Tamil · InScript
Tamil InScript keyboard
InScript is the national standard layout for Indian scripts, here for Tamil. It is not Tamil99, the Tamil Nadu government’s own standard: InScript keys match Hindi and the other scripts.
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 Tamil, and every other Indian script.
Tamil InScript puts Tamil letters on the same keys as the other Indian scripts, so someone who types Hindi InScript can type Tamil with the same hand positions. Tamil also has the Tamil99 layout, which many Tamil typists prefer for its Tamil-specific arrangement; if you want Tamil99, this is not that keyboard.
02 · Tamil on this layout
What to know when typing Tamil.
- 01
The pulli (்) is the halant key
The d key types the pulli, which closes a consonant. தமிழ் is த, ம, ி, ழ, pulli: l, c, f, Shift+B, d.
l c f B dதமிழ்
- 02
ற, ன, ழ, ள, ண live on Shift keys
The Tamil-only letters take the Shift positions of the Hindi ऱ ऩ ऴ ळ ण: Shift+J ற, Shift+V ன, Shift+B ழ, Shift+N ள, Shift+C ண.
J V B N Cறனழளண
- 03
Grantha letters
ஜ is p (the Hindi ja key), ஷ is Shift+<, ஸ is m, ஹ is u. They are used in words borrowed from Sanskrit.
p < m uஜஷஸஹ
- 04
No half-forms; a few Sanskrit-origin shortcuts
Tamil does not build conjuncts the Hindi way, so the pulli (d) does most of the work. Shift+6, Shift+7 and Shift+8 type த்ர, க்ஷ and ஷ்ர for words of Sanskrit origin.
&க்ஷ
03 · Key chart
Every key on the Tamil 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 Tamil 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.
- தமிழ்lcfBd
- தமிழ்நாடுlcfBdve'g
- வணக்கம்bCkdkcd
- நன்றிvVdJf
- அரசுDj;g
- பள்ளிhNdNf
- புத்தகம்hgldlkcd
- சென்னை;zVdVw
- கல்விkndbf
- இந்தியாFvdlf/e
- மதுரைclgjw
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 Tamil.
Every row was generated from the Tamil 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 ழ
- ழொB `
- ழௌB q
- ழைB w
- ழாB e
- ழீB r
- ழூB t
- ழோB a
- ழேB s
- ழிB f
- ழுB g
- ழெB z
- ழஂB x
Words with conjuncts
கல்வி
k n d b f
5 keystrokes. Conjunct: ல்வ (consonant, halant, consonant). Signs: ◌ி.
தொழில்நுட்பம்
l ` B f n d v g ' d h c d
13 keystrokes. Conjuncts: ல்ந, ட்ப (consonant, halant, consonant). Signs: ◌ொ ◌ி ◌ு.
சட்டம்
; ' d ' c d
6 keystrokes. Conjunct: ட்ட (consonant, halant, consonant).
பள்ளி
h N d N f
5 keystrokes. Conjunct: ள்ள (consonant, halant, consonant). Signs: ◌ி.
அம்மா
D c d c e
5 keystrokes. Conjunct: ம்ம (consonant, halant, consonant). Signs: ◌ா.
ஸ்ரீ
m d j r
4 keystrokes. Conjunct: ஸ்ர (consonant, halant, consonant). Signs: ◌ீ.
06 · FAQ
Questions about Tamil InScript
Is this the same as Tamil99?
No. Tamil99 is a Tamil-specific layout (and Bamini is a typewriter-style legacy font layout). InScript places Tamil on the same keys as Hindi. They give the same Unicode text but you must learn the layout you intend to use.
Can I convert old Bamini text?
Yes: the Bamini to Unicode converter handles it. This page is for typing new Tamil.
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.