Have you ever needed to type a message in Arabic, Russian, or Hindi but couldn't figure out where the letters are on the native keyboard? You know how to speak the language—you just don't know the keyboard layout. That's exactly the problem our new phonetic keyboard feature solves.
With phonetic mode, you type words the way they sound using your regular English QWERTY keyboard, and our system converts them to native script in real time. Type "salam" and get سلام. Type "privet" and get привет. Type "namaste" and get नमस्ते. It's that simple.

What Is a Phonetic Keyboard?

A phonetic keyboard (also called a transliteration keyboard) lets you type in a foreign language using familiar Latin letters. Instead of memorizing where ش, ж, or θ are on a native keyboard, you type sounds like "sh", "zh", or "th" and the system converts them automatically.
This is different from a standard virtual keyboard where you click or type on the actual foreign character positions. Phonetic mode bridges the gap between knowing how a language sounds and being able to write it.
How it works:
  • You type English letters based on how the word sounds
  • Single letters convert instantly: "a" → ا (Arabic), "a" → а (Russian)
  • Multi-character sequences are detected automatically: "sh" → ش, "zh" → ж
  • Special codes work too: "7" → ح (Arabic Arabizi), "3" → ع

Who Benefits from Phonetic Typing?

Phonetic keyboards aren't for everyone, but for certain users, they're game-changing. Here's who gets the most value:

Heritage Speakers

If you grew up speaking Arabic, Russian, Hindi, or another language at home but learned to type in English, phonetic mode is made for you. You know the language fluently—you just never learned the native keyboard layout. Now you can type naturally without memorizing 30+ new key positions.

Language Learners

Learning a new script? Phonetic typing reinforces the connection between sounds and letters. When you type "namaste" and see नमस्ते appear, you're building mental associations that stick. It's like training wheels for a new writing system.

Casual Users and Travelers

Need to send a quick message to a relative in their native language? Want to type an address in Greek while traveling? Phonetic mode gets you there without a full keyboard lesson. Just sound it out and go.

Bilingual Content Creators

Creating content that mixes English with Arabic, Russian, or Hindi? Phonetic mode lets you flow between scripts without constantly switching keyboard layouts. Your fingers stay in one place while your text spans multiple languages.

Languages Supported

We've launched phonetic mode for six languages, each with carefully designed transliteration mappings:

Arabic Phonetic (Arabizi)

The Arabic phonetic keyboard uses Arabizi conventions that millions of Arabic speakers already know from texting. Type "salam" for سلام, "7abibi" for حبيبي, and "3alam" for عالم. Numbers like 3, 7, and 2 map to letters that look similar.
Example mappings:
  • s → س, sh → ش
  • 7 → ح, 5 → خ
  • 3 → ع, 2 → ء
  • a → ا, aa → آ

Russian Phonetic (Translit)

The Russian phonetic keyboard converts Latin letters to Cyrillic using standard translit conventions. Type "privet" for привет, "spasibo" for спасибо, and "khorosho" for хорошо.
Example mappings:
  • zh → ж, sh → ш, shch → щ
  • ch → ч, ts → ц
  • ya → я, yu → ю, yo → ё
  • '' (apostrophe) → ь (soft sign)

Hindi Phonetic (Hinglish)

The Hindi phonetic keyboard converts Hinglish to Devanagari script. Type "namaste" for नमस्ते, "dhanyavaad" for धन्यवाद, and "bahut achha" for बहुत अच्छा.
Example mappings:
  • kh → ख, gh → घ, ch → च
  • th → थ, dh → ध, bh → भ
  • sh → श, aa → आ, ee → ई
  • n → न, m → म, r → र

Greek Phonetic (Greeklish)

The Greek Greeklish keyboard uses conventions familiar to Greek internet users. Type "kalimera" for καλιμερα, "efcharisto" for ευχαριστω, and "tha" for θα.
Example mappings:
  • th → θ, ch → χ, ps → ψ
  • ks/x → ξ, ou → ου
  • a → α, e → ε, i → ι

Hebrew Phonetic

The Hebrew phonetic keyboard converts romanized Hebrew to Hebrew script. Type "shalom" for שלום, "toda" for תודה, and "boker tov" for בוקר טוב.
Example mappings:
  • sh → ש, ch/kh → ח
  • ts → צ, tz → צ
  • a → א, e → א, o → ו

Ukrainian Phonetic

The Ukrainian phonetic keyboard handles Ukrainian-specific letters that differ from Russian. Type "pryvit" for привіт, "dyakuyu" for дякую, and "Ukrayina" for Україна.
Example mappings:
  • i → і, yi → ї, ye → є
  • zh → ж, sh → ш, ch → ч
  • ya → я, yu → ю

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Use Phonetic Mode

Getting started with phonetic typing takes just a few clicks. Here's exactly how to do it:

Step 1: Open a Phonetic Keyboard Page

Visit one of the dedicated phonetic keyboard pages:
Or visit any regular keyboard page (like Arabic or Russian) and look for the "Phonetic" toggle button.

Step 2: Enable Phonetic Mode

If you're on a regular keyboard page, click the green "🔤 Phonetic" button in the toolbar. It will light up to show phonetic mode is active. On dedicated phonetic URLs, it's already enabled by default.

Step 3: Click in the Text Area and Start Typing

Click in the text editor area. Now use your physical keyboard to type words as they sound. Watch as your English letters transform into native script in real time!
Try these examples:
  • Arabic: Type "marhaba" → مرحبا
  • Russian: Type "privet" → привет
  • Hindi: Type "namaste" → नमस्ते
  • Greek: Type "kalimera" → καλιμερα
  • Hebrew: Type "shalom" → שלום
  • Ukrainian: Type "pryvit" → привіт

Step 4: Use Multi-Character Sequences

Some sounds require multiple letters. The system automatically detects these sequences and converts them correctly:
  • "sh" → ش (Arabic), ш (Russian), श (Hindi)
  • "zh" → ج (Arabic), ж (Russian)
  • "th" → θ (Greek)
  • "ch" → ч (Russian), च (Hindi), χ (Greek)
  • "kh" → خ (Arabic), х (Russian), ख (Hindi)
The system uses "greedy matching"—it always checks for the longest possible sequence first. So typing "shch" in Russian correctly produces щ (shch), not ш + ч (sh + ch).

Step 5: Copy or Save Your Text

When you're done typing, use the action buttons:
  • Copy: Copy your text to clipboard for pasting elsewhere
  • Save: Download your text as a .txt file
  • Google: Search your text directly on Google
  • YouTube: Search your text on YouTube

Tips for Better Phonetic Typing

Here are some tips to help you type faster and more accurately:

Learn the Special Codes

For Arabic, memorize the Arabizi number codes: 3 = ع, 7 = ح, 2 = ء, 5 = خ, 6 = ط, 9 = ص. These come from the visual similarity between the numbers and the Arabic letters.

Use Double Letters for Long Vowels

In many languages, double letters create different sounds or long vowels:
  • Hindi: "aa" → आ (long a), "ee" → ई (long i), "oo" → ऊ (long u)
  • Arabic: "aa" → آ (alif with madda)

Pay Attention to Case

Capital letters often map to different characters:
  • Russian: "e" → е, but "E" → Е
  • Greek: "a" → α, but "A" → Α

Practice Common Words First

Start with everyday words and greetings. Once those feel natural, move on to longer sentences. Your muscle memory will develop quickly.

Phonetic vs. Standard Keyboard: When to Use Which

Both modes have their place. Here's when to use each:
Use Phonetic Mode when:
  • You know how words sound but not the native keyboard layout
  • You're a heritage speaker who types faster in English
  • You need to type quickly without learning new key positions
  • You're texting casually and want the fastest input method
Use Standard Keyboard when:
  • You already know the native keyboard layout
  • You need precise control over every character
  • You're learning to type professionally in that language
  • The language has characters that don't transliterate well
The good news? You can switch between modes instantly. Just click the "Phonetic" button to toggle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the phonetic keyboard free?

Yes, completely free. No registration, no downloads, no hidden fees. Just visit the page and start typing.

Does it work on mobile phones?

Yes! The phonetic keyboard works on phones and tablets. You can type using your phone's keyboard and see the transliteration happen in real time.

Can I use my physical keyboard?

Absolutely. In fact, that's the primary use case. Click in the text area and use your physical keyboard to type. You don't need to click the on-screen keys.

What if the transliteration is wrong?

Different regions sometimes use different transliteration conventions. Our mappings are based on the most common standards, but if something doesn't match what you expect, you can always use the standard keyboard to select the exact character you need.

Why doesn't phonetic mode have all letters?

Phonetic mode covers the most common transliterations. For rare characters or precise diacritics, switch to the standard keyboard where every character is available.

Can I type right-to-left languages?

Yes! Arabic and Hebrew are both right-to-left scripts. The text area automatically adjusts direction when you're typing in these languages, even though you're typing left-to-right in phonetic mode.

Is my text private?

Yes. Everything runs in your browser. Your text never leaves your device and is never sent to any server. We respect your privacy completely.

Common Long-Tail Search Terms This Feature Answers

If you found this article searching for any of these terms, our phonetic keyboard is exactly what you need:
  • How to type Arabic with English keyboard
  • Type Russian using English letters online
  • Convert English to Arabic typing
  • Arabizi keyboard online free
  • Greeklish to Greek converter
  • Type Hindi without Hindi keyboard
  • Transliteration keyboard for heritage speakers
  • Type Cyrillic with QWERTY keyboard
  • English to Devanagari typing
  • Romanized Hebrew keyboard
  • Type Ukrainian with English letters
  • How to type in Arabic when you only know English keyboard

Try It Now

Ready to type in your language using familiar English letters? Choose your language and start typing:
Or visit our Phonetic Keyboard hub to see all available languages and learn more about how phonetic typing works.
Whether you're a heritage speaker reconnecting with your roots, a language learner taking your first steps, or a traveler sending a message home, phonetic keyboards make multilingual typing accessible to everyone. No more struggling with unfamiliar key positions—just type how it sounds, and let us handle the conversion.