Note on Legacy SIL Ethiopic Keyboard Compatibility

The original “SIL Ethiopic” used alternative capital letter keys to produce less frequently used characters. These alternative capital letter keys are still able to be used, but an additional method for creating these less frequently used characters has been added.

The preferred method for creating these less frequently used characters is by using the [ key after the letter key to produce the desired character.

For example, to create ሥ the chart shows s [ or J. To produce this character using the preferred method, first press the s key, and then press the [ key. Alternatively, a capital J can be typed to produce the ሥ character.

As another example, to create ፅ the chart shows T [ or Y. To produce this character using the preferred method, first type a capital T, and then press the [ key. Alternatively, a capital Y can be typed to produce the ፅ character.

Syllables (including diphthongs)

First type the keystroke(s) from the leftmost column, followed by the keystroke at the top of the column. For example, to produce ሀ first press the h key, and then press the v key. To produce ሄ first press the h key, and then press the e key. The default form is the 6th form (you do not need to press the - key).

keys:

v

u

i

a

e

-

o

O

A

U

I

E

W

h

l

H

m

s [ or J

r

s

S

q

Q

b

v

t

c

h [ or L

n

N

x

k

H [ or K

w

X

z

Z

Y

d

D

j

g

G

T

C

P

t [ or F

T [ or V

f

p

S #

c #

Z #

C #

q #

k #

H [ # or K#

g #

C =

P =

s =

z =

D =

Ethiopic Numbers

The keystrokes are at the top of the column.

keys:

1 *

2 *

3 *

4 *

5 *

6 *

7 *

8 *

keys:

keys:

Punctuation

The keystrokes are at the top of the column.

keys:

:

: :

: -

: .

.

. .

. . .

. /

,

, ,

keys:

Diacritics

First create the desired syllable, then add the diacritic by typing the keystrokes at the top of the column.

keys:

. :

. '

. "

. 1

. 2

. 3

. 4

. 5

. 6

. 7

. 8

. 9