Tamil99 Keyboard Layout Chart
தமிழ்நாடு அரசால் அங்கீகரிக்கப்பட்ட தமிழ்99 விசைப்பலகை வரைபடம்.
The official ergonomic standard for Tamil input on computers. Designed scientifically with vowels assigned to the left hand and consonants to the right hand.
Direct Information & Specifications(முக்கிய குறிப்புகள்)
- Government Standard
- G.O. Ms. No. 17 approved by Tamil Nadu Information Technology Dept
- Ergonomic Design
- Vowels grouped on left hand; Consonants grouped on right hand
- Automatic Pulli
- Engine automatically applies pulli without an extra keystroke
Standard Tamil99 Keyboard Layout Map
Approved by the Government of Tamil Nadu (G.O. Ms. No. 17).
Tamil99 Key-by-Key Mapping Reference
| Physical Key | Normal Output | Shift Output | Character Category | Recommended Finger |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| q | ஆ | அ | Vowel | Left Pinky |
| w | ஈ | இ | Vowel | Left Ring |
| e | ஊ | உ | Vowel | Left Middle |
| r | ஏ | எ | Vowel | Left Index |
| t | ஐ | ஐ | Vowel | Left Index |
| a | அ | ஆ | Home Vowel | Left Pinky |
| s | இ | ஈ | Home Vowel | Left Ring |
| d | உ | ஊ | Home Vowel | Left Middle |
| f | எ | ஏ | Home Vowel | Left Index |
| g | ஒ | ஓ | Home Vowel | Left Index |
| z | ஔ | ஔ | Bottom Vowel | Left Pinky |
| y | ட | ண | Consonant | Right Index |
| u | ச | ஞ | Consonant | Right Index |
| i | க | ங | Consonant | Right Middle |
| o | ப | ம | Consonant | Right Ring |
| h | ர | ற | Consonant | Right Index |
| j | ல | ள | Consonant | Right Index |
| k | ழ | ழ | Special Consonant | Right Middle |
| l | த | ந | Consonant | Right Ring |
| ; | ய | ன | Consonant | Right Pinky |
| x | வ | வ | Consonant | Left Ring |
| c | ஜ | ஜ | Grantha | Left Middle |
| v | ஷ | ஷ | Grantha | Left Index |
| b | ஸ | ஸ | Grantha | Left Index |
| n | ஹ | ஹ | Grantha | Right Index |
| m | க்ஷ | க்ஷ | Grantha | Right Index |
The Scientific Ergonomics Behind Tamil99
In 1999, the Government of Tamil Nadu convened an expert committee of linguists, typographers, and software engineers during the TamilNet 99 conference to create a standardized computer keyboard.
Because Tamil words alternate between consonants and vowels (Uyir-Mei), assigning vowels to the left hand and consonants to the right hand produces a natural rhythmic keystroke balance.
The most frequently used consonants (க, ப, த, ச) and primary vowels (அ, இ, உ, எ) are situated directly under your resting fingers on the home row (ASDF JKL;).
Typing a consonant followed by a vowel automatically produces the combined UyirMei character without requiring an explicit pulli release key.
Tamil99 vs Phonetic Typing: Which Should You Learn?
| Feature | Tamil99 Keyboard | Phonetic Typing |
|---|---|---|
| Learning Curve | Requires 1-2 weeks of touch practice | Instant (0 learning curve) |
| Maximum Speed Potential | Very High (60+ WPM with practice) | Moderate to High (35-45 WPM) |
| Official Government Exams | Standard layout on computer exams | Not permitted in official exams |
| Daily Social Media & Chat | Great if you memorize the layout | Most convenient for WhatsApp/Web |
Official Tamil Nadu & Government Resources
Direct references to certified government authorities, educational statutory bodies, and official IT standards departments.
Maintained by the Government of Tamil Nadu. Download certified Tamil99 drivers, Murasu Anjal, and standard Tamil Unicode fonts directly from this official portal.
Frequently Asked Questions(அடிக்கடி கேட்கப்படும் கேள்விகள்)
Instant answers to common questions about typing, formatting, and compatibility.
QWhat is the Tamil99 keyboard layout?
Tamil99 is an ergonomic keyboard layout developed specifically for Tamil touch typing, standardized by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 1999.
QWhy is Tamil99 faster than other Tamil keyboard layouts?
It organizes vowels on the left hand and consonants on the right hand, minimizing finger travel and automatically applying pulli when typing consonants consecutively.
QIs Tamil99 supported natively in Windows, macOS, and Linux?
Yes. Tamil99 is a standard built-in keyboard layout in Windows 10/11, macOS, ChromeOS, and major Linux distributions.
All tools and guides are independently tested on actual devices (Android, Windows, macOS, iOS). No text typed or converted leaves your browser.