For decades, the Preeti font was the standard for Nepali typing in government offices, schools, and newspapers across Nepal. Even today, thousands of documents, legal papers, and applications are created using this legacy font.
However, modern technology demands Unicode. If you are still typing in Preeti and want to adapt, or if you are looking to learn the traditional layout for a specific job, you are in the right place. This guide is the complete masterclass for Preeti typing, covering every single character you will ever need.
What is the Preeti Font?
Before Unicode became the global standard, Nepali typists used English keyboards mapped to Nepali characters. The Preeti font was the most popular of these mapping systems. For example, pressing the s key would type the letter क, and pressing v would type ख.
Because Preeti is not phonetic, you cannot guess where a letter is. You must memorize the exact layout. Below is the complete, definitive chart for Preeti typing.
The Ultimate Preeti Keyboard Chart
1. Vowels (स्वरहरू)
In Preeti, typing a standalone vowel is done by pressing specific keys, often involving the f key for long vowels.
| Key | Output | Key | Output | Key | Output |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
c |
अ | cf |
आ | O |
इ |
O{ |
ई | p |
उ | pM |
ऊ |
P |
ऋ | T |
ए | t |
ऐ |
of |
ओ | of] |
औ | x |
अं |
F |
अँ | f |
ा (Matra) | l |
ि (Matra) |
2. Consonants (व्यञ्जनहरू)
Here is every consonant in the Nepali alphabet and the English key required to type it in Preeti.
| Key | Output | Key | Output | Key | Output |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
s |
क | v |
ख | u |
ग |
3 |
घ | ª |
ङ | r |
च |
5 |
छ | h |
ज | em |
झ |
` |
ञ | 6 |
ट | 7 |
ठ |
8 |
ड | 9 |
ढ | 0 |
ण |
t |
त | y |
थ | b |
द |
w |
ध | g |
न | k |
प |
km |
फ | a |
ब | e |
भ |
d |
म | o |
य | / |
र |
n |
ल | j |
व | z |
श |
if |
ष | ; |
स | x |
ह |
q |
फ | 1 |
ज्ञ | cf |
क्ष |
lq |
त्र | Q |
त्त | å |
द्द |
3. The “Half Letters” (हलन्त / Halant)
In Nepali, consonants often combine to form half-letters. In Preeti, you achieve this by typing the consonant and then pressing the backslash key (\).
- क् =
s+\ - ख् =
v+\ - ग् =
u+\ - त् =
t+\ - द् =
b+\ - न् =
g+\ - प् =
k+\ - म् =
d+\ - य् =
o+\ - र् =
/+\
4. The “i” Vowel Exception (दीर्घ ‘इ’ को मात्रा)
The most common mistake beginners make is typing the i matra (l) after the consonant. In Preeti, you must type the l key BEFORE the consonant.
- To type कि, you must press
lthens(NOTsthenl). - To type मि, you must press
lthend. - To type नि, you must press
ltheng.
Step 1: Download Free Preeti Fonts and Keyboard Layouts
Before you can practice, you need to install the Preeti font on your computer. Click the buttons below to download the ZIP files. Once downloaded, extract the files and click “Install” to add the font to your system.
Step 2: Practice Online for Free
Reading about typing is not enough; you must practice! If you don’t want to install the font right away, you can use our Free Online Typeshala.
Our typing tool works directly in your browser. It automatically converts the text to Unicode, helping you transition from legacy Preeti to modern standard typing.
Step 3: Convert Preeti to Unicode
If you have old documents written in Preeti and need to convert them to modern Unicode (for websites, email, or Facebook), you don’t need to retype everything. Use our Preeti to Unicode Converter. Just paste your Preeti text, and our tool will instantly convert it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my Preeti letters breaking when I type?
Preeti relies heavily on ligatures (combined letters). If you type the vowel ‘i’ (ि) after the consonant, it will break. In Preeti, you must type the ‘i’ vowel before the consonant (e.g., type l then ; to get सि).