Bulgarian (BDS) Typing Speed Test
Free Online Bulgarian BDS Keyboard – Official Bulgarian Standard Layout
Welcome to the Bulgarian BDS keyboard online (Българска клавиатура)! Our free virtual keyboard gives you instant access to the official Bulgarian keyboard standard (BDS 5237:2006), the layout used on Bulgarian typewriters and computers. Type authentic Bulgarian from any device!
What is BDS layout? BDS (Bulgarian State Standard) is the official Bulgarian keyboard layout, different from the phonetic layout. It's the traditional layout that Bulgarian typists have used for decades. Letters are arranged for typing efficiency in Bulgarian, not by phonetic similarity to Latin.
Bulgarian language facts: Bulgarian is spoken by 8+ million people, mainly in Bulgaria. It's a South Slavic language with unique features: no grammatical cases (unlike other Slavic languages), definite articles attached to nouns, and the oldest written Slavic language (Old Church Slavonic was based on Bulgarian dialects)!
Perfect for: Native Bulgarian typists who learned the BDS layout, professional translators, anyone typing official Bulgarian documents, and Bulgarians who prefer the traditional keyboard arrangement.
What BDS actually is: BDS 5237:1978 is the Bulgarian national standard keyboard layout, and it was designed the way typewriter layouts were — by frequency analysis. The most common Bulgarian letters sit on the home row under the strongest fingers, which makes it genuinely fast once learned and completely unlike QWERTY in arrangement. It is what Bulgarian professional typists are trained on and what you will find on keyboards sold in Bulgaria.
BDS versus phonetic: The alternative is the phonetic layout, which maps Cyrillic letters onto the Latin keys with matching sounds, so а sits where A is and б where B is. Phonetic is much easier to pick up for anyone who already touch-types in English and is popular with the Bulgarian diaspora and casual users. BDS is faster at speed but requires learning positions from scratch. Neither is more correct — choose BDS if you type Bulgarian regularly, phonetic if you type it occasionally.
Your privacy is guaranteed – all typing happens 100% locally in your browser. Nothing is ever sent to any server. Your Bulgarian text stays on your device only.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bulgarian BDS keyboard?
BDS (Bulgarian State Standard) is the official Bulgarian keyboard layout, standardized as BDS 5237:2006. It's the traditional layout used on Bulgarian typewriters and is different from phonetic layouts. Professional Bulgarian typists typically use BDS.
What's the difference between BDS and Phonetic Bulgarian?
BDS is the official standard with letters arranged for Bulgarian typing efficiency. Phonetic layout maps Bulgarian letters to similar-sounding Latin keys (like а→a, б→b). BDS is for trained typists; Phonetic is easier for beginners.
What are the unique Bulgarian letters?
Bulgarian Cyrillic has 30 letters, including Ъ (er golyam - unique to Bulgarian), Ь (er malak), and Ѝ (И with grave accent for stress marking). Our keyboard includes all of them!
Is this Bulgarian keyboard really free to use?
Absolutely free! AnyKeyboard's Bulgarian BDS keyboard has no hidden costs, no registration required, and no usage limits. The site is supported by advertising, which is what keeps the keyboard free to use for everyone.
Does the Bulgarian keyboard work on iPhones, iPads, and Android devices?
Yes! Our Bulgarian keyboard is fully responsive and works perfectly on all mobile devices.
How do I copy, save, or search my Bulgarian text?
After typing, click 'Copy' to copy your Bulgarian text to the clipboard. Click 'Save' to download as a UTF-8 .txt file. You can also click 'Google' or 'YouTube' to search directly.
Is my Bulgarian typing private and secure?
100% private. All typing happens locally in your browser – your Bulgarian text is never sent to any server.
Can I switch between BDS and Phonetic Bulgarian keyboards?
Yes! AnyKeyboard supports both Bulgarian BDS (official) and Bulgarian Phonetic layouts. Use the Layout dropdown to switch between them.
What does BDS stand for?
It is the Bulgarian national standard, BDS 5237:1978. The layout was designed by letter-frequency analysis, placing the most common Bulgarian letters on the home row, so its arrangement bears no relation to QWERTY.
Is BDS or the phonetic layout better?
BDS is faster at speed and is what Bulgarian professionals use, but you must learn the positions from scratch. Phonetic maps Cyrillic to matching Latin keys and is far quicker to start with. Choose by how often you type Bulgarian.
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