Face-to-face
Wolof interpreters on site for appointments, hearings and meetings.
African languages
Wolof interpreting and translation
Wolof is the most widely spoken language in Senegal and an important language in The Gambia and Mauritania. It is used both as a first language and as a common language between people of different backgrounds.
In its own words
Wolof
- Script
- Latin, Arabic (Wolofal)
- Direction
- Left to right
- ISO 639-3
wol
Wolof belongs to the Atlantic branch of the Niger-Congo languages and is related, though not closely, to Fula (Fulani) and Serer. In Senegal it is a national language and is heard everywhere from markets and taxis to radio and television. Many Senegalese who have another first language, such as Pulaar, Serer or Mandinka, also speak Wolof fluently.
Urban Wolof, especially in Dakar, mixes freely with French, and speakers switch between the two within a single sentence. Wolof in The Gambia has its own features, including more English loanwords, and it is sometimes treated separately from Senegalese Wolof. Speakers of the two understand each other well.
Wolof-speaking communities are found in France, Italy, Spain, the UK, the United States and elsewhere, and Wolof interpreting is often needed in immigration, healthcare and legal settings.
- Main areas: Senegal
- Also used: Gambia, Mauritania
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How we help
Wolof 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 Wolof translation accepted by UK authorities.
SILA Linguists®
Wolof interpreters, translators and transcription from SILA Linguists®
Wolof is heard everywhere in Senegal, from Dakar's markets and taxis to radio and television, and is widely spoken in The Gambia and Mauritania. Many Senegalese whose first language is Pulaar, Serer or Mandinka speak it fluently too. SILA Linguists® provides Wolof interpreters, translators and transcribers for asylum and immigration teams, hospitals and mental health services, courts and police, schools, social services and West African media and business work across Britain, North America, Australia, New Zealand and further afield, matched to the client's country.
Wolof interpreting for Senegalese, Gambian and Mauritanian clients
Urban Wolof in Dakar mixes freely with French, while Gambian Wolof has more English loanwords, so we ask whether your client comes from Senegal, The Gambia or Mauritania. An interpreter with the same background recognises local terms and the blend of languages the client uses. Some speakers are equally comfortable in French, and for formal or technical topics French may be the better choice; we can provide either.
Greetings carry weight in Wolof-speaking culture and are often lengthy, and our interpreters convey them gracefully without slowing the appointment. We cover asylum interviews, hospital, clinic and mental health appointments, court hearings, police interviews, legal advice, school meetings and social services, face to face, by telephone round the clock, or by video in our SILA Linguists® app or Teams, Zoom or similar. Same-gender interpreters can be requested for medical and personal matters, and consecutive or simultaneous interpreting is available for business meetings and media events.
Wolof translation in official, informal or Wolofal spelling
Official Senegalese orthography uses letters such as ë, ñ and ŋ and accented vowels, but many people write Wolof informally in French-style spelling, so we confirm the expected style. Wolof has long been written in Arabic script, Wolofal, for religious and literary texts, and we can work in that too. We translate health information, community campaigns, marketing and media content.
Documents from Senegal and Mauritania are usually in French, with Arabic also used in Mauritania, and Gambian documents in English. Our certified translations from French and Arabic carry a signed statement of accuracy and completeness, accepted by courts, colleges and other UK authorities. French documents for US immigration carry a signed certificate of accuracy.
Wolof transcription, subtitling and LADO
Interviews, voice notes, broadcasts and music videos in Wolof are transcribed with time references and an English rendering, with French segments flagged, and we subtitle content for West African audiences. Language analysis for the determination of origin (LADO) supports asylum decisions where nationality is disputed.
Where our Wolof linguists work
Our vetted, trained and qualified Wolof linguists can support asylum and immigration services, NHS and mental health teams, courts, police and legal advisers, schools, social services, media producers and businesses. SILA Linguists® provides one accountable team, and your clients' privacy is safeguarded by non-disclosure agreements and UK GDPR. Wolof interpreters can support US immigration courts, attorneys, hospitals and schools, matched to Senegalese or Gambian speech.
Good to know
Working with Wolof
Interpreting
- Tell us whether the client is from Senegal, The Gambia or Mauritania. An interpreter who shares the client's background will recognise local terms and the mix of French or English that the client may use.
- Some Wolof speakers are equally comfortable in French. If French is the client's stronger language for formal or technical topics, it may be the better choice. We can provide either.
- Greetings carry weight in Wolof-speaking culture and are often lengthy. Interpreters convey them appropriately without slowing the appointment.
- Same-gender interpreters can be requested for medical or personal matters.
Translation
- Wolof is written in the Latin alphabet according to an official Senegalese orthography that uses letters such as ë, ñ and ŋ and accented vowels. Many people write Wolof informally in French-style spelling, so it is worth confirming the expected style with the client. Wolof has also long been written in Arabic script, known as Wolofal, particularly for religious and literary texts.
- Official documents from Senegal and Mauritania are usually in French (and Arabic in Mauritania), and those from The Gambia are usually in English. Certified translation therefore often involves French or English rather than Wolof. Wolof translation is useful for health information, community outreach, subtitling and recorded evidence.
Related languages
Wolof and its neighbours
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Where Wolof is often needed
- Asylum and immigration casework
- Hospitals, clinics and mental health services
- Courts, police and legal advice
- Schools and social services
- Business and media for West African audiences
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Get in touch
Need a Wolof 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.