Haitian Creole interpreting & translation services

Haitian Creole is spoken by nearly all of Haiti's population and by large diaspora communities in Florida, New York, Boston, and, increasingly, California. It has been an official language of Haiti alongside French since 1987 and has a standardized spelling system. Demand in the United States comes mainly from healthcare, immigration and asylum proceedings, social services, and employers with Haitian workforces.

Although much of its vocabulary derives from French, Haitian Creole is a distinct language with its own grammar. Most Haitians do not speak French fluently, so a French interpreter is not an acceptable substitute in a medical or legal setting. Focus Interpreting assigns native Haitian Creole interpreters, available on site in Southern California and by phone or video anywhere in the country.

Certified Haitian Creole translation is requested for Haitian civil documents such as birth certificates (often issued in French), for patient education and consent forms, for benefits notices, and for employee communications. Our translators write in the official orthography and adapt reading level to the audience.