Guide
How to type in Devanagari display fonts
Fontswala's Hindi & Marathi fonts are beautiful, but they type a little differently from a normal font. Here are the two ways to use them - the easy way (recommended) and the direct keyboard way.
The easy way - use the free converter
You don't need to learn anything. Open the Type Converter, type in plain English (it suggests Devanagari) or paste your Hindi/Marathi text, then copy the result and paste it into your design app with a Fontswala font selected.
Open the Type Converter →Why is typing different?
These decorative fonts are legacy fonts. Instead of storing standard Unicode Devanagari letters, they place each ornamental shape on an English key. So when you press k you get क, m gives म, and so on. Typing normal Unicode Hindi shows nothing, which is why the converter exists.
The direct way - the keyboard
If you'd rather type straight into the font, here is the key chart. Each cell shows a key and the letter it produces. Hold Shift for the uppercase set. Vowel signs (matras) attach to the consonant you type before them.
Chart shown in PD Chitralekha. For joined letters (conjuncts) and complex words, the converter is far quicker.
Quick tips
- • Install the font first, then select it in your design app before pasting.
- • Type the consonant first, then its vowel sign (matra) - just like handwriting.
- • For conjuncts (क्ष, श्री, द्ध…), let the converter build them for you.
- • Numbers 0–9 give Devanagari digits ०–९.
Frequently asked questions
Why can’t I just type Hindi normally into these fonts?
Decorative Devanagari display fonts are “legacy” fonts: the ornamental letter shapes are stored on the English/Roman keys. Typing standard Unicode Hindi shows nothing, because the font has no Unicode letters - only the design shapes on A–Z, 0–9 and symbols. Our free converter turns your normal Hindi/Marathi into the exact keystrokes the font needs.
Do I need to learn the keyboard layout?
No. Use the free Type Converter - type in plain English (or paste Devanagari), copy the result, and paste it into your design software with a Fontswala font selected. The keyboard chart is only for people who prefer to type directly.
How do I type joined letters (conjuncts) like क्ष or श्री?
Conjuncts combine several keystrokes. The easiest way is to let the Type Converter build them for you - type the word normally and it outputs the correct combination automatically.
Which software can I use these fonts in?
Any design software that lets you choose a font - CorelDRAW, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and similar. Install the font, paste the converted text, and select the Fontswala font.
Devanagari typing technology by IndiaFont.