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Reference

Krutidev Keyboard Chart

Every Krutidev character mapped to its keyboard shortcut. Consonants, vowels, matras, conjuncts, and special characters in Devanagari alphabetical order.

How to Read This Chart

Each table below has four columns. Hindi shows the Devanagari character. Name gives the transliteration. Key tells you which physical key(s) to press on a standard QWERTY keyboard. Krutidev Code shows the raw ASCII characters stored in the document.

Multi-key entries like "[ + k" mean press the keys in sequence, not simultaneously. "Shift+v" means hold Shift and press V. Characters marked "special" require Alt codes or are rarely typed directly.

Consonants (व्यंजन)

33 standard Hindi consonants in Devanagari alphabetical order. These form the backbone of all Hindi text.

HindiNameKeyKrutidev Code
Kadd
Kha[ + k[k
Gaxx
Gha? + k?k
Ngaspecial³
Chapp
ChhaShift+nN
Jatt
JhaShift+.>
Nyaspecial¥
TaShift+vV
ThaShift+bB
DaShift+mM
DhaShift+,<
Na. + k.k
Tarr
ThaShift+f + kFk
Dann
Dha/ + k/k
Nauu
Paii
PhaShift+qQ
Bacc
BhaShift+h + kHk
Maee
Ya;;
Rajj
Layy
Vaoo
Sha' + k'k
Sha" + k"k
Sall
Hagg

Vowels (स्वर)

Standalone vowels used at the beginning of words or after another vowel. Inside a word, use the matra (dependent vowel) form instead.

HindiNameKeyKrutidev Code
Avv
Aav + kvk
Ibb
Iib + Shift+zbZ
Umm
UuspecialÅ
E,,
Ai, + s,s
Ov + k + svks
Auv + k + Shift+svkS
RiShift+-_

Matras and Modifiers (मात्राएं)

Dependent vowel signs (matras), anusvara, chandrabindu, visarga, and halant. These attach to consonants to change their vowel sound.

HindiNameKeyKrutidev Code
Aa matrakk
िI matra (placed before consonant)ff
Ii matrahh
U matraqq
Uu matraww
Ri matra``
E matrass
Ai matraShift+sS
O matrak + sks
Au matrak + Shift+skS
Anusvara (bindu)aa
Chandrabinduspecial¡
VisargaShift+5%
Halant (virama)Shift+`~

Conjuncts and Special Characters

Common conjuncts (संयुक्ताक्षर) and special symbols that have dedicated keys in Krutidev. Most other conjuncts are formed by typing consonant + halant (~) + consonant.

HindiNameASCII Key
Purna Viram (Full Stop)A
ज्ञGyaK
ChhaN
Ta (retroflex)V
Tha (retroflex)B
Da (retroflex)M
Dha (retroflex)<
Jha>
La (retroflex)G
PhaQ
द्यDya|
द्वDva}
क्षKsha{
त्रTra=

Tips for Using This Chart

Print this page and tape it beside your monitor during your first week of practice. Most typists memorize the 15-20 most frequent characters within 3-5 days. The home row alone (a, s, d, f, g, h, j, k, l) covers about 40% of Hindi text.

Pay special attention to the distinction between consonants and their half forms. Pressing "d" gives the full consonant (with inherent vowel). Pressing Shift+d gives क् (the half consonant, ready to combine with the next letter). You use half forms to build conjuncts like क्र, प्र, and स्त.

The retroflex consonants (, , , , ) all live on Shift keys: Shift+v, Shift+b, Shift+m, Shift+comma, and period respectively. Grouping them on the same row makes them easier to remember.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I read this Krutidev keyboard chart?
Each row shows a Hindi character, its romanized name, the physical key(s) you press on a QWERTY keyboard, and the raw ASCII code stored in the Krutidev font. For multi-key entries like "[ + k" for ख, press the keys in sequence - not simultaneously. The "Key" column is what you actually type; the "Krutidev Code" column is what appears in the document before the font renders it.
What is the difference between this chart and the keyboard layout page?
This chart lists every character alphabetically by Devanagari order (, , , ...) so you can look up a specific character quickly. The layout page shows characters arranged by their physical position on the keyboard. Use this chart to find "how do I type ?" and the layout page to learn "what does the V key produce?"
Why do some characters need two key presses?
Krutidev maps 200+ Devanagari characters to a standard 47-key QWERTY keyboard. Single keys handle the most common characters ( on "d", on "j", on "l"). Less frequent characters use two-key sequences: the first key types a partial form, and the second key ("k" for many consonants) completes it. For example, "[" alone gives ख् (half kha), while "[ + k" gives the full .
Can I print this chart for exam preparation?
Yes. Use your browser's print function (Ctrl+P or Cmd+P) and this page renders cleanly on paper. For a dedicated print-optimized version, visit our PDF download page. Taping a printed chart next to your monitor is the fastest way to memorize the layout during the first week of practice.
Why is the chhoti i matra (<span lang="hi">ि</span>) typed before the consonant?
This is a holdover from the mechanical typewriter era. On a physical typewriter, the carriage moves left-to-right. The chhoti i matra sits to the left of the consonant glyph, so the typist had to strike it first for the print position to be correct. Krutidev preserved this behavior. To type कि, press "f" (for ि) then "d" (for ). Every other matra goes after the consonant.
How do I type conjuncts (<span lang="hi">संयुक्ताक्षर</span>) like <span lang="hi">क्ष</span>, <span lang="hi">त्र</span>, <span lang="hi">ज्ञ</span> in Krutidev?
Three conjuncts have dedicated single keys: क्ष = "{" + "k", त्र = "=", and ज्ञ = "K" (Shift+k). All other conjuncts follow the pattern: first consonant + halant (~) + second consonant. For example, प्र = "i" then "z" (since z produces ्र, the half-ra that attaches below). श्र has its own key: "J" (Shift+j).