How to type Punjabi in Raavi font
Raavi is the Unicode Gurmukhi font that comes with Windows, and INSCRIPT is the standard Indian keyboard layout that types it. Together they are what Punjab government typing tests use. This guide explains how the layout works and how to type every tricky character.
Raavi, Unicode and the old fonts
Older Punjabi fonts such as Asees, AnmolLipi, Gurbani Akhar and Joy were non-Unicode fonts: they drew Gurmukhi shapes on top of English letters. Text typed in them turns into English gibberish on any computer that does not have the same font. Raavi is a Unicode font. The characters you type are real Gurmukhi characters, so the text reads correctly everywhere, can be searched, and can be copied into email or a website. This is why government offices moved to Raavi and why the typing test requires it.
Turning on the Punjabi keyboard in Windows
- Open Settings and go to Time & language, then Language & region.
- Choose Add a language, search for Punjabi, select ਪੰਜਾਬੀ (Punjabi, India) and install it.
- The keyboard that comes with it is the Punjabi INSCRIPT layout. No extra software is needed.
- Switch between English and Punjabi with Win + Space (or Alt + Shift). The language bar near the clock shows ENG or ਪੰਜਾਬੀ.
- In Word or Notepad, choose the Raavi font. Most programs pick it automatically for Gurmukhi text.
On Akhar you do not need any of this: the site converts your normal keyboard to INSCRIPT by itself, so you can practise on any computer or even a phone.
How the layout is organised
INSCRIPT has a simple logic that makes it easier to learn than it first looks:
- Left hand types the vowel signs (matras). The home row gives ੋ ੇ ੍ ਿ ੁ on A S D F G, and the top row gives ੌ ੈ ਾ ੀ ੂ on Q W E R T.
- Right hand types the consonants. The home row gives ਪ ਰ ਕ ਤ ਚ ਟ on H J K L ; ' and the top row gives ਬ ਹ ਗ ਦ ਜ ਡ.
- Shift gives the partner letter. Each consonant key with Shift types its aspirated pair: ਕ/ਖ, ਗ/ਘ, ਚ/ਛ, ਜ/ਝ, ਟ/ਠ, ਡ/ਢ, ਤ/ਥ, ਦ/ਧ, ਪ/ਫ, ਬ/ਭ.
- Shift on a matra key gives the full vowel. ਾ becomes ਆ, ਿ becomes ਇ, ੁ becomes ਉ, and so on.
See the full Punjabi keyboard layout chart for every key.
The rules that trip people up
Sihari is typed after the letter
Sihari ਿ is drawn before the consonant, but in Unicode it is stored after it. To type ਕਿ, press K then F. The font moves it into place.
Full vowels are single keys
Type ਉ with Shift+G, ਇ with Shift+F and ਏ with Shift+S. Never build them from ੳ or ੲ plus a matra. The result may look the same on screen, but it is a different sequence of characters and the exam counts the word as wrong.
Tippi or bindi
Tippi ੰ (X) goes with mukta letters and with ਿ ੁ ੂ: ਪੰਜ, ਹਿੰਦੀ, ਮੁੰਡਾ, ਨੂੰ. Bindi ਂ (Shift+X) goes with the other vowel signs: ਮਾਂ, ਨਹੀਂ, ਮੈਂ, ਸਮੇਂ. Type it after the matra.
Addak comes first
Addak ੱ (Shift+4) doubles the letter that follows it, and it is typed before that letter: ਪੱਕਾ is ਪ ੱ ਕ ਾ.
Pair bindi
For ਖ਼ ਗ਼ ਜ਼ ਫ਼, type the letter, then the ] key. ਸ਼ (Shift+M) and ਲ਼ (Shift+N) have their own keys.
Half letters: pairi rara, haha and vava
The halant ੍ on D joins the next letter underneath. ਪ੍ਰ is H, D, J. ਪੜ੍ਹ is H, Shift+J, D, U. Shortcuts: Shift+3 types ੍ਰ and Shift+` types ੍ਹ in one keystroke.
A practice routine that works
- Learn the home row first and do not look at the keyboard. Accuracy comes before speed.
- Spend 20 to 30 minutes a day on lessons until you know every key, then switch to passages.
- Take a timed test every few days and check the word-by-word result to see which marks you get wrong most often.
- Practise the special marks (addak, bindi, tippi, half letters) separately. They cause most exam mistakes, because one wrong mark makes the whole word wrong.