Hebrew keyboard layout
The complete Hebrew keyboard, key by key, from the Windows layout data. Both Windows Hebrew layouts put the letters in the same places; the Standard one adds niqqud on AltGr.
- 27
- letter keys, including 5 finals
- 17
- points and marks on AltGr (Standard)
- 2
- Windows layouts
Two layouts, one set of letters
Windows has two Hebrew layouts: Hebrew and Hebrew (Standard). We compared them key by key. Every letter and every Shift character sits on the same key in both. The difference is all on AltGr: Hebrew (Standard) adds 17 vowel points and cantillation marks, plus the geresh, gershayim and typographic quotes. So if you know one layout, you know the other; pick Hebrew (Standard) when you need niqqud.
The full Hebrew keyboard layout
This is what each key types, named by the key in the same place on a US keyboard:
| Key on a US keyboard | Types | With Shift |
|---|---|---|
| ` | ; | ~ |
| 1 | 1 | ! |
| 2 | 2 | @ |
| 3 | 3 | # |
| 4 | 4 | $ |
| 5 | 5 | % |
| 6 | 6 | ^ |
| 7 | 7 | & |
| 8 | 8 | * |
| 9 | 9 | ) |
| 0 | 0 | ( |
| - | - | _ |
| = | = | + |
| Q | / | Q |
| W | ' | W |
| E | ק | E |
| R | ר | R |
| T | א | T |
| Y | ט | Y |
| U | ו | U |
| I | ן | I |
| O | ם | O |
| P | פ | P |
| [ | ] | } |
| ] | [ | { |
| \ | \ | | |
| A | ש | A |
| S | ד | S |
| D | ג | D |
| F | כ | F |
| G | ע | G |
| H | י | H |
| J | ח | J |
| K | ל | K |
| L | ך | L |
| ; | ף | : |
| ' | , | " |
| Z | ז | Z |
| X | ס | X |
| C | ב | C |
| V | ה | V |
| B | נ | B |
| N | מ | N |
| M | צ | M |
| , | ת | > |
| . | ץ | < |
| / | . | ? |
Where each letter is
The same map sorted by the alphabet, which is easier when you are hunting for one letter:
| Letter | Name | Key |
|---|---|---|
| א | alef | T |
| ב | bet | C |
| ג | gimel | D |
| ד | dalet | S |
| ה | he | V |
| ו | vav | U |
| ז | zayin | Z |
| ח | het | J |
| ט | tet | Y |
| י | yod | H |
| כ | kaf | F |
| ך | final kaf | L |
| ל | lamed | K |
| מ | mem | N |
| ם | final mem | O |
| נ | nun | B |
| ן | final nun | I |
| ס | samekh | X |
| ע | ayin | G |
| פ | pe | P |
| ף | final pe | ; |
| צ | tsadi | M |
| ץ | final tsadi | . |
| ק | qof | E |
| ר | resh | R |
| ש | shin | A |
| ת | tav | , |
Punctuation moves
The Hebrew letters take over the letter keys, so some punctuation moves:
- / is on Q
- ' is on W
- , is on '
- . is on /
- ; is on `
Brackets look swapped: the key where a US keyboard has [ types ]. In a right-to-left line that character is drawn facing the other way, so it looks like an opening bracket, which is what you want at the start of a Hebrew aside.
Shift types English
On both layouts Shift gives Latin capitals: Shift + E is E. That lets you type a brand name or an acronym inside Hebrew without switching layouts. For lowercase English you still need to switch.
Niqqud: the vowel points on AltGr
Everyday Hebrew is written without vowel points. Children's books, poetry, prayer books and dictionaries use them. On Hebrew (Standard) they are on AltGr. Type the letter first, then the point:
| Point | Name | Key |
|---|---|---|
| ◌֫ | ole | AltGr + 6 |
| ◌ֽ | meteg | AltGr + 7 |
| ◌ׂ | sin dot | AltGr + Q |
| ◌ׁ | shin dot | AltGr + W |
| ◌ָ | qamats | AltGr + E |
| ◌ֳ | hataf qamats | AltGr + R |
| ◌ֹ | holam | AltGr + U |
| ◌ַ | patah | AltGr + P |
| ◌ֲ | hataf patah | AltGr + [ |
| ◌ֿ | rafe | AltGr + ] |
| ◌ֻ | qubuts | AltGr + \ |
| ◌ְ | sheva | AltGr + A |
| ◌ּ | dagesh or mapiq | AltGr + S |
| ◌ִ | hiriq | AltGr + J |
| ◌ֶ | segol | AltGr + X |
| ◌ֱ | hataf segol | AltGr + C |
| ◌ֵ | tsere | AltGr + M |
For example, שָׁלוֹם is ש, then AltGr + W for the shin dot, then AltGr + E for qamats, then ל, ו, AltGr + U for holam, and ם.
Other characters on AltGr
On the Hebrew layout AltGr adds ₪ (AltGr + 4), ◌ֿ (AltGr + -), € (AltGr + E), װ (AltGr + U), ײ (AltGr + H), ױ (AltGr + J). Hebrew (Standard) adds the geresh ׳ on AltGr + ` and the gershayim ״ on AltGr + ', used in acronyms and loanwords, and the maqaf ־ (the Hebrew hyphen) on AltGr + -.
Final letters
Five letters have a second shape for the end of a word, and each has its own key: ך on L, ם on O, ן on I, ף on ;, ץ on .. The Hebrew final letters guide explains when to use them.
Questions
What is the difference between the Hebrew and Hebrew (Standard) keyboards?
The letters and Shift characters are identical. Hebrew (Standard) adds 17 vowel points and marks on AltGr, plus the geresh, gershayim and maqaf.
How do I type niqqud on a keyboard?
Use the Hebrew (Standard) layout, type the letter, then hold AltGr and press the key for the point, for example AltGr + E for qamats.
Why is the Q key a slash on a Hebrew keyboard?
The Hebrew layout puts / on Q and ' on W; the Hebrew letters start on the E key.
Try it on the keyboard
More guides
Sources
Every key and count in this guide is computed from the layout data when the site is built, so it always matches the keyboards here.