Key map · 5 min read
The Arabic Keyboard Layout Explained
An Arabic keyboard layout assigns Arabic letters to physical keys, just as an English layout assigns Latin letters. On harf, the on-screen Arabic character is paired with the English key that produces it, so you can learn the positions without guessing.
Three letter rows
The top letter row begins Q, W, E, R, T, Y and continues across the keyboard: ض ص ث ق ف غ ع ه خ ح ج د. The home row begins A and maps to ش س ي ب ل ا ت ن م ك ط. These are the first two rows worth practicing because the home row is easy to reach without moving your hands far.
The bottom row starts with Z and continues: ئ ء ؤ ر لا ى ة و ز ظ. Some positions may feel unexpected at first. Look at the Arabic character printed on the key rather than trying to infer it from the English letter name.
- Q → ض, W → ص, E → ث, R → ق
- A → ش, S → س, D → ي, F → ب
- Z → ئ, X → ء, C → ؤ, V → ر
Start with anchor keys
Practice a few memorable pairs before trying to memorize every key. Q-W-E gives ض ص ث; A-S-D gives ش س ي; and Z-X-C gives ئ ء ؤ. Say the sequence aloud while looking at the visual board, then try typing a short word that uses those letters.
This mapping follows a common Arabic keyboard arrangement, but operating systems and hardware can have variants. If you use a system keyboard instead of harf, check that your device’s selected Arabic layout matches the printed legends.
Use the map while you write
In harf’s English-keyboard mode, the English legend tells you which physical key to press and the Arabic character tells you what will appear. Click a key if you are unsure, or keep the visual keyboard in view while practicing. The arrangement is a reference, not a test of typing speed.
When you are ready, use the How It Works page for a complete walkthrough, or open the keyboard and practice the rows directly.
Put what you learned into practice.
Open the harf keyboard and try a short phrase. Click the letters or use your physical keyboard.
Open the keyboard