Typing Tamil on a regular English keypad phone can be challenging, but with the right techniques, it is very much possible. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the different methods you can use to type Tamil easily on a keypad phone.
Understanding the Tamil Script
The first step is to have a basic understanding of the Tamil script. Tamil has 12 vowels and 18 consonants. Vowels can be written as independent letters or in conjunction with consonants. Consonants are mostly paired with the vowel “a” inherent in them.
Tamil script is syllabic, so each written symbol corresponds to one syllable. Some of the consonants have identical symbols but different pronunciations based on where they appear in a word. This is important to note when trying to type Tamil on a keypad.
Enabling Tamil on Your Keypad Phone
Most keypad phones come with English as the default language. To type in Tamil, you need to enable the Tamil language input.
Go to Settings -> Language & Input -> Languages -> Check the box for Tamil. This will add the Tamil language to your list of input languages. You can now easily switch between English and Tamil typing.
Some phones may require you to download a Tamil language pack if it is not pre-installed. Search for “Tamil” in your phone’s app store to find and install the language pack.
Typing in Tamil Using Transliteration
The easiest way to type Tamil is by using transliteration. In transliteration, you type the Tamil words phonetically using English characters. Here are some examples:
| Tamil Word | Transliteration |
|---|---|
| வணக்கம் | vanakkam |
| நல்ல | nalla |
| நன்றி | nandri |
As you can see, the Tamil words are typed out in English based on their pronunciation. This allows you to type Tamil easily on an English keyboard. Here are some tips for typing Tamil using transliteration:
- Use simple English spelling based on Tamil pronunciation. For example, “ee” for “இ”
- Add “h” after consonants to get the inherent “a” vowel sound. For example, “nadhu” for “நாது”
- Type “ou” instead of “o” to get the ஔ sound. For example, “soundaryan” for “சௌந்தர்யன்”
- Use “zh” for the ழ sound. For example, “pozhuthu” for “பொழுது”
With the above guidelines, you can intuitively type out most common Tamil words easily on your keypad phone.
Improving Transliteration Accuracy
Since the same English letters can map to multiple Tamil letters, the transliteration may not always give you the exact word intended. Here are some tips to improve accuracy:
- Use capital letters to disambiguate certain letters. For example, “TH” will give “த” while “th” will give “ட்”
- Add hyphens between syllables for clarity. For example, “ve-li-ya” instead of just “veliya”
- Use spelling variants like “shree” instead of “sree” for better results
- Delete and retype the word if you get an incorrect suggestion
With practice, transliteration can become a quick and easy way to type long passages in Tamil on your keypad phone.
Typing Tamil Using the Inbuilt Keyboard
Most keypad phones also come with an inbuilt Tamil keyboard layout that you can enable. This will map Tamil letters directly to the keys on the keypad.
To switch to the Tamil keyboard, go to Settings -> Language & Input -> Tap and hold English -> Select Tamil. This will change your keyboard to a Tamil layout.
The Tamil letters are arranged logically on the keys based on their shapes and frequencies. Here is a breakdown of the Tamil keypad layout:
| Key | Letters |
|---|---|
| 1 | அ ஆ |
| 2 | ஈ உ ஊ |
| 3 | எ ஏ |
| 4 | ஐ ஒ |
| 5 | ஓ ஔ |
| 6 | க் ங் |
| 7 | ச் ஞ் |
| 8 | ட் ண் |
| 9 | த் ந் |
| 0 | ப் ம் |
| * | ய் ர் |
| # | ல் வ் |
To type a letter, you simply need to press the key it is mapped to. Some tips while using the Tamil keypad:
- Press a key multiple times to cycle through the letters on it. For example, press 6 three times for “க”
- Use the # key to toggle between letters on 6, 7, 8, 9 keys.
- Use * key as a toggle for letters on 1, 2, 3 keys.
- The 0 key gives you “ப” and holding 0 down inserts “ம”
With some practice, you can achieve a decent typing speed using the built-in Tamil keyboard. Use the ABC mode to quickly switch back to English typing.
Drawback of Tamil Keypad
While the Tamil keypad is convenient, it also has some limitations:
- Remembering which letter maps to which key has a learning curve
- No direct access to commonly used consonant-vowel combinations
- Having to press keys multiple times to get the desired letter
- No support for any special Tamil characters or symbols
Due to these drawbacks, many users prefer transliteration over the built-in Tamil keyboard for keypad phones.
Using External Keyboards
For easier and more natural Tamil typing, you can use external keyboards attached to your phone. Here are some options:
PC-Style USB Keyboard
Connect a compact USB keyboard to your phone’s USB-OTG port. Enable Tamil typing on your phone and switch the keyboard layout to Tamil. This gives you a full-fledged Tamil typing experience similar to a computer.
USB keyboards are inexpensive and widely available. Look for compact designs that are easy to carry around with your phone.
Bluetooth Keyboard
Wireless Bluetooth keyboards provide even greater portability and convenience. Pair a foldable Bluetooth keyboard to your phone and start typing in Tamil easily.
Bluetooth keyboards designed for phones are compact yet comfortable for typing. Some good options include Anker, Logitech K480 and Ajazz AK33.
Tamil Keypad Stickers
If you prefer your phone’s native keypad, applying Tamil letter stickers is an easy hack. Carefully place the stickers on your keypad corresponding to the Tamil keyboard layout.
Keypad stickers let you retain the tactile feel of your native buttons while being able to see the Tamil letters. This avoids memorizing the layout.
Using Predictive Text and Autocorrect
Predictive text and autocorrect features on phones can be very helpful while typing Tamil. As you type, the phone tries to predict and suggest the most likely word. If you make a mistake, autocorrect automatically fixes common errors.
Enabling these features saves effort and speeds up typing significantly. Go to your phone’s settings and ensure predictive text and autocorrect are enabled for the Tamil language.
Teach your phone’s dictionary by adding custom words you use frequently. This improves prediction accuracy over time.
Practice and Develop Muscle Memory
Whichever input method you use, practice is essential to type Tamil quickly. Train your fingers and develop the required muscle memory through regular practice.
Start slow and focus on accuracy before trying to type fast. Your speed will gradually improve as your hands get used to the locations of the Tamil letters.
Use typing tests and games to hone your skills. Be patient and keep at it – with enough practice, you will be typing Tamil fast on your keypad effortlessly.
Use Online Typing Tools
If your phone does not support Tamil typing for some reason, you can use online typing tools. Here are some popular options:
- Tanglish – Type phonetically in Tanglish and get Tamil output.
- Google Input Tools – Supports transliteration and virtual Tamil keyboard.
- Tamil Cube – Virtual keypad with predictive text for fast typing.
These websites work on any internet-connected phone with a browser. While not as fast as native typing, they offer a functional way to type Tamil on phones without Tamil support.
Use Third-Party Tamil Keyboard Apps
For advanced typing features, consider using third-party Tamil keyboard apps. Popular options include:
GBoard
Google’s GBoard offers seamless Tamil typing with transliteration, voice typing, and GIFs. Its AI predicts words accurately for fast typing with corrections.
SwiftKey
SwiftKey has one of the best predictive engines tuned for the Tamil language. It learns your writing style for intelligent autocorrect and word suggestions.
FonAKeypad
This app has an AI-powered Tamil keyboard with word prediction. Unique features include 9000+ emojis and support for typing in Roman script.
Google Voice Typing
Google’s speech recognition allows you to speak in Tamil to convert your speech directly into text. This enables effortless Tamil input.
For the best typing experience on mobile phones, use a combination of methods – transliteration, inbuilt keyboard and third party apps tailored for Tamil.
Conclusion
Typing smoothly in Tamil is crucial for using your phone effectively if you are a native Tamil speaker. The key is finding the right techniques and tools that work best for your requirements.
Modern smartphones offer various input options – transliteration, native keyboard mapping, external hardware keyboards, predictive text, voice typing and third-party apps. Each has its own pros and cons.
With the right mix of methods, regular practice, and muscle memory, mastering Tamil typing on a 12-key keypad phone is definitely possible. Use the tips outlined in this guide and you will soon be typing easily in Tamil on any phone.