northern Khunzakh dialect and on bolmats, a traditional supra-dialectal form used between communities. It is written in Cyrillic, using the palochka letter Ӏ to mark ejective and other sounds; an Arabic-based script was used before that.
- Main areas: Russia (Republic of Dagestan)
- Also used: Azerbaijan (Zaqatala, Balakan)
Communities abroad are not shown. Point to an area to see its name.
How we help
Avar services
Video (VRI)
Secure video interpreting when people are in different places.
Telephone, 24/7
Telephone interpreting 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Certified translation
Certified Avar translation accepted by UK authorities.
SILA Linguists®
Avar interpreters and translators for Dagestani clients from SILA Linguists®
Avar is the most widely spoken language of Dagestan, an official language of the republic, and is also used in northern Azerbaijan's Zaqatala and Balakan districts, in a few Georgian villages and in diaspora communities in Turkey and Europe. SILA Linguists® arranges Avar interpreters and translators for immigration, legal, health and social care teams internationally, from the UK to North America, Australia and New Zealand. Dialects vary sharply from one mountain valley to the next, so the client's home district or village, and whether they are from Dagestan or Azerbaijan, shapes every match we make.
Avar interpreting, matched to the valley as well as the language
Some clients speak one of the smaller Andic or Tsezic languages at home and use Avar as a second language, a pattern rooted in Avar's long role as a common tongue in western Dagestan. Identifying this early avoids problems in asylum interviews. Most speakers from Russia also speak Russian, and those from Azerbaijan often speak Azerbaijani, so we confirm which language the person prefers.
Our interpreters attend asylum and immigration interviews, police stations, court hearings, GP and hospital appointments and social services meetings. Telephone interpreting can be reached at any time of day or night, and video calls run on the SILA Linguists® app or the platform your team uses. Consecutive interpreting is the norm, and a man or a woman can be assigned on request.
Translation with the palochka handled correctly
Avar is written in Cyrillic with the palochka (Ӏ) and several digraphs. In typed documents the palochka is often replaced by the digit 1 or a Latin I, which can corrupt names and database entries, so our translators restore the correct character and check every proper noun. Earlier material may be in an Arabic-based script used in earlier periods.
Most official papers from Dagestan, including passports, birth certificates and court decisions, are issued in Russian. We certify our English translations of these with a signed statement of accuracy, accepted by UK authorities such as the Home Office, courts and colleges, and by employers.
Transcription and language analysis
Interview recordings, phone calls and video evidence in Avar are transcribed with time stamps and an English translation, with Russian passages flagged. In asylum cases where nationality or region is questioned, a LADO assessment by our specialist analysts can examine the dialect features in a person's Avar.
Settings for our linguists in Avar
Our vetted, trained and qualified Avar linguists can support immigration solicitors, the courts, police, NHS services and local authority social workers. A dedicated coordinator manages each case, and all linguists are vetted, bound by non-disclosure agreements and compliant with UK GDPR.
Good to know
Working with Avar
Interpreting
- Tell us the client's district or village, and whether they come from Dagestan or Azerbaijan, so we can match the right linguist; dialects differ markedly between mountain valleys.
- Most Avar speakers from Russia also speak Russian, and speakers from Azerbaijan often speak Azerbaijani. Ask which language the client prefers for the appointment.
- Some clients may speak one of the smaller Andic or Tsezic languages at home and Avar as a second language; establishing this early avoids problems in asylum interviews.
Translation
- Avar uses Cyrillic with the palochka (Ӏ) and digraphs, which need careful handling in fonts and in data entry, since the palochka is often typed as the digit 1 or the Latin letter I. Documents from Dagestan are usually in Russian. Certified translations, with a signed statement of accuracy, are accepted by UK authorities such as the Home Office, courts and universities, and by international bodies.
Related languages
Avar and its neighbours
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Where Avar is often needed
- Asylum and immigration interviews
- Legal and court proceedings
- Healthcare appointments
- Social services
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Get in touch
Need a Avar interpreter or translator?
Our bookings team will confirm the details with you and arrange the right linguist. Have the language (and dialect, if you know it), the type of assignment and the date ready.