You don’t need an expensive word processing program to start writing in Yiddish!

My latest find is the Yiddish typer Chrome/Edge browser extension: Yiddish Typer - Chrome Web Store (google.com) . You type in YIVO, it comes up in Yiddish/Hebrew alef-beyz characters. This is a great way to help you remember and recognize the Yiddish alef-beyz characters in general. Generally Yiddish uses letters for vowels, not vowel symbols in additon to letters like Hebrew. But there are a couple of exceptions. This keyboard automatically adds the exception vowel symbols. You type in kh, and it gives you a "כ" khaf... Amazing. The Chrome extension is good because it has the help page right there with full instructions, and it backs up your typing for later. This is super easy, and it works! It's probably the most popular right now.

You can use also use Keyman's free download: Keyman's Pasech Yiddish Keyboard. They also have an online version too. This is another keyboard that lets you type in English characters on the keyboard, while the Yiddish alef-beyz characters appear on the screen. The advantage is that it works as an actual keyboard layout on your computer, so you don't need to copy and paste like the Yiddish typer Chrome extension.

Well, it's supposed to... but the installed version seems buggy. Ironically, the online version works perfect. If anyone can get the installed Keyman version to work, let us know. If you're technically minded, and like playing around with these things, you can also go here: UYIP: Understanding Yiddish Information Processing and here QText Phonetic & Other Custom Yiddish  Keyboards (shoshke.net) (I can't provide support for any of these methods, you're on your own, sorry. I'm not responsible for what you do to your computer if you install things. 🙂)

Like I said, so far I'm finding Yiddish typer the easiest to work with, and no fear of messing up your computer. The also provide this online option: Yiddish Typer by יאַנקל־פּרץ (yugntruf.org), but it doesn't have the features I mentioned the extension has.

Anyway, I generally don't use those keyboards. I use the standard Hebrew keyboard that's a part of any operating system. You just go to the Regional and Language settings and install the Hebrew keyboard. The down side is you can't just type in YIVO latin characters and see Hebrew pop up. And also you can't easily add the vowels symbols that are customarily added in written Yiddish.

The upside is you can use it on any computer, phone etc.. without downloading it. Also, if you type Hebrew on a regular basis, like me, than trying to write a Hebrew alphabet in Latin characters is super confusing!

Ok, so now you can type in Yiddish!

Now you might want to learn how to write by hand: Yiddish Handwriting