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Lithuanian interpreters on site for appointments, hearings and meetings.
European languages
Lithuanian interpreting and translation
Lithuanian is a Baltic language and the official language of Lithuania, known for keeping many ancient Indo-European features. SILA Linguists provides Lithuanian interpreters and certified translators for healthcare, legal, employment and business settings.
lietuvių kalba
- Script
- Latin
- Direction
- Left to right
- ISO 639-3
lit
Lithuanian is the official language of Lithuania and an official EU language. It is spoken by a small minority in north-eastern Poland and by a large diaspora in the UK, Ireland, Norway, the United States and Germany. Lithuania also has Polish- and Russian-speaking minorities, so a person from Lithuania may speak one of these as their first language.
Lithuanian is often cited by linguists for its conservative grammar and sound system, which preserve features of older Indo-European languages. It has two main dialect groups, Aukštaitian (Highland) and Samogitian (Lowland), with Samogitian quite distinct. An official state language body oversees the standard.
The alphabet is Latin-based with the letters ą, č, ę, ė, į, š, ų, ū and ž.
- Main areas: Lithuania
- Also used: Poland (Podlaskie Voivodeship)
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How we help
Lithuanian 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 Lithuanian translation accepted by UK authorities.
SILA Linguists®
Lithuanian interpreters and certified Lithuanian translation with SILA Linguists®
Lithuanian, lietuvių kalba, is the official language of Lithuania and an official EU language, spoken by a small minority in north-eastern Poland and by a large diaspora in the UK, Ireland, Norway, the United States and Germany. It is known for preserving very old Indo-European features. Lithuania also has Polish- and Russian-speaking minorities, so a person from Lithuania may have one of those as a first language. SILA Linguists® provides Lithuanian interpreters, translators and transcribers to healthcare, employers, police, courts, housing and children's services, and businesses.
Lithuanian interpreting: check the language first
Before booking we check the client's preferred language, because some people from Lithuania would rather speak Polish or Russian, and we can provide any of the three. Lithuanian has formal jūs and familiar tu, and our interpreters keep the register appropriate to a police custody suite, a midwife's appointment or a school meeting.
Our Lithuanian interpreters are prepared for maternity and healthcare, employment in agriculture, food production and logistics, police interviews, criminal courts and probation, housing and social services, and children's services. Video and telephone interpreting work well: telephone interpreters are available around the clock, and video sessions run through the SILA Linguists® app or Teams, Zoom or similar. Face-to-face interpreters attend court hearings and complex medical appointments, and transport and business clients can book consecutive or simultaneous interpreting for negotiations and training.
Lithuanian translation and surname forms
Lithuanian surnames change form. Women's surnames have traditionally shown marital status, so from Kazlauskas come Kazlauskienė for a married woman and Kazlauskaitė for an unmarried one, although an unmarked form can now be chosen. Family members' names therefore differ, which can puzzle a UK caseworker, and our translators keep each exactly as in the identity documents and add a note where helpful.
Certified translations of birth and marriage certificates, criminal record certificates, school and university documents and court papers carry a statement of accuracy, signed and dated by us, accepted by courts, universities, HR departments and other UK authorities. For documents going to Lithuania, check the receiving authority's rules. Lithuanian papers for US authorities carry a signed certificate of accuracy. Employers can order translated contracts, safety rules and staff handbooks, and businesses can have their websites localised for Lithuanian customers.
Lithuanian transcription and subtitling
Police interviews, phone recordings, voice notes and children's services recordings in Lithuanian are transcribed with time codes and an English version alongside, with Russian or Polish passages labelled. We subtitle induction and safety videos for multilingual workforces.
Sectors we support in Lithuanian
Our vetted, trained and qualified Lithuanian linguists can support NHS and maternity services, agriculture, logistics and transport employers, police, courts and probation, housing and social services, schools and children's services, and businesses trading with the Baltic states. SILA Linguists® assigns a single coordinator and keeps every case confidential under NDAs and UK GDPR. Lithuanian interpreters can support US courts, hospitals and immigration attorneys as well as UK services.
Good to know
Working with Lithuanian
Interpreting
- Check the client's preferred language before booking, as some people from Lithuania prefer Polish or Russian. Lithuanian has formal (jūs) and familiar (tu) address, and interpreters keep the appropriate register. Video and telephone interpreting work well for Lithuanian, with face-to-face interpreters for court and complex medical appointments.
- Lithuanian is frequently requested in healthcare, employment, housing, police and court settings in the UK and other European countries.
Translation
- Lithuanian surnames change form: women's surnames traditionally show marital status (for example Kazlauskienė for a married woman and Kazlauskaitė for an unmarried woman, from Kazlauskas), although a form without this marking can also be chosen. Family members' names therefore differ, and translators keep each exactly as in the identity documents.
- Our certified translations are accepted by UK authorities such as the Home Office, courts and universities, and by international bodies. For documents going to Lithuanian authorities, check whether a translation certified in Lithuania is required. For documents going to authorities in the United States, we arrange the certification those authorities require, including the translator's certificate of accuracy that US immigration authorities expect.
Related languages
Lithuanian and its neighbours
Choose a language to see its page. Getting the right variety matters: tell us the region or dialect if you know it.
Where Lithuanian is often needed
- Healthcare and maternity
- Employment, agriculture and logistics
- Police, courts and probation
- Housing and social services
- Schools and children's services
- Business and transport
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Get in touch
Need a Lithuanian 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.