Online phonetic keyboards
A phonetic keyboard turns what you type in Latin letters into the characters of another alphabet, based on sound. Pick the language you want to write below: Arabic and Russian, as well as Tifinagh and Kabyle.
Compatible keyboards
- أبجد هوزArabic keyboard · Phoneticالعربية
- أبجد هوزPersian keyboard · Phoneticفارسی
- ПриветRussian keyboard · PhoneticРусский
- اردو زبانUrdu keyboard · Phoneticاردو
How phonetic typing works
You speak the language but don’t know its keyboard? Phonetic typing lets you write with the Latin keys you already use. Each sound turns into the matching letter as soon as you type it, and two- or three-letter combinations (sh, kh, zh) cover the sounds specific to each language.
Keyboards with a phonetic mode
- Arabic phonetic keyboard: digits stand in for sounds that Latin lacks (3 = ع, 7 = ح, 9 = ق in the Maghreb or ص in the Mashriq). Three regional variants are available: Morocco, Algeria-Tunisia, and Mashriq and Gulf. The “Words” mode can also convert a whole word, such as salam into سلام, when you press Space.
- Russian phonetic keyboard: privet becomes привет, zh gives ж and shch gives щ.
- Tifinagh: in Phonetic mode, azul is written ⴰⵣⵓⵍ.
- Kabyle: Phonetic mode makes special letters easier, with 3 for ɛ, gh for ɣ or .d for ḍ.
Phonetic or official layout?
Phonetic typing is perfect for an occasional message or for learning the basics. If you write often, Layout mode, which follows each language’s official keyboard, usually ends up faster. The “Input mode” selector above the keyboard lets you switch between the two at any time.