Tamil Typewriter Online
தமிழ் தட்டச்சு
The classic Tamil typewriter layout on any computer, with drills for exam practice.
Type a letter in English or Tamil to see which keys make it.
Try it: GHLK;பாடம்Not sure where a letter is? Type it in Find a key under the keyboard.
Short answer
The Tamil typewriter layout is the key arrangement of mechanical Tamil typewriters, still taught for the Tamil Nadu government typewriting exams. Each key prints a letter or a piece of one: F is க, H is ா, and signs like ெ come before the consonant. Click the box above and type; no font or install needed.
Who it is for
The Tamil Typewriter Keyboard Typists Already Know
Before computers, Tamil was typed on mechanical typewriters, and typewriting institutes across Tamil Nadu still teach this key arrangement. Students working towards the Tamil typewriting grades of the Government Technical Examinations, office typists, and court and DTP staff who learned on a machine all have it in their fingers.
The layout here follows the standard Tamil typewriter arrangement as published in the open Keyman "Tamil Typewriter" keyboard. Machines from different makers varied slightly, so if you are preparing for an exam, compare a few keys with your institute's chart.
This page puts that layout on any computer. You do not need a Tamil font, a special keyboard, or admin rights to install software. Type, then copy.
| Method | How you type கொ | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Typewriter | b f h: the pieces in the order they are printed (ெ க ா) | Trained typists and exam practice. Fast once learned, and you never need to know the English spelling. |
| Phonetic | ko: the sound, in English letters | Everyone else. Nothing to learn if you can write Tanglish. Try phonetic typing. |
| Tamil99 | The consonant key, then the vowel key; the keyboard joins them | New learners who want a Tamil-only layout. Vowels sit mostly under the left hand and consonants under the right. |
How it types
Sign First, Like on the Machine
A typewriter prints from left to right, so the signs that sit on the left of a letter (ெ ே ை) are struck before the consonant. This tool keeps that habit. Press the sign, and the chart marks it as waiting; press the consonant, and the joined letter appears.
- b then f gives கெ, n then f gives கே, i then f gives கை.
- Two-part vowels are typed as their parts: b f h gives கொ, n f h gives கோ.
- Many உ and ஊ letters have their own key with Shift: Shift f is கு, Shift t is கூ. Others use the [ key for ு.
- Backspace while a sign is waiting cancels the sign. Otherwise it removes one piece: கி becomes க.
Under the hood the text is saved in Unicode order (consonant, then sign), so it searches, sorts and pastes correctly everywhere.
Finger placement
Home Row: ய ள ன க and த ம ட ்
Rest your fingers on A S D F and J K L ;. Feel for the small bumps on F and J; on this layout they are க and த.
- Each finger owns a column. Reach up or down, then come back to the home key.
- Thumbs rest on the space bar. Use the little finger opposite the key for Shift.
- Keep your eyes on the copy, not the keys. Glance at the chart above if you must; it lights up the key you pressed.
- Accuracy first. Speed comes from not having to correct.
| Finger | Keys | Home |
|---|---|---|
| Left little | ` 1 Q A Z | ய |
| Left ring | 2 W S X | ள |
| Left middle | 3 E D C | ன |
| Left index | 4 5 R T F G V B | க |
| Right index | 6 7 Y U H J N M | த |
| Right middle | 8 I K , | ம |
| Right ring | 9 O L . | ட |
| Right little | 0 - = P [ ] \ ; ' / | ் |
Exams
The Tamil Typewriting Exam: What Is Official
Tamil typewriting certificates in Tamil Nadu come from the Government Technical Examinations (GTE), run by the Directorate of Technical Education (TNDTE). Its own notifications and circulars say:
- Grades. Junior, Senior and High Speed, in Tamil and in English. The August 2025 notification adds a Pre-Junior grade.
- Papers. Every grade has a 10-minute First Paper (the speed paper). The Second Paper is 45 minutes for Junior and 60 minutes for Senior.
- Machines, then computers. Exams stay on typewriters until 2027. From 2028 they move to computers, where Tamil99 is the government-approved Tamil keyboard.
So practise on this typewriter layout if you will sit the exam on a machine, and add the Tamil99 keyboard if you will sit it on a computer. We do not quote words-per-minute pass marks: we could not find them in an official TNDTE document, so ask your institute. More detail, and every grade's rules, are on the Tamil typing test page.
Official sources (read November 2026):
- TNDTE, GTE February 2025 notification (dated 15.12.2024): tndtegteonline.in
- TNDTE, GTE August 2025 notification (Pre-Junior grade): tndtegteonline.in
- TNDTE circular DOTE/194/2025-RO2, 23.06.2025 (typewriters until 2027, computers from 2028): tndtegteonline.in
Practice
Five Home-Row Drills
Type each line in the box at the top of the page. Tap a word to see its keys numbered on the keyboard. Repeat a drill until you can do it without looking down, then move on. For timed lessons with a score, use Tamil typewriting practice.
Home Row Letters
Left hand, then right hand. Say each letter as you strike it.
asdfghjkl;'
Long ā With the H Key
Consonant first, then ா with your right index finger.
f hg hj hk hl ha h
Short Words
Pulli ் is the right little finger, on the ; key.
g l k ;pictureg h l k ;lessonk f d ;sonf l d ;loang a k ;fearj h a ;mother
Doubled Consonants
Consonant, pulli, the same consonant again. Keep a steady rhythm.
f l ; l k ;squareg l ; l k ;kite; degreeg s ; s k ;hollow
Longer Words
ங is the right little finger, one key past the pulli.
j ' ; f k ;goldk h ' ; f h a ;raw mangof h f k ;crowg h j k ;foot
Questions People Ask
What is the Tamil typewriter keyboard?
It is the key arrangement of Tamil typewriters, carried over to computers. Each key prints a fixed letter or piece of a letter: F is க, H is the ா sign, ; is the pulli ். People who learned Tamil typing on a typewriter, or at a typewriting institute, can keep using the same finger movements on a PC.
Do I need to install a Tamil font or change my keyboard settings?
No. This page reads which physical key you pressed, so it works with your computer set to English (or any other layout). The output is standard Unicode Tamil that you can paste into Word, Google Docs, Gmail or WhatsApp. Keep the chart open while learning unfamiliar positions.
How do I type கெ, கை or கொ on the typewriter layout?
Type in the order the letter is printed, sign first: B (ெ) then F (க) gives கெ; I (ை) then F gives கை. For கொ, add the ா sign: B F H. For கோ use N (ே) instead of B. The tool stores the letters in the correct Unicode order for you.
Is this the Keyman Tamil typewriter keyboard?
Yes, for every letter key. The key assignments come from the open-source Keyman keyboard “Tamil Typewriter (Visual Media)” (MIT licence). Every letter key also matches Keyman’s “New Typewriter” keyboard from thamizha.com. A few punctuation and Shift positions differ between typewriter models, so check the chart above against the machine or software your institute uses.
Can I use this to practise for the Tamil typewriting exam?
Yes, for learning the keys and building speed. The drills on this page use only home-row keys so you can practise without looking down. Your exam rules and the machine at your centre come first, so confirm the layout with your institute.
Does the typewriter keyboard work on a phone?
Yes. On a touch screen, tap the keys in the chart. On a phone the chart shows one hand at a time, so the keys stay big enough to tap. Shift works for one key, then turns itself off. Use the hand selector to reach keys on the other side.
Why do my institute’s punctuation keys differ from this typewriter chart?
Typewriter variants can share letter positions while differing on punctuation and Shift keys. Compare your institute’s reference with this chart before practising a timed passage. Use the layout required by your course for assessment preparation. This page follows the Keyman Visual Media letter table; it does not promise that every physical typewriter model has identical symbols in every position.
Will this online typewriter issue a typing exam certificate?
No. This page is a practice keyboard, not an examining body or a certification service. Use its drills to learn positions, then follow your institute’s arrangements for the official examination. For measured practice, use the typing test. A result from an online practice session should not be presented as an official typewriting qualification.
Does using this page turn my laptop into a mechanical typewriter?
No. It reproduces a Tamil key layout in a browser text editor. It cannot reproduce the force, carriage movement or paper handling of a mechanical machine. Use it to rehearse letter sequences, then practise on the equipment your institute requires. Ask your instructor which layout and machine apply to your examination before relying entirely on laptop practice.
How do I save a passage typed with the typewriter layout?
Use the editor’s download action to keep a plain-text copy, or copy the passage into your document editor and save it there. The letters produced here are Unicode Tamil. The download is not a formatted Word document or a scan of a typewritten sheet. Keep a separate copy of important practice passages before clearing the editor or changing browsers.