What Is Simultaneous Interpretation?

Definition and how it works

Simultaneous interpretation is the oral translation of speech in real time, with a 2 to 4-second lag, while the original speaker continues talking without pause. The interpreter listens via headphone in a soundproofed booth (in-person) or remotely (RSI) and renders the interpretation continuously into a microphone. Participants hear the interpretation on individual UHF receivers (in-person) or by selecting their language in the Zoom, Teams or Meet app (remote).

The cognitive demand is extraordinary: the interpreter must listen, comprehend, formulate and speak simultaneously — across 2 to 4 seconds — for the entire duration of the event. This is why simultaneous interpretation is the highest-skill, highest-rate category of oral language services.

Simultaneous vs consecutive interpretation

Consecutive interpretation is the modality where the interpreter listens to a passage, takes notes, and renders the interpretation when the speaker pauses — typically every 2 to 5 minutes. Consecutive takes roughly twice as long as the original speech but requires no equipment. It is ideal for site visits, dinners, bilateral meetings and situations where the pause-and-interpret rhythm is natural.

Simultaneous interpretation requires equipment (UHF system or RSI platform) but allows the event to proceed in real time without time loss. It is the standard for conferences, investor days, M&A sessions, earnings calls and board meetings where time efficiency is critical.

Also called "tradução simultânea" in Brazil

In Brazilian Portuguese, the terms "interpretação simultânea" (simultaneous interpretation) and "tradução simultânea" (simultaneous translation) are used interchangeably in the market. Both refer to the same service. lingo operates under both terms — all pages on this site cover both, since search volume in Brazil is roughly equivalent for each. The technically precise term is "interpretação" (oral) vs "tradução" (written), but both are universally understood in corporate contexts.

Coverage, billing and logistics

lingo covers events across Brazil. In-person equipment (UHF system, booth, technical operator) is deployed from Guarulhos — freight is included in the quote for Greater São Paulo events and itemized separately for other cities. RSI via Zoom, Teams, Meet or Webex has no geographic constraint: the interpreter operates remotely, participants connect from anywhere in the world. Events in all 26 states and the Federal District are covered. International events — M&A roadshows in New York, investor meetings in London — are served via RSI with no additional interpreter travel cost.

Lingo Qi Interpretações LTDA (CNPJ 53.834.741/0001-34) issues nota fiscal eletrônica for all events — the formal Brazilian invoice required by corporate finance departments for supplier payments. Payment accepted by TED/PIX (Brazilian bank transfer) and international wire in BRL. For recurring mandates, a monthly invoice covers all events in the billing period. For new clients, a pro forma invoice accompanies the proposal; the final invoice is issued after event completion.

The quote includes: interpreter fee, equipment (if in-person), technical operator, transport and logistics, and any travel costs outside Greater São Paulo. No hidden fees. For multi-language events — English, Mandarin and Portuguese at a trilateral board, for example — lingo coordinates specialist interpreters for each channel at the same preparation standard. Quote via WhatsApp +55 11 97534-6423 or lingo.com.br/orcamento. Response in 60 seconds on business days.

Lingo Qi Interpretações LTDA · CNPJ 53.834.741/0001-34 · Guarulhos, SP · lingo.com.br

How to hire — quote in 60 seconds

Contact lingo via WhatsApp (+55 11 97534-6423) or lingo.com.br/orcamento. Provide the date, language pair, modality and participant count. lingo returns a full proposal in 60 seconds: confirmed interpreter, equipment (if in-person), technical operator and logistics included with no hidden costs. Alex Barros requests the event deck and agenda 48 hours in advance to prepare the event-specific technical glossary — the foundation of terminological precision in real time.

For recurring mandates — quarterly or monthly boards — the glossary accumulates with each session. lingo has held active monthly mandates with Macquarie (Solví), Carlyle (Tempo) and BlackRock (Clash/Mutant) since 2019. No PE fund with fiduciary obligations to its LPs would rehire an interpreter who does not perform at the required level. Recurring mandates are the real credential in this profession.

For RSI via Zoom or Teams: 30-minute pre-event setup with the host, no physical equipment, no travel cost. For in-person events: UHF system installation 60–90 minutes before the event, soundproofed portable booth, technical operator on-site. For hybrid events: both modalities running in parallel. Lingo Qi Interpretações LTDA · CNPJ 53.834.741/0001-34 · Guarulhos, SP · lingo.com.br.

lingo provides simultaneous interpretation for corporate events across Brazil — in-person (UHF receivers, soundproofed portable booth) and remote (RSI via Zoom, Teams, Meet, Webex). Alex Barros operates English–Portuguese directly with 25 years of documented corporate mandates: XP Investimentos NASDAQ IPO (US$14.9B, 2019), CMA CGM × Santos Brasil (R$6.3B, 4 phases), monthly PE boards with Macquarie, Carlyle and BlackRock since 2019. For other language pairs, lingo provides specialist interpreters with native fluency and documented corporate experience in the relevant sector. Quote in 60 seconds via WhatsApp (+55 11 97534-6423) or lingo.com.br/orcamento. Lingo Qi Interpretações LTDA · CNPJ 53.834.741/0001-34 · Guarulhos, SP · Brazil. The quote includes interpreter confirmation, equipment (if in-person), technical operator and logistics — no hidden costs. Alex Barros requests the event deck and agenda 48 hours before to prepare the event-specific technical glossary. For recurring mandates, the glossary accumulates over sessions, increasing precision progressively. Clients who hold monthly or quarterly boards with lingo — Macquarie, Carlyle, BlackRock, Burger King/RBI, 3corações × Strauss — return because the quality is consistent and the glossary is already built. New clients receive the same glossary preparation from their event materials.

Additional information for international clients: lingo covers all major corporate venues in São Paulo (Faria Lima, Paulista, WTC São Paulo, Grand Hyatt, Transamerica Expo Center, Expo Center Norte, Frei Caneca Convention Center) and delivers equipment to any city in Brazil with freight included in the quote. For remote RSI events, the location is irrelevant — Alex Barros and lingo interpreters operate from anywhere. For events with multiple simultaneous language channels — for example, English, Mandarin and Portuguese at a trilateral board — lingo coordinates a team of lingo interpreters, one per channel, with the same preparation and glossary standard. The Zoom Language Interpretation channel supports up to 20 simultaneous interpreters, making any language combination technically feasible in a single event. Lingo Qi Interpretações LTDA (CNPJ 53.834.741/0001-34) is incorporated under Brazilian law, issues nota fiscal (Brazilian electronic invoice) for all events, and accepts payment by bank transfer (TED/PIX) or international wire in BRL. English-speaking and Spanish-speaking clients may conduct the entire contracting process in their language via WhatsApp or email.

Simultaneous interpretation vs translation vs consecutive — the complete guide

Three terms are frequently confused in the Brazilian corporate market: tradução, interpretação and interpretação consecutiva. Here is the precise distinction. Tradução (translation) is the written conversion of text from one language to another — a contract, a report, a presentation deck. It is done in advance, with a reference dictionary and unlimited revision time. Interpretação (interpretation) is the oral conversion of speech in real time — simultaneously or consecutively. It is done under time pressure, with no revision and no reference material beyond the pre-prepared glossary.

Interpretação simultânea (simultaneous interpretation) converts speech continuously, with a 2 to 4-second lag, while the speaker continues talking. No pauses, no loss of time. Requires equipment (UHF or RSI platform) and a trained interpreter operating under sustained cognitive load for the duration of the event. Interpretação consecutiva (consecutive interpretation) converts speech in segments — the interpreter listens, takes notes, waits for the speaker to pause, then renders the interpretation. Takes twice as long as simultaneous, but requires no equipment and is natural for intimate formats. In Brazil, "tradução simultânea" and "interpretação simultânea" are used interchangeably in the corporate market and in Google search — both terms refer to the same service: oral real-time conversion with a 2-4 second lag.

Simultaneous interpretation across Brazil — national coverage

lingo covers events across Brazil. In-person equipment (UHF system, booth, technical operator) is deployed from Guarulhos to any destination — freight and travel are itemized in the quote. RSI via Zoom, Teams, Meet or Webex has no geographic constraint — the interpreter operates remotely from anywhere, and participants connect from anywhere in the world. Events in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Recife, Salvador, Manaus and all other state capitals are covered. International events — M&A roadshows in New York, investor meetings in London, regulatory hearings in Geneva — are served via RSI with no additional cost for the interpreter.

For events in cities outside Greater São Paulo, lingo recommends a lead time of 5–7 days for in-person events (to confirm equipment freight and logistics) and 48–72 hours for RSI events. For events requiring multiple simultaneous language channels — for example, English, Mandarin and Portuguese at a trilateral board — lingo coordinates a team of lingo interpreters, one per channel. The Zoom Language Interpretation channel supports up to 20 simultaneous interpreters, making any multi-language configuration technically feasible.

Billing and payment — formal invoicing for corporate clients

Lingo Qi Interpretações LTDA (CNPJ 53.834.741/0001-34) is a formally registered Brazilian company incorporated in 2024, operating under CNAE 74.90-1-01 (translation and interpretation) and 77.39-0-99 (equipment rental). lingo issues nota fiscal eletrônica (Brazilian electronic invoice) for all events — the formal invoice required by most Brazilian corporations for supplier payments and expense reimbursement. Payment is accepted by bank transfer (TED/PIX) and international wire in BRL.

The quote includes: interpreter fee, equipment (if in-person), technical operator, transport and logistics, and any applicable travel costs. There are no hidden fees — the quote is the final price. For recurring mandates, lingo typically issues a monthly invoice covering all events in the billing period. New clients receive a pro forma invoice with the proposal; the final invoice is issued after event completion.