Hebrew keyboard
Encyclopedia
Keyboard layout
A keyboard layout is any specific mechanical, visual, or functional arrangement of the keys, legends, or key–meaning associations of a computer, typewriter, or other typographic keyboard....
s. Most Hebrew keyboards are bilingual having both Hebrew and English, as English (Latin) letters are necessary for URL
Uniform Resource Locator
In computing, a uniform resource locator or universal resource locator is a specific character string that constitutes a reference to an Internet resource....
s and Email addresses. Trilingual keyboard options also exist, with the third language option having Arabic or Russian characters as well, due to the sizable Arabic and Russian speaking demographics in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
Standard Hebrew keyboard
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
keyboard layout
Keyboard layout
A keyboard layout is any specific mechanical, visual, or functional arrangement of the keys, legends, or key–meaning associations of a computer, typewriter, or other typographic keyboard....
, QWERTY
QWERTY
QWERTY is the most common modern-day keyboard layout. The name comes from the first six letters appearing in the topleft letter row of the keyboard, read left to right: Q-W-E-R-T-Y. The QWERTY design is based on a layout created for the Sholes and Glidden typewriter and sold to Remington in the...
, the Hebrew layout was derived from the order of letters on Hebrew typewriter
Typewriter
A typewriter is a mechanical or electromechanical device with keys that, when pressed, cause characters to be printed on a medium, usually paper. Typically one character is printed per keypress, and the machine prints the characters by making ink impressions of type elements similar to the pieces...
s. On computers running Windows, Alt-Shift switches between keyboard layouts. With a Hebrew keyboard layout, holding down a Shift key
Shift key
The shift key is a modifier key on a keyboard, used to type capital letters and other alternate "upper" characters. There are typically two shift keys, on the left and right sides of the row below the home row...
, or pressing Caps lock
Caps lock
Caps lock is a key on many computer keyboards. Pressing it sets an input mode in which typed letters are uppercase by default. The keyboard remains in caps lock mode until the key is pressed again...
, and pressing the standard QWERTY letters produces the uppercase Latin (English) alphabet
Latin alphabet
The Latin alphabet, also called the Roman alphabet, is the most recognized alphabet used in the world today. It evolved from a western variety of the Greek alphabet called the Cumaean alphabet, which was adopted and modified by the Etruscans who ruled early Rome...
without having to switch layouts. However, this only works for uppercase English (Latin) letters.
In a 102-key layout of this form, there would be an additional duplicate key to the right of the "Left Shift Key". This key would be an additional backslash key . As a result, 102 key keyboards are not sold as a standard configuration since two keys with the same function serve no purpose.
The backslash key , can also be found left of the enter key
Enter key
In computer keyboards, the enter key in most cases causes a command line, window form, or dialog box to operate its default function...
, instead of on the top row to the left of the backspace key where it resides normally.
Hebrew QWERTY
Another layout exists which is a QWERTYQWERTY
QWERTY is the most common modern-day keyboard layout. The name comes from the first six letters appearing in the topleft letter row of the keyboard, read left to right: Q-W-E-R-T-Y. The QWERTY design is based on a layout created for the Sholes and Glidden typewriter and sold to Remington in the...
based layout that, for the most part, follows the phonology of the Roman letters. However, this layout is extremely uncommon and not a standard layout. This configuration is not available to be bought as a physical layout of a keyboard, instead only available as a secondary keyboard layout option on the Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
. The Hebrew QWERTY is not an option that ships with Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
.
It also requires the use of the shift key in order to access the five Hebrew letters that have "final forms," that is, a different form of the letter when that letter falls at the end of a word. On the standard Hebrew layout, this is unnecessary, since each letter has its own key. The use of the shift key is somewhat similar to the use of the shift key to access capital letters in the English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
(Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
) alphabet.
One advantage of the layout is that it can be used fairly easily on ordinary QWERTY keyboards without Hebrew engraving or labeling.
Niqqud
For the Hebrew letters there is a standardized Hebrew keyboard. But when it comes to niqqud (vowel points and diacriticsDiacritics
diacritics is a quarterly academic journal established in 1971 at Cornell University and published by the Johns Hopkins University Press. Articles serve to review recent literature in the field of literary criticism, and have covered topics in gender studies, political theory, psychoanalysis, queer...
), different computer systems and programs provide for adding the signs in different ways.
Nevertheless, a standard is beginning to emerge in the keystrokes that enter niqqud in Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is a word processor designed by Microsoft. It was first released in 1983 under the name Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems. Subsequent versions were later written for several other platforms including IBM PCs running DOS , the Apple Macintosh , the AT&T Unix PC , Atari ST , SCO UNIX,...
and Open Office
OpenOffice.org
OpenOffice.org, commonly known as OOo or OpenOffice, is an open-source application suite whose main components are for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, and databases. OpenOffice is available for a number of different computer operating systems, is distributed as free software...
alike. In these applications, to enter niqqud the typist first presses "Caps Lock." Then, to enter any specific niqqud, one presses "shift" and simultaneously presses one of the following keys:
| | Niqqud Input | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Input | | Key | | Type | | Result | ||||
| ~ | Shva Shva Shva or, in Biblical Hebrew, Sh'wa is a Hebrew niqqud vowel sign written as two vertical dots "ְ" underneath a letter. In Modern Hebrew, it indicates either the phoneme or the complete absence of a vowel , whereas in Hebrew prescriptive linguistics, four grammatical entities are differentiated:... |
||||||
| 1 | Hataf Segol | ||||||
| 2 | Hataf Patach | ||||||
| 3 | Hataf Kamatz | ||||||
| 4 | Hiriq | ||||||
| 5 | Zeire | ||||||
| 6 | Segol | ||||||
| 7 | Patach | ||||||
| 8 | Kamatz | ||||||
| 9 | Sin dot (left) | ||||||
| 0 | Shin dot (right) |  |
|||||
| - | Holam | ||||||
| = | Dagesh or Mappiq Shuruk |
||||||
| \ | Kubutz | ||||||
Note 1: The letter "O" represents whatever Hebrew letter is used
Note 2: The letters "ש" and "ו" are used whenever the corresponding niqqud can operate only on them
Note 3: The dagesh, mappiq, and shuruk are different, however, they look the same and are obtained in the same manner
Note 4: Niqqud are rarely used by native or fluent Hebrew speakers, and at most as pronunciation guides.
SIL International
SIL International
SIL International is a U.S.-based, worldwide, Christian non-profit organization, whose main purpose is to study, develop and document languages, especially those that are lesser-known, in order to expand linguistic knowledge, promote literacy, translate the Christian Bible into local languages,...
have developed their own standard, which is based on Tiro, but adds the Niqqud along the home keys. This is being used both by them, and in Linux (which comes with "Israel - Biblical Hebrew (Tiro)" as a standard layout). The big advantage of this layout is that there is no need to press the Caps Lock key.
Paragraph Directionality
Since Hebrew is read and written right to left, as opposed to the left to right system in English, the cursor keys and delete keys work backwards when in left-to-right directionality mode. Because of the differences in left to right and right to left, some difficulties arise in punctuation marks that are common between the two languages such as periodFull stop
A full stop is the punctuation mark commonly placed at the end of sentences. In American English, the term used for this punctuation is period. In the 21st century, it is often also called a dot by young people...
s and comma
Comma
A comma is a type of punctuation mark . The word comes from the Greek komma , which means something cut off or a short clause.Comma may also refer to:* Comma , a type of interval in music theory...
s. In a standard left-to-right input, at the end of a sentence pushing the "period
Full stop
A full stop is the punctuation mark commonly placed at the end of sentences. In American English, the term used for this punctuation is period. In the 21st century, it is often also called a dot by young people...
" key has the mark displaying on the wrong side of the sentence. Then, when the next sentence is started, the period then moves to the correct location. This is due to the computer not knowing which way to direct the text, because the punctuation can go either way, and in a default English environment it will be left to right.
There are many ways to switch from left-to-right to right-to left directionality. In Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer
Windows Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year...
, a webpage can be right-clicked, and select Encoding -> Right-To-Left Document. It can be done in Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is a word processor designed by Microsoft. It was first released in 1983 under the name Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems. Subsequent versions were later written for several other platforms including IBM PCs running DOS , the Apple Macintosh , the AT&T Unix PC , Atari ST , SCO UNIX,...
by going into Format -> Paragraph menu and changing the paragraph's default direction to right-to-left. And in Notepad, it can be done simply by right-clicking and selecting Right to left Reading order.
Sheqel symbol
The symbol "₪", representing the sheqel signSheqel sign
The shekel sign is a currency sign used for the shekel which is the currency of Israel and the Palestinian Territories.- Israeli new shekel :...
can be typed into Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
on a standard Hebrew keyboard layout by pressing AltGr and 4 or by Alt +20AA on a non-Hebrew layout.
Rafe
For the rafe, while a niqqud, it is virtually no longer used in Hebrew. However, it used in Yiddish spellingYiddish orthography
The Yiddish language is written using Hebrew script as the basis of a full vocalic alphabet. This adaptation uses letters that are silent or glottal stops in Hebrew, as vowels in Yiddish...
(according to YIVO
YIVO
YIVO, , established in 1925 in Wilno, Poland as the Yidisher Visnshaftlekher Institut , or Yiddish Scientific Institute, is a source for orthography, lexicography, and other studies related to the Yiddish language...
standards). It is accessed differently than the other nequddot (plural of nequdda, 'a point'). To input the rafe, press the AltGr key, and the "-" key:
| | Niqqud Input | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Input | | Key | | Type | | Result | ||||
| + | AltGr +  |
Rafe | סֿ | ||||
Note Ⅰ: The letter "O" represents whatever Hebrew letter is used.
Yiddish digraphsYiddish orthographyThe Yiddish language is written using Hebrew script as the basis of a full vocalic alphabet. This adaptation uses letters that are silent or glottal stops in Hebrew, as vowels in Yiddish...
These are intended for Yiddish. They are not used in Hebrew. If one wanted two vavs, a vav-yudYodh
Yodh is the tenth letter of many Semitic alphabets, including Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew Yud , Syriac and Arabic...
, or two yuds
Yodh
Yodh is the tenth letter of many Semitic alphabets, including Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew Yud , Syriac and Arabic...
in Hebrew, one would enter the desired keys independently. (See Yiddish orthography
Yiddish orthography
The Yiddish language is written using Hebrew script as the basis of a full vocalic alphabet. This adaptation uses letters that are silent or glottal stops in Hebrew, as vowels in Yiddish...
for more)
| | Yiddish digraphs Input | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Input | | Digraph | | Result | |||
| AltGr and Vav Waw (letter) Waw is the sixth letter of the Northwest Semitic family of scripts, including Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew, Syriac, and Arabic .... (U) |
Double Vav Waw (letter) Waw is the sixth letter of the Northwest Semitic family of scripts, including Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew, Syriac, and Arabic .... |
װ | |||
| AltGr and Khet Heth -People:* Children of Heth, a Canaanite nation in the Hebrew Bible, purportedly named after Heth, son of Canaan, son of Ham, son of Noah* figures in the Book of Mormon:** Heth , an early Jaredite** Heth a later Jaredite... (J) |
Vav Waw (letter) Waw is the sixth letter of the Northwest Semitic family of scripts, including Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew, Syriac, and Arabic .... Yud Yodh Yodh is the tenth letter of many Semitic alphabets, including Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew Yud , Syriac and Arabic... |
ױ | |||
| AltGr and Yud Yodh Yodh is the tenth letter of many Semitic alphabets, including Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew Yud , Syriac and Arabic... (H) |
Double Yud Yodh Yodh is the tenth letter of many Semitic alphabets, including Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew Yud , Syriac and Arabic... |
ײ | |||
Inaccessible punctuation
Certain Hebrew punctuation, such as the gereshGeresh
Geresh is a sign in Hebrew writing. It has two meanings.#An apostrophe-like sign placed after a letter :...
, gershayim
Gershayim
Gershayim , also occasionally grashayim , names two distinct typographical marks in the Hebrew language. The name literally means "double geresh".-Punctuation mark:...
, maqaf, pasuq, sof pasuq, and cantillation
Cantillation
Cantillation is the ritual chanting of readings from the Hebrew Bible in synagogue services. The chants are written and notated in accordance with the special signs or marks printed in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible to complement the letters and vowel points...
marks are not accessible through the standard Hebrew keyboard layout. As a result, similar looking punctuation is often used instead. For example, often, a quotation mark
Quotation mark
Quotation marks or inverted commas are punctuation marks at the beginning and end of a quotation, direct speech, literal title or name. Quotation marks can also be used to indicate a different meaning of a word or phrase than the one typically associated with it and are often used to express irony...
for a gershayim
Gershayim
Gershayim , also occasionally grashayim , names two distinct typographical marks in the Hebrew language. The name literally means "double geresh".-Punctuation mark:...
, an apostrophe
Apostrophe
The apostrophe is a punctuation mark, and sometimes a diacritic mark, in languages that use the Latin alphabet or certain other alphabets...
for a geresh
Geresh
Geresh is a sign in Hebrew writing. It has two meanings.#An apostrophe-like sign placed after a letter :...
, a hyphen
Hyphen
The hyphen is a punctuation mark used to join words and to separate syllables of a single word. The use of hyphens is called hyphenation. The hyphen should not be confused with dashes , which are longer and have different uses, or with the minus sign which is also longer...
for a maqaf, a vertical bar
Vertical bar
The vertical bar is a character with various uses in mathematics, where it can be used to represent absolute value, among others; in computing and programming and in general typography, as a divider not unlike the interpunct...
for a pasuq, and a colon
Colon (punctuation)
The colon is a punctuation mark consisting of two equally sized dots centered on the same vertical line.-Usage:A colon informs the reader that what follows the mark proves, explains, or lists elements of what preceded the mark....
for a sof pasuq, is used.
See also
- Hebrew punctuationHebrew punctuationHebrew punctuation is similar to that of English and other Western languages, Modern Hebrew having imported additional punctuation marks from these languages in order to avoid the ambiguities sometimes occasioned by the relative paucity of such symbols in Biblical Hebrew.-Quotation marks:Hebrew...
- Keyboard layoutKeyboard layoutA keyboard layout is any specific mechanical, visual, or functional arrangement of the keys, legends, or key–meaning associations of a computer, typewriter, or other typographic keyboard....
- Hebrew alphabetHebrew alphabetThe Hebrew alphabet , known variously by scholars as the Jewish script, square script, block script, or more historically, the Assyrian script, is used in the writing of the Hebrew language, as well as other Jewish languages, most notably Yiddish, Ladino, and Judeo-Arabic. There have been two...