Russian Keyboard
Type Russian with an on-screen ЙЦУКЕН keyboard, a phonetic layout or Latin translit, then copy your Cyrillic text. Everything happens in your browser; nothing you type leaves your device.
Translit typing rules
Type Latin letters and they turn into Cyrillic as you type. Press ` between two letters to stop them combining (s`h → сх).
How to use the Russian Keyboard
- Pick a layout: ЙЦУКЕН if you know the Russian layout, Phonetic if you prefer Latin-like positions, or Translit typing to write Russian in Latin letters.
- Type with your own keyboard (keep “Type with my physical keyboard” ticked) or click the on-screen keys.
- Use Shift or Caps for capital letters; the keys update to show what they will type.
- Adjust the font size if you need bigger letters.
- Copy text and paste it into your email, chat or search, or download it as a .txt file.
Russian keyboard layouts compared
Russian is written in the Cyrillic alphabet, which has 33 letters. The tool offers three ways to type them, so you can use whichever you find fastest.
| Latin key | ЙЦУКЕН (standard) | Phonetic (ЯВЕРТЫ) | Translit typing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q W E R T Y | й ц у к е н | я в е р т ы | я в е р т ы |
| A S D F G H | ф ы в а п р | а с д ф г х | а с д ф г х |
| Z X C V B N M | я ч с м и т ь | з ь ц ж б н м | з х ц в б н м |
| ` (backtick) | ё | ё | separator (stops letters combining) |
| [ ] \ | х ъ \ | ш щ э | (not used) |
| ; ' | ж э | ч ю | ' = ь |
The standard ЙЦУКЕН layout (ГОСТ 6431-90) is what Russians use every day, and it is worth learning if you write Russian often: the most frequent letters о, а, е, и, н, т sit under your index and middle fingers. The phonetic layout is popular with learners and with people whose keyboards only have Latin labels. Translit typing is the gentlest start: write privet and get привет.
Translit cheat sheet
| Type | Get | Example |
|---|---|---|
| zh | ж | zhizn' → жизнь |
| ch | ч | chaj → чай (j gives й, y gives ы) |
| sh / shch | ш / щ | shchi → щи |
| kh or h or x | х | khorosho → хорошо |
| ya, yu, yo (or ja, ju, jo) | я, ю, ё | yolka → ёлка, yabloko → яблоко |
| je or e' | э | jeto → это |
| ' and '' (or #) | ь and ъ | ob#ekt → объект |
Note that translit typing is a typing method, not an official romanization. To convert whole texts between Cyrillic and Latin using official rules, use the Cyrillic transliteration tool.
Tips for typing Russian
- Ё is optional in most texts. Russian writers often type е instead of ё (ёлка/елка). Use ё in names, learning materials and where the meaning could be unclear (все “everyone” vs всё “everything”).
- Quotation marks: Russian typography uses «ёлочки» quotes. On a Russian keyboard Shift+2 gives a straight " quote; you can copy « » from the special characters tool.
- The № sign is Shift+3 on the ЙЦУКЕН layout.
- Punctuation moves: on ЙЦУКЕН the period and comma are on the key left of Right Shift (period unshifted, comma with Shift).
Frequently asked questions
How do I type in Russian without a Russian keyboard?
Open this page and type with your normal keyboard: with the physical keyboard mapping on, each key produces the Russian letter shown on the on-screen key. If you do not know the ЙЦУКЕН layout, choose Phonetic or Translit typing, where Latin letters map to similar-sounding Russian ones.
What is the difference between ЙЦУКЕН and phonetic?
ЙЦУКЕН is the standard Russian layout used on keyboards in Russia; its name comes from the first letters of the top row. A phonetic (ЯВЕРТЫ) layout places Russian letters on Latin keys that sound alike, such as р on R and т on T, which is easier for learners who already touch-type in English.
How do I type ё, ъ and ь?
On ЙЦУКЕН, ё is on the key left of 1 (the backtick key), ъ is on the ] key and ь is on the M key. In the phonetic layout ё is on the backtick key, ъ on = and ь on X. In translit typing, write yo or jo for ё, an apostrophe for ь and two apostrophes or # for ъ.
How does translit typing work?
Letters convert as you type: z gives з, and adding h turns it into ж. The same works for sh → ш, ch → ч, kh → х and shch → щ, and for ya, yu, yo after y or j. If you really want two separate letters such as сх, press the backtick key between them: s`h.
Does the Russian keyboard work on phones?
Yes. Tap the on-screen keys to insert letters at the cursor. Your phone's own keyboard will not pop up while you use the on-screen keys, which keeps the layout visible.
Is my text saved or sent anywhere?
No. The keyboard runs entirely in your browser. Your current draft is stored only in this browser's local storage so it survives a page reload; press Clear to remove it.
How do I add a Russian keyboard to Windows or Mac?
On Windows 10/11 go to Settings → Time & language → Language & region → Add a language → Russian. On a Mac open System Settings → Keyboard → Text Input → Edit → + and add Russian – PC (ЙЦУКЕН) or Russian – Phonetic.