Online Malayalam Keyboard – Type in Malayalam Instantly
All Keyboards is a free online Malayalam keyboard that lets you type in Malayalam (Malayalam script) directly in your browser – no software or fonts to install. Type with your own keyboard or click the on-screen keys using the standard Malayalam – Inscript layout, or simply speak and let voice typing write Malayalam for you. Copy the text into WhatsApp, email, Word or social media, download it as a file, print it, or translate it into English and other Indian languages in one click.
How to Use the Malayalam Keyboard
- Choose the layout. Keep Keyboard Type on Malayalam – Inscript to type in Malayalam, or switch to English – QWERTY for English.
- Or type in Roman letters. In English – QWERTY mode, type Malayalam words the way they sound – for example namaste – and pick the Malayalam word from the suggestions.
- Start typing. Click the keys of the on-screen keyboard with your mouse or finger, or type on your computer keyboard – each key produces the Malayalam letter printed on it, for example k → ക and e → ാ.
- Use Shift and Caps Lock for more letters. They switch to the second set of characters – more consonants and the full vowels, such as ഖ, ഘ, ആ and ഈ (Shift + k → ഖ).
- Use Ctrl or Alt for special characters. The third set holds the Malayalam numerals ൧ ൨ ൩ and other signs.
- Type by voice. Click the microphone in the text box and speak in Malayalam – your words appear as Malayalam text (works in Chrome and Edge).
- Save or share your text. Use the toolbar above the text box to start a new text, download it as a .txt file, copy, print, share it on WhatsApp or by email, work in full screen, or translate it into English and other languages.
How to Join Consonants and Vowels to Make Malayalam Words
Malayalam is written in syllables. Every consonant already contains a short "a" sound, so ക is read ka. To write a different vowel after a consonant, you add a vowel sign (സ്വരചിഹ്നം). The candrakkala (്) removes the vowel and joins consonants into clusters. Five consonants also have a vowel-less chillu form – ൻ ർ ൽ ൾ ൺ – which you type with Ctrl or Alt.
Three rules to remember
- Consonant + vowel sign: ക + ാ = കാ (kā) – press k e.
- Type in the order you speak: the signs െ േ ൈ are written before the letter but typed after it – കെ (ke) – press k z.
- Consonant + candrakkala + consonant: ക് + ക = ക്ക (kka) – press k d k.
Practice words
| Word | Meaning | Letters | Keys to press |
|---|---|---|---|
| അമ്മ | mother | അ + മ + ് + മ | Shift+d c d c |
| വെള്ളം | water | വ + െ + ള + ് + ള + ം | b z Shift+n d Shift+n x |
| വീട് | house | വ + ീ + ട + ് | b r ' d |
| ഇന്ത്യ | India | ഇ + ന + ് + ത + ് + യ | Shift+f v d l d / |
| മലയാളം | Malayalam | മ + ല + യ + ാ + ള + ം | c n / e Shift+n x |
| നമസ്കാരം | hello | ന + മ + സ + ് + ക + ാ + ര + ം | v c m d k e j x |
| സ്നേഹം | love | സ + ് + ന + േ + ഹ + ം | m d v s u x |
Want to learn every letter first? See the complete Malayalam alphabet with pronunciation and examples.
About the Malayalam Language
Malayalam (മലയാളം) is a Dravidian language and the official language of Kerala and Lakshadweep. It grew from the western dialects of old Tamil and took in many words from Sanskrit, so its Malayalam script has letters for both Dravidian and Sanskrit sounds – more than any other Indian script. Malayalam puts the verb at the end of the sentence (ഞാൻ വെള്ളം കുടിക്കുന്നു – "I water drink"), has no verb endings for person, and its name, written in English letters, reads the same backwards: Malayalam.
- Script
- Malayalam script (മലയാളം ലിപി)
- Language family
- Dravidian
- Official status
- Official language of Kerala and Lakshadweep; classical language of India since 2013
- Related languages
- Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Tulu
How old is Malayalam?
Malayalam separated from Old Tamil around the 9th century. The Vazhappally copper plate of about 830 CE is its oldest known inscription, so Malayalam is more than 1,100 years old. The 16th-century poet Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan is called the father of modern Malayalam, and India recognised it as a classical language in 2013.
How many people speak Malayalam?
About 35 million people named Malayalam as their mother tongue in India's 2011 Census, and with the large community abroad there are close to 40 million speakers.
Where is Malayalam spoken?
Malayalam is spoken in Kerala, Lakshadweep and Mahe (Puducherry), and by communities in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Millions of Malayalis live and work in the Gulf countries – the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman – and in the USA, the UK, Singapore and Malaysia.
Kerala celebrates Kerala Piravi (കേരളപ്പിറവി) on 1 November, the day in 1956 when the Malayalam-speaking regions became one state, and Malayalam literature has won six Jnanpith Awards.
Common Malayalam Phrases
A greeting and everyday phrases, to see how Malayalam looks. Click a phrase to add it to the text box.
Malayalam Alphabet at a Glance (Akṣaramāla)
The Malayalam alphabet is called akṣaramāla (അക്ഷരമാല). It has vowels (സ്വരങ്ങൾ) and consonants (വ്യഞ്ജനങ്ങൾ), and five chillu letters – consonants without a vowel. Every consonant carries a built-in "a" sound, and the vowels after it are written as vowel signs.
Vowels സ്വരങ്ങൾ 13
അ ആ ഇ ഈ ഉ ഊ ഋ എ ഏ ഐ ഒ ഓ ഔ
Written as full letters at the start of a word or on their own.
Extra signs 2
അം അഃ
Anusvaram – an "m" sound at the end of the syllable. Visargam – a short breathy "h".
Consonants വ്യഞ്ജനങ്ങൾ 36
- Velar
- ക ഖ ഗ ഘ ങ
- Palatal
- ച ഛ ജ ഝ ഞ
- Retroflex
- ട ഠ ഡ ഢ ണ
- Dental
- ത ഥ ദ ധ ന
- Labial
- പ ഫ ബ ഭ മ
- Semivowels
- യ ര ല വ
- Sibilants & h
- ശ ഷ സ ഹ
- Dravidian letters
- ള ഴ റ
Grouped by where in the mouth the sound is made – from the throat forward to the lips.
Chillu letters ചില്ലക്ഷരങ്ങൾ 5
ൺ ൻ ർ ൽ ൾ
Pure consonants with no vowel – type them with Ctrl or Alt.
Numerals അക്കങ്ങൾ
൦ ൧ ൨ ൩ ൪ ൫ ൬ ൭ ൮ ൯
Malayalam digits. Today Malayalam is almost always written with the international digits 0–9.
Vowel signs സ്വരചിഹ്നങ്ങൾ
ക കാ കി കീ കു കൂ കെ കേ കൈ കൊ കോ കൌ കം കഃ
Vowel signs added to a consonant. The candrakkala (◌്) removes the vowel: ക്.
Hear every letter and practise reading on the Malayalam alphabet page.
Malayalam Keyboard – Frequently Asked Questions
How do I type in Malayalam?
Click the keys of the on-screen Malayalam – Inscript keyboard, or type on your own keyboard – each key types the Malayalam character shown on it. You can also switch Keyboard Type to English – QWERTY, type Malayalam words in Roman letters and pick the word from the suggestions.
Is the online Malayalam keyboard free?
Yes. The keyboard, translator, typing tutor and image to text tool are free to use, with no sign-up and nothing to install.
Do I need to install Malayalam fonts?
No. The page loads a Unicode font for the Malayalam script, so Malayalam text shows correctly in any modern browser, and the text you copy works in WhatsApp, Word and email.
How many letters does the Malayalam alphabet have?
The Malayalam alphabet has 13 vowels, 36 consonants and 5 chillu letters. See every letter with its pronunciation on the alphabet page.
Where is Malayalam spoken?
Malayalam is spoken in Kerala, Lakshadweep and Mahe (Puducherry), and by communities in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Millions of Malayalis live and work in the Gulf countries – the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman – and in the USA, the UK, Singapore and Malaysia.
Can I translate Malayalam text?
Yes. Type your text, choose a language next to Translate and press the button – the translator opens with your text translated into English or any other supported language.
Can I type Malayalam by voice?
Yes. Click the microphone in the text box and speak in Malayalam – it works in Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge.