Baybayin Keyboard Online
Type in Baybayin Online using the virtual keyboard below and then copy it to your clipboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Baybayin?
Baybayin is a historical script that was used in the Philippines before the arrival of the Spanish. It's an 'abugida', where each character represents a consonant with an inherent 'a' vowel sound.
How do I change the vowel sound of a character?
You use a 'kudlit', which is a diacritical mark. The 'ᜒ' key on our keyboard adds a kudlit above the character to change the vowel to 'i' or 'e'. The 'ᜓ' key adds a kudlit below to change it to 'o' or 'u'.
How do I write a consonant with no vowel?
To remove the inherent 'a' vowel sound and write just the consonant, you use a special kudlit called a 'virama'. On our keyboard, this is the '᜔' key. For example, clicking 'ᜃ' then '᜔' produces 'ᜃ᜔' (k).
Is this the same as Alibata?
The term 'Alibata' was coined in the 20th century and is considered historically inaccurate by many experts. 'Baybayin' is the more correct and historically accepted name for the script.
Does Baybayin have punctuation?
Traditionally, Baybayin used a single '᜶' or double '᜵᜵' vertical line as punctuation, acting like a comma or a period. Modern usage often incorporates Western punctuation.
Can I use phonetic typing for Baybayin?
Currently, phonetic typing is not supported for Baybayin due to its unique script rules. You can use our virtual keyboard to click on each character and diacritic.
Are there capital letters in Baybayin?
No, the Baybayin script does not have a distinction between uppercase and lowercase letters.
Why is the font for Baybayin different?
We use a special font called 'Noto Sans Tagalog' to ensure the Baybayin characters and the 'kudlit' diacritics render correctly and beautifully on your screen.
How do I write words like 'ng' (ᜅ)?
The 'ng' sound has its own unique character in Baybayin, which is 'ᜅ'. You can find it on the first row of our virtual keyboard.
Is Baybayin still used in the Philippines today?
While it's not used for everyday communication, there has been a strong cultural resurgence. It's often used in art, tattoos, and government logos to celebrate Filipino heritage.
How do you write the letters 'i' and 'e'?
The characters 'ᜁ' and 'ᜂ' can represent 'i'/'e' and 'o'/'u' respectively when they are standalone vowels. For other consonants, the 'i'/'e' sound is created by adding the 'ᜒ' kudlit.
Why is there no character for 'R'?
In traditional Baybayin, the sounds for 'D' and 'R' were often interchangeable and represented by the same character, 'ᜇ'. The context of the word would determine the pronunciation.
Can I use this to translate my name into Baybayin?
Yes! You can try spelling your name phonetically using the Baybayin characters. For example, 'Maria' could be written as 'ᜋᜇᜒᜌ'.
Is this difficult to learn?
Baybayin has a relatively small number of base characters, so it's quite easy to get started! The main thing to learn is how the 'kudlit' diacritics change the vowel sounds.
Where can I use text written in Baybayin?
You can copy and paste it into social media bios, forum posts, or use it in digital art and design projects to add a unique Filipino cultural touch.