Kannada · InScript
Kannada InScript keyboard
The standard Kannada InScript layout, with an on-screen keyboard and a key chart. Type Unicode Kannada and copy it into any app.
Press keys on your keyboard, or click the keys below. Ctrl+Space switches to English and back.
Hold Shift or AltGr (right Alt) on your keyboard to see the other layers. ◌ marks a sign that attaches to the letter before it.
01 · Why InScript
One standard layout for Kannada, and every other Indian script.
Kannada InScript is the Windows Kannada keyboard. It is separate from Nudi (a legacy ASCII font and keyboard widely used in Karnataka government work) and from Baraha-style phonetic typing. Type here to get Unicode, which opens in Tunga, Noto Sans Kannada and Nirmala UI.
02 · Kannada on this layout
What to know when typing Kannada.
- 01
Halant makes clusters (ಒತ್ತಕ್ಷರ)
ಕನ್ನಡ is ಕ, ನ, halant, ನ, ಡ: k, v, d, v, [.
k v d v [ಕನ್ನಡ
- 02
Reph (ರ್) is Shift+4
Shift+4 types ರ್ in one key; the halant form works too. ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ is k, j, d, v, e, ', k.
k j d v e ' kಕರ್ನಾಟಕ
- 03
ಱ and ೞ
The archaic ಱ is Shift+J and ೞ is AltGr+Shift+H; they appear in old Kannada texts.
Jಱ
- 04
ಳ is Shift+N
The retroflex ಳ is Shift+N: ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು is y, z, x, i, Shift+N, t, j, g.
y z x i N t j gಬೆಂಗಳೂರು
03 · Key chart
Every key on the Kannada InScript layout.
Generated from the same table the keyboard above uses. Letters in the top-left of each key are what a US keyboard prints; ◌ marks a sign that attaches to the letter before it.
Without Shift
With Shift
With AltGr (right Alt)
With AltGr + Shift
04 · Practice
Common Kannada words, and the keys that type them.
Each sequence was generated from the layout and typed back through it when this page was built. “Try” puts the word in the box above.
- ಕನ್ನಡkvdv[
- ಕರ್ನಾಟಕk$ve'k
- ಬೆಂಗಳೂರುyzxiNtjg
- ಸರ್ಕಾರm$kej
- ಶಾಲೆMenz
- ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿbfod/e$Lf
- ನಮಸ್ಕಾರvcmdkej
- ಧನ್ಯವಾದOvd/beo
- ಪುಸ್ತಕhgmdlk
- ಶಿಕ್ಷಣMf&C
Keys shown are the characters on a US keyboard, with “AltGr+” before keys that use the right Alt key.
05 · Exercises
Vowel signs and conjuncts, drilled in Kannada.
Every row was generated from the Kannada layout table and typed back through it when this page was built, so the keys shown always give the text shown. Press the keys in order; the display reorders vowel signs that are drawn before their consonant.
Every vowel sign on the letter ಳ
- ಳೊN `
- ಳೃN =
- ಳೌN q
- ಳೈN w
- ಳಾN e
- ಳೀN r
- ಳೂN t
- ಳ಼N ]
- ಳೋN a
- ಳೇN s
- ಳಿN f
- ಳುN g
- ಳೆN z
- ಳಂN x
- ಳಃN _
- ಳೄN AltGr+=
- ಳೣN AltGr+r
- ಳೢN AltGr+f
Words with conjuncts
ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿ
b f o d / e $ L f
9 keystrokes. Conjuncts: ದ್ಯ, ರ್ಥ (consonant, halant, consonant). Signs: ◌ಿ ◌ಾ.
ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ
h # M d v z
6 keystrokes. Conjuncts: ಪ್ರ, ಶ್ನ (consonant, halant, consonant). Signs: ◌ೆ. Includes a vowel sign that is typed after its consonant but drawn before it.
ಕನ್ನಡ
k v d v [
5 keystrokes. Conjunct: ನ್ನ (consonant, halant, consonant).
ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯ
m d b e l x ^ d /
9 keystrokes. Conjuncts: ಸ್ವ, ತ್ರ್ಯ (consonant, halant, consonant). Signs: ◌ಾ ◌ಂ.
ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ
& s ^
3 keystrokes. Conjuncts: ಕ್ಷ, ತ್ರ (consonant, halant, consonant). Signs: ◌ೇ.
ಅಪ್ಪ
D h d h
4 keystrokes. Conjunct: ಪ್ಪ (consonant, halant, consonant).
06 · FAQ
Questions about Kannada InScript
Is this the same as Nudi or Baraha?
No. Nudi and Baraha-style typing are different. Nudi is a legacy ASCII font with its own keyboard; this page is the InScript standard and types Unicode.
Can I convert old Nudi files?
Yes. The Nudi to Unicode converter handles them. This page is for typing new text.
What is InScript?
InScript (“Indian Script”) is the standard keyboard layout for Indian scripts, defined by C-DAC and standardised by the Bureau of Indian Standards. Every script uses the same logical arrangement: vowels and vowel signs on the left, consonants on the right, and the halant key for conjuncts.
How do I add InScript to my own computer?
On Windows, open Settings, then Time & language, then Language & region. Add the language and choose its InScript (or standard) keyboard from the keyboard list, then switch with Win+Space. Linux desktops include InScript variants in the keyboard settings too. This page needs nothing installed.
Can I use this on a phone?
Yes. Tap the on-screen keys; they work in the same layout. On touch devices the phone’s own keyboard is hidden so it does not interfere, and there is a link to bring it back.
Is my text sent anywhere?
No. Typing, copying and the Word download all happen in your browser. The text you typed is kept only in this tab’s session storage so a refresh does not lose it.