Frequently Asked Questions
How do I type ɛ and ɣ?
Both are on the base layer, with no modifier needed: ɛ is on the 2 key (where é sits on French AZERTY) and ɣ is on the 7 key (in place of è). Just press the key once.
Where are č and ǧ?
č is on the 9 key (in place of ç) and ǧ on the 0 key (in place of à), both on the base layer. You can also get them with AltGr + C for č and AltGr + G for ǧ.
How do I type the emphatic letters ḍ, ṭ, ṣ, ṛ, ẓ and ḥ?
Hold AltGr and press the plain letter: AltGr + D gives ḍ, AltGr + T gives ṭ, AltGr + S gives ṣ, AltGr + R gives ṛ, AltGr + Z gives ẓ and AltGr + H gives ḥ. AltGr + ù gives ʷ, the labialization mark used in gʷ or kʷ.
How do I type capitals like Ɛ, Ɣ, Ḍ or Ṭ?
Turn on Caps Lock to get Ɛ, Ɣ, Č and Ǧ along with all the ordinary capital letters. For the dotted letters use Shift + AltGr: Shift + AltGr + D gives Ḍ, and the same works for Ḥ, Ṛ, Ṣ, Ṭ and Ẓ.
Can I still type numbers and French accents?
Yes. Digits come with Shift, as on French AZERTY. The French letters are under AltGr on the same keys: AltGr + 2 gives é, AltGr + 7 gives è, AltGr + 9 gives ç and AltGr + 0 gives à. ^ and ¨ are dead keys, so ^ then e gives ê.
Which letters does the Kabyle Latin alphabet use?
The usual Kabyle alphabet is a b c č d ḍ e ɛ f g ǧ ɣ h ḥ i j k l m n q r ṛ s ṣ t ṭ u w x y z ẓ. Here c sounds like English “sh”, j like the “s” in “measure”, č like “ch” and ǧ like “j” in “jam”. Every one of them is on this keyboard.
What is the difference from the Tifinagh keyboard?
The site also has a Tifinagh (ⵜⵉⴼⵉⵏⴰⵖ) Amazigh keyboard, which writes the language in its own traditional alphabet, the official script for teaching in Morocco. This keyboard writes the same language in Latin letters, the most common way of writing in Kabylie, online and in the diaspora in France and Belgium.
Does it work with Morocco's IRCAM Latin transcription?
Yes. The IRCAM Latin transcription and Kabyle usage share the same special letters ɛ, ɣ, ḍ, ḥ, ṛ, ṣ, ṭ and ẓ, and both mark labialization with ʷ (AltGr + ù). Kabyle also makes heavy use of č and ǧ. Everything is available here whichever convention you follow.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes, it runs in the browser on phones and tablets, with nothing to install. On mobile the AltGr key is shown as Alt. When you have finished, copy the text and paste it into a message, an email or a document.