Multilingual Glossaries for Interpreting for Palliative Care
The glossaries are intended to assist interpreters translating issues about serious illness care, including palliative care and hospice care, in various languages. They are provided here as a free resource to assist interpreters and bi-lingual workers in our communities.
These glossaries were originally developed by Cynthia E. Roat, MPH and Anne Kinderman, MD in 2011 with funding from The California Health Care Foundation and updated by Kōkua Mau in 2025. A collaboration between Cindy Roat and Kōkua Mau, the glossaries are available here as PDF files from English into:
- Chinese simplified Bilingual Glossary of Palliative Care Terms
- Chinese traditional Bilingual Glossary of Palliative Care Terms
- Chuukese Bilingual Glossary of Palliative Care Terms
- Ilocano Bilingual Glossary of Palliative Care Term
- Japanese Bilingual Glossary of Palliative Care Terms
- Korean Bilingual Glossary of Palliative Care Terms
- Kosraean Bilingual Glossary of Palliative Care Terms
- Marshallese Bilingual Glossary of Palliative Care Terms
- Pohnpeian Bilingual Glossary of Palliative Care Terms
- Spanish Bilingual Glossary of Palliative Care Terms
- Tagalog Bilingual Glossary of Palliative Care Terms
- Vietnamese Bilingual Glossary of Palliative Care Terms
Kōkua Mau is a statewide coalition in Hawaiʻi to improve care for those with serious illness. Our website is a resource that has non-biased, accurate Information on advanced care planning, advance directives, POLST and options for serious illness care including palliative care and hospice care.
- We have translations and materials for interpreters and translators in 13 languages
Medical Interpreting for Patients with Serious Illness – Interpreting in Palliative Care
Palliative Care is the medical specialty that focuses on improving quality of life and relieving physical and emotional suffering for people who are experiencing a serious illness. Since palliative care depends on regular, clear communication between patients, providers, and families, interpreters are key members of any palliative care team.
We also offered two interactive seven-hour workshops for Chuukese, Kosraean, Marshallese and Pohnpeian. This multimedia, interactive training included videos, PowerPoint presentations, and practice of interpreting and sight translation.
For interpreters, conversations involving palliative care, especially those at the end of life, can be among the most difficult to convey — not only linguistically and culturally, but personally. Visit our webpage for details about the trainings.
Additional Resources for Interpreters
The California Health Care Foundation developed Interpreting in Palliative Care. Please visit their website for additional training exercises, practice dialogues, and guidance for giving feedback.
Note: These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the Kōkua Mau of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation, organization or individual. Kōkua Mau bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.