Malayalam is the official language of Kerala, a state in southern India. It is used by around 35 million people around the world. Typing Malayalam on your phone allows you to communicate easily with other Malayalam speakers through messaging apps, social media, and emails.
Enable Malayalam Keyboard on Your Phone
The first step is to enable the Malayalam keyboard on your phone. Here are the steps for different phone types:
Android Phones
1. Go to Settings > System > Languages & input > Virtual keyboard.
2. Tap on the ‘+’ icon to add a new keyboard.
3. Select Malayalam from the list of languages.
4. The Malayalam keyboard will now be enabled. You can switch between English and Malayalam keyboards when typing.
iPhones
1. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard.
2. Tap on Keyboards > Add New Keyboard.
3. Select Malayalam from the list of languages.
4. The Malayalam keyboard will now be added. You can switch between keyboards when typing.
Type Malayalam Letters
Once you have enabled the Malayalam keyboard, you can start typing in Malayalam.
Here are some tips to type letters in the Malayalam script:
- The Malayalam script has 51 letters including 16 vowels and 35 consonants.
- Some consonants are represented by combining multiple keys. For example: ‘p’ followed by ‘p’ makes ‘pp’.
- There are standalone signs to type commonly used letter combinations like ‘ksh’ and ‘tra’.
- Use the backspace key to delete and correct any wrong letters.
- Some phones allow you to long press a key to view related letters. For example: Long press ‘ka’ to see ‘kha’, ‘ga’ etc.
With practice, you will get used to the Malayalam keyboard layout and be able to type fluently. Refer to the keyboard chart for your phone for the mapping of keys to Malayalam letters.
Type Common Malayalam Words and Phrases
Here are some common Malayalam words and phrases to practice typing:
| English | Malayalam |
|---|---|
| Hello | ഹലോ |
| How are you? | എങ്ങനെ ഉണ്ട്? |
| I’m fine | ഞാൻ ശെരിയാണ് |
| Thank you | നന്ദി |
| Please | ദയവായി |
| Sorry | ക്ഷമിക്കണം |
| Good morning | ശുഭമായ രാവിലെ |
| Good night | ശുഭരാത്രി |
Start with simple greetings and phrases. With regular practice, you will be able to build your Malayalam vocabulary.
Enable Malayalam Voice Typing
Typing long messages in Malayalam can be time consuming. Use voice typing to convert your speech to Malayalam text.
Here are the steps to enable Malayalam voice typing:
Android Phones
1. Install the Google Voice Typing app from the Play Store. Turn on permissions to use the microphone.
2. Go to Settings > System > Languages & input > Virtual keyboard.
3. Beside Google voice typing, tap Languages.
4. Select Malayalam.
5. Now you can tap the mic icon on the keyboard and speak in Malayalam to type.
iPhones
1. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard.
2. Under Keyboards, tap Malayalam.
3. Enable Tap to Speak.
4. On the keyboard, long press the space bar and tap Speak to convert speech to Malayalam text.
Use Swipe Typing
Swipe typing or gesture typing can also increase your typing speed and is easy to learn.
To enable swipe typing:
- On Android, toggle ‘Enable gesture typing’ in Gboard settings.
- On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Keyboard and enable Slide to Type.
Instead of tapping each key, simply swipe your finger from letter to letter to form words. The keyboard guesses the word based on the path of your swipe. It might take some practice to get accurate results.
Add a Malayalam Spell Checker
Using a spell checker helps avoid errors while typing Malayalam. It underlines wrong words and suggests corrections.
Here are some Malayalam spell checker apps:
- For Android – Malayalam Spell Checker, Canto
- For iPhone – Malayalam Spell Checker, Malayalam Keyboard
Install one of these apps and enable it as the default spell checker. Now spelling mistakes will be automatically highlighted as you type and you can quickly fix them.
Use Auto-Correction and Next-Word Prediction
Auto-correction and next-word prediction are typing assistance features that can save you time.
Auto-correction automatically fixes spelling errors and completes words as you type. For example, if you type ‘adoor’ it may auto correct to ‘അടൂർ’.
Next-word prediction suggests the next word you may want to use as you type a sentence. This helps you type faster.
Enable these features in your phone keyboard settings or install third-party Malayalam keyboard apps like Gboard that support them.
Install a Malayalam Keyboard App
If you find the default Malayalam keyboard on your phone difficult to use, install a customized Malayalam keyboard app. Some options are:
- Gboard – Supports swipe typing, voice typing, stickers.
- SwiftKey – Offers auto-correction, prediction and themes.
- TouchnType – Has emojis, GIFs and typing tutorials.
- Indic Malayalam Keyboard – Designed specifically for Malayalam.
These apps provide a better typing experience with more features tailored for the Malayalam language.
Conclusion
Typing fluently in Malayalam on a mobile phone takes some practice but gets easier over time. Enable the Malayalam keyboard, use voice and swipe typing, install keyboard apps and utilize auto-correct features. With regular use, you will be able to communicate smoothly in Malayalam on your mobile device.