Online Arabic keyboard to type in Arabic

How do I type in Arabic on a computer?

There are three ways. The quickest is to click the letters of the online Arabic keyboard above: no settings, no install, and the text copies in one click. The second is to type on your physical keyboard: in "Arabic keyboard" mode, each key produces the Arabic letter of the standard layout, in the same spot as on a real Arabic keyboard (the A key on a QWERTY keyboard gives ش, and so does the Q key on a French AZERTY keyboard, because only the position counts). The third is phonetic typing: you spell the word the way it sounds, in Latin letters, and the tool turns it into Arabic script. That last mode is ideal if you don't know where the letters are yet. Whichever you use, Arabic is written right to left, and the text box displays it that way.

How do I add the Arabic keyboard on Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone?

On Windows 11: Settings, Time & language, Language & region, Add a language (on Windows 10: Settings, Time & Language, Language, Add a language), choose Arabic, then a country; switch between English and Arabic with Windows + Space or Alt + Shift. On a Mac: System Settings, Keyboard, Input Sources, Edit, the + button, Arabic; switch keyboards with the globe key or Ctrl + Space. On Android with Gboard: open the keyboard, Settings, Languages, Add keyboard, Arabic; tap the globe to switch. On iPhone and iPad: Settings, General, Keyboard, Keyboards, Add New Keyboard, Arabic, then tap the globe to go from one language to the other. This online keyboard is still handy on a computer that isn't yours, or when you just want to write a word without touching any settings.

How does phonetic Arabic typing work?

Arabic is written with consonants and three long vowels; short vowels are almost never written. So the tool follows simple, documented rules. Each consonant has its letter (b, t, k, m, s…), some sounds take two letters (sh, kh, gh, th, dh), and digits stuck to a letter take their value from the "Arabizi" (Franco-Arabic) used in chat apps: 3 for ع, 7 for ح, 5 for خ, 9 for ص, 6 for ط, 2 for hamza. Double a vowel to make it long: aa gives ا, ii gives ي, uu gives و. Short vowels inside a word are left out, as in everyday Arabic text. Over 150 very common words (greetings, first names, family, numbers), in more than 300 spellings, are recognized as they are to avoid spelling mistakes: for example shukran gives شكرا and inshallah gives إن شاء الله. For other words, check the result: Arabic spelling can't always be guessed from pronunciation.

Short vowels, shadda and Arabic numerals

Short vowels (harakat) are small marks above or below the letters: fatha (َ) for "a", kasra (ِ) for "i", damma (ُ) for "u". Shadda (ّ) doubles a consonant, sukun (ْ) marks the absence of a vowel and tanwin (ً ٌ ٍ) adds a final "n". They are written in texts for children, learners, the Quran and poetry. In the tool, turn on "Add short vowels" in phonetic mode so that salaam becomes سَلَام, or add the marks one by one from their own row. For numbers, Arabic uses two sets: Eastern Arabic (Arabic-Indic) numerals (٠ ١ ٢ ٣ ٤ ٥ ٦ ٧ ٨ ٩), common in the Middle East, and the Western digits 0–9, common in North Africa. One button converts the whole text either way.