Typing in regional languages like Malayalam can be challenging on mobile devices. WhatsApp makes it easy to type in Malayalam on Samsung phones. With the right keyboard installed, you can seamlessly switch between English and Malayalam keyboards.
In this article, we will discuss the methods for typing Malayalam on WhatsApp using a Samsung phone. We will cover:
- Enabling Malayalam Keyboard on Your Samsung Phone
- Switching Between English and Malayalam Keyboards
- Typing in Malayalam using the Malayalam Keyboard
- Using Swiping to Type Malayalam Words
- Adding Malayalam Stickers and Emojis
- Changing Keyboard Settings
Whether you’re a native Malayalam speaker or want to communicate with Malayalam speaking contacts, you’ll find this guide helpful. So let’s get started!
Enabling Malayalam Keyboard on Your Samsung Phone
To type in Malayalam on WhatsApp, you need to first enable the Malayalam keyboard on your Samsung phone. Here are the steps to do it:
- Go to Settings on your phone.
- Tap on General Management or System.
- Select Language and Input.
- Tap on On-screen keyboard.
- Tap Add input languages.
- Select Malayalam from the list of languages.
This will install the Malayalam keyboard on your device. You can now switch to this keyboard whenever you want to type in Malayalam.
Some Samsung phones like the Galaxy S series may come with the Malayalam keyboard pre-installed. In that case, you just need to enable it by following the last few steps.
Switching Between English and Malayalam Keyboards
Once you have the Malayalam keyboard enabled, switching between it and the English keyboard is very simple.
Follow these steps:
- When typing, tap on the globe or keyboard icon at the bottom of the screen.
- Select Malayalam or English from the list of active keyboards.
- The keyboard language will now change.
You can quickly switch keyboards with this method while typing in WhatsApp or any other app. The globe icon appears on most Samsung keyboards by default.
If your keyboard doesn’t have the globe icon, try this:
- Tap and hold the space bar while typing.
- A popup will appear showing the active keyboard languages.
- Tap on Malayalam or English to switch the keyboard.
Practice switching a few times to get comfortable with the process. It only takes a second to change keyboards.
Typing in Malayalam using the Malayalam Keyboard
After enabling the Malayalam keyboard, you can start typing messages, captions, or posts in the language.
Here are some tips for typing quickly and accurately in Malayalam on your Samsung phone:
- The basic Malayalam alphabet layout is the same as English – A to Z. Typing is phonetic, so press the keys matching the sounds of the letters you want to type.
- There are additional Malayalam characters like chillus on the keyboard. Long press a key to access any additional characters.
- Use the space bar to insert the virama (halant) sign. The virama removes the inherent ‘a’ sound after a consonant.
- The Shift key can be used for capital letters just like on the English keyboard.
- There is a Numbers/Symbols key to access numerals and punctuation in Malayalam.
- Use the backspace/delete keys to make corrections just like when typing English.
- Let the keyboard app autocomplete words after you type a few letters to speed things up.
- Turn on keyboard sounds or vibration to help learn how to type the language.
Initially, you may be slow while typing Malayalam. With regular practice, you’ll gain speed and be able to type fluently.
Using Swiping to Type Malayalam Words
Swipe typing can save a lot of time while typing long messages in Malayalam. Rather than tapping each key, you can slide your finger from letter to letter to form words.
Here’s how to use swipe typing for Malayalam:
- Enable swipe typing in your Samsung keyboard settings if it’s not already on.
- Place a finger on the first letter of the word and glide to the subsequent letters without lifting your finger.
- The keyboard will insert the matching Malayalam word.
- Lift your finger at the end of the word so the space gets automatically added.
- For quick corrections, tap and hold a word to change it.
Swipe typing works very well for long Malayalam words. The more you use it, the smarter the keyboard gets at predicting your typing pattern.
You can type whole sentences without lifting your finger off the screen once you get proficient at swipe typing in Malayalam. It may take some practice initially but soon becomes second nature.
Adding Malayalam Stickers and Emojis
WhatsApp has hundreds of Malayalam stickers and emojis you can use to make your chats more expressive. Here’s how to access them:
- Open any chat window in WhatsApp.
- Tap on the emoji icon next to the text box.
- Scroll down and tap on the Stickers tab.
- Tap on the ‘+’ icon to browse Malayalam sticker packs.
- Preview and download the sticker packs you want to use.
Once downloaded, you can quickly insert stickers from the Stickers tab in your chats.
WhatsApp also has default Malayalam emojis mixed with the regular emoji set. To use them:
- Open the emoji keyboard and browse the various categories.
- Tap a relevant emoji to insert it into your message.
Emojis and stickers make conversations more engaging. Use them generously when chatting with Malayalam speaking friends or family.
Changing Keyboard Settings
You can customize the Malayalam keyboard on your Samsung phone to suit your typing style. Here are some useful settings to configure:
- Enable or disable keyboard sounds and vibration feedback.
- Change how long you need to press and hold a key to access extra characters.
- Adjust autocorrect and predictive text behavior.
- Change keyboard size and layout.
- Set up a personal dictionary to add custom words.
- Change swipe sensitivity settings.
To access keyboard settings:
- Go to Settings > General Management.
- Tap Language and Input > On-screen keyboard.
- Tap Malayalam keyboard to view available settings.
- Make changes as desired and tap Back to save.
Take some time to go through the settings so you can optimize the keyboard to match your preferences. It will help type faster with fewer errors.
Troubleshooting Tips
Here are some troubleshooting tips if you face any issues while typing Malayalam on Samsung devices:
- If the Malayalam keyboard is missing, re-add it using the steps in the first section.
- Check for OS or WhatsApp updates if the keyboard acts buggy.
- Clear cache and data for WhatsApp if some letters don’t show up correctly.
- Try resetting the Samsung keyboard dictionary if words are not getting predicted properly.
- Reboot your device if keyboard switching stops working.
- Install any pending software updates for your device if text rendering seems incorrect.
Following these steps should help fix most common Malayalam typing issues on Samsung phones.
Conclusion
Typing messages and content in your native language is easy and convenient with WhatsApp. We have covered all the essential tips and tricks you need to start typing in Malayalam on your Samsung smartphone.
The key steps are installing the Malayalam keyboard, switching between keyboards seamlessly, using swipe typing for faster inputs, adding stickers and emojis, and customizing keyboard settings. With a little practice, you will soon be able to type efficiently.
WhatsApp has revolutionized texting in regional languages. Use these Malayalam typing features to their full potential for enjoyable messaging. Share this guide with friends and family to help get them started with typing Malayalam on WhatsApp using their Samsung devices.