Online Tamil Keyboard – Type in Tamil Instantly
All Keyboards is a free online Tamil keyboard that lets you type in Tamil (Tamil 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 Tamil – Inscript layout, or simply speak and let voice typing write Tamil 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 Tamil Keyboard
- Choose the layout. Keep Keyboard Type on Tamil – Inscript to type in Tamil, or switch to English – QWERTY for English.
- Or type in Roman letters. In English – QWERTY mode, type Tamil words the way they sound – for example namaste – and pick the Tamil 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 Tamil letter printed on it, for example k → க 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 ஆ, ஈ, ங and ற (Shift + e → ஆ).
- Use Ctrl or Alt for special characters. The third set holds the Tamil numerals ௧ ௨ ௩ and other signs.
- Type by voice. Click the microphone in the text box and speak in Tamil – your words appear as Tamil 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 Tamil Words
Tamil letters are built from vowels (உயிர், "life") and consonants (மெய், "body"). A consonant with a vowel makes an uyirmei letter (உயிர்மெய்): க is ka, and a vowel sign changes the vowel. The dot called puḷḷi (்) removes the vowel, leaving the pure consonant க்.
Three rules to remember
- Consonant + vowel sign: க + ா = கா (kā) – press k e.
- Type in the order you speak: the signs ெ ே ை are written before the letter but typed after it – கெ (ke) – press k z.
- Consonant + puḷḷi: க + ் = க் (k) – the dot removes the vowel – press k d.
Practice words
| Word | Meaning | Letters | Keys to press |
|---|---|---|---|
| அம்மா | mother | அ + ம + ் + ம + ா | Shift+d c d c e |
| தண்ணீர் | water | த + ண + ் + ண + ீ + ர + ் | l Shift+c d Shift+c r j d |
| வீடு | house | வ + ீ + ட + ு | b r ' g |
| இந்தியா | India | இ + ந + ் + த + ி + ய + ா | Shift+f v d l f / e |
| தமிழ் | Tamil | த + ம + ி + ழ + ் | l c f Shift+b d |
| வணக்கம் | hello | வ + ண + க + ் + க + ம + ் | b Shift+c k d k c d |
| அன்பு | love | அ + ன + ் + ப + ு | Shift+d Shift+v d h g |
Want to learn every letter first? See the complete Tamil alphabet with pronunciation and examples.
About the Tamil Language
Tamil (தமிழ்) is a Dravidian language – a family of South Indian languages not related to Hindi or Sanskrit. It is the official language of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore. Tamil is written in its own Tamil script, which has only 18 consonants because one letter can stand for related sounds – க is "k" or "g" depending on its place in the word. Sentences end with the verb (நான் தண்ணீர் குடிக்கிறேன் – "I water drink"), and Tamil has one of the oldest unbroken literary traditions in the world.
- Script
- Tamil script (தமிழ் எழுத்து)
- Language family
- Dravidian
- Official status
- Official language of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, of Sri Lanka and of Singapore; classical language of India since 2004
- Related languages
- Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Tulu
How old is Tamil?
Tamil is more than 2,000 years old. Its earliest inscriptions date from around the 3rd century BCE, and the poems of Sangam literature and the grammar Tolkappiyam were written about 2,000 years ago. In 2004 Tamil became the first language declared a classical language by the Government of India.
How many people speak Tamil?
About 70 million people in India named Tamil as their mother tongue in the 2011 Census, and with Sri Lanka and the worldwide diaspora there are more than 80 million Tamil speakers.
Where is Tamil spoken?
Tamil is spoken in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and by communities in Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Outside India it is spoken in the north and east of Sri Lanka, in Singapore and Malaysia, Mauritius, Réunion and South Africa, and by large communities in Canada, the UK and the USA.
The Thirukkural by Thiruvalluvar – 1,330 short couplets on virtue, wealth and love – is one of the most translated books of India and a favourite of Tamil readers for centuries.
Common Tamil Phrases
A greeting and everyday phrases, to see how Tamil looks. Click a phrase to add it to the text box.
Tamil Alphabet at a Glance (Tamiḻ eḻuttukkaḷ)
Tamil has 12 vowels (உயிர் எழுத்து), 18 consonants (மெய் எழுத்து) and the special letter ஃ. Every consonant combines with every vowel, making 216 uyirmei letters – 247 letters in all.
Vowels உயிர் 12
அ ஆ இ ஈ உ ஊ எ ஏ ஐ ஒ ஓ ஔ
Written as full letters at the start of a word or on their own.
Consonants மெய் 18
- Hard consonants
- க ச ட த ப ற
- Soft consonants
- ங ஞ ண ந ம ன
- Medium consonants
- ய ர ல வ ழ ள
Grouped by where in the mouth the sound is made – from the throat forward to the lips.
Special letter ஆய்த எழுத்து 1
ஃ
āytam, a soft guttural sound.
Grantha letters கிரந்த எழுத்துகள் 6
ஜ ஷ ஸ ஹ க்ஷ ஸ்ரீ
For words from Sanskrit and other languages.
Numerals எண்கள்
௦ ௧ ௨ ௩ ௪ ௫ ௬ ௭ ௮ ௯
Tamil digits. Today Tamil is almost always written with the international digits 0–9.
Vowel signs உயிர்மெய்
க கா கி கீ கு கூ கெ கே கை கொ கோ கௌ
Vowel signs added to a consonant. The puḷḷi (◌்) removes the vowel: க்.
Hear every letter and practise reading on the Tamil alphabet page.
Tamil Keyboard – Frequently Asked Questions
How do I type in Tamil?
Click the keys of the on-screen Tamil – Inscript keyboard, or type on your own keyboard – each key types the Tamil character shown on it. You can also switch Keyboard Type to English – QWERTY, type Tamil words in Roman letters and pick the word from the suggestions.
Is the online Tamil 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 Tamil fonts?
No. The page loads a Unicode font for the Tamil script, so Tamil text shows correctly in any modern browser, and the text you copy works in WhatsApp, Word and email.
How many letters does the Tamil alphabet have?
The Tamil alphabet has 12 vowels, 18 consonants and 216 vowel-consonant letters. See every letter with its pronunciation on the alphabet page.
Where is Tamil spoken?
Tamil is spoken in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and by communities in Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Outside India it is spoken in the north and east of Sri Lanka, in Singapore and Malaysia, Mauritius, Réunion and South Africa, and by large communities in Canada, the UK and the USA.
Can I translate Tamil 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 Tamil by voice?
Yes. Click the microphone in the text box and speak in Tamil – it works in Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge.