Free Bulgarian keyboard with BDS and Phonetic layouts, Latin compose (zdravey → здравей), and a 30-letter Cyrillic alphabet guide — type in your browser.
Typing never leaves your browser — nothing is sent to a server.
0 characters · 0 words · 0 sentences · ~1 min read
Bulgarian keyboard (BDS)
Bulgarian keyboard (BDS)
BDS (Bulgarian Typewriter) — official layout in Bulgaria (BDS 5237:2006). Q types comma (,) with ы on Shift — ы and э appear on the layout but are not used in standard Bulgarian spelling.
BDS is the official Bulgarian standard — letter positions differ from Russian ЙЦУКЕН. Phonetic maps Cyrillic to similar QWERTY keys for learners on US hardware.
BDS (Bulgarian Typewriter)
Official in schools and offices. щ on Y, ъ on C. May include legacy keys (ы, э) not used in standard Bulgarian spelling.
Bulgarian Phonetic
а on A, б on B pattern. щ on ], ъ on Y.
Alphabet history, BDS vs Phonetic layouts, and Bulgarian vs Russian comparison.
Modern Bulgarian uses 30 Cyrillic letters. Unlike Russian, standard Bulgarian does not use ё, ы, or э in spelling — though the BDS typewriter layout includes ы and э on shift layers for legacy compatibility.
Bulgaria mandates both layouts on devices — choose based on training and hardware.
| Topic | BDS | Phonetic |
|---|---|---|
| Official standard | BDS 5237:2006 (Typewriter) | QWERTY phonetic mapping |
| Primary users | Schools, government, trained typists | Diaspora, learners, casual typing |
| Letter positions | Optimized for Bulgarian frequency | а on A, б on B, similar sounds |
| щ (sht) | Y key | ] key |
| ъ (er golyam) | C key | Y key |
| Windows name | Bulgarian (Typewriter) | Bulgarian (Phonetic) |
Scripts look similar but alphabets and keyboard layouts differ — similar Cyrillic shape, different letter keys and spelling rules.
| Topic | Bulgarian | Russian |
|---|---|---|
| Letter count | 30 letters | 33 letters (includes ё) |
| Not in Bulgarian | — | ё, ы, э in standard Russian |
| Щ | /ʃt/ — sht (нощ) | /ɕː/ — shch (ещё) |
| Ъ | Vowel er golyam (път) | Hard sign — no vowel |
| Keyboard | BDS / Phonetic | Russian ЙЦУКЕН (different key map) |
| Common mistake | Russian layout produces wrong letters for BG | BDS layout produces wrong letters for RU |
Bulgarian Cyrillic letters are standard Unicode (U+0400–U+04FF). Copy from KeyLingo into Gmail, Google Docs, and messaging apps — Noto, Arial, and Calibri support all 30 letters. Decorative Unicode styles usually only transform basic Latin; Cyrillic stays plain until a dedicated Bulgarian font generator ships.
Practical advice for learners and diaspora users.
Bulgarian typography and spacing fixes.
Bulgarian keyboard online
BDS (official) or Phonetic virtual keyboard with physical key sync.
Phonetic compose — Latin to Cyrillic on space. For learners on QWERTY.
Edit Cyrillic text directly; paste from email or documents.
Browse all 30 Cyrillic letters with IPA hints — Ъ, Щ, Ь, Й, Ю, Я.
Ready-made greetings and everyday sentences — tap to insert or copy.
Dictate in Bulgarian with browser speech recognition — no upload.
Type Bulgarian Cyrillic online at KeyLingo with BDS and Phonetic virtual keyboards, Latin compose mode, and a 30-letter alphabet explorer — all locally in your browser.
Use the editor at the top of this page — works on desktop and mobile browsers without installing software.
The virtual keyboard opens by default. Click on-screen keys or type on your physical QWERTY keyboard with live key highlighting.
Use the mode tabs to switch to Latin → Cyrillic or Unicode Editor — your draft text stays in the editor.
Click Copy and paste into WhatsApp, email, social apps, Google Docs, or any app that accepts Unicode.
Practical tips for Bulgarian input — layouts, accents, and common questions answered below.
A Bulgarian keyboard lets you type Cyrillic letters online without installing an IME. KeyLingo combines BDS and Phonetic layouts, Latin compose for learners, and educational guides in one private workspace.
Open KeyLingo Bulgarian Keyboard. Use Virtual Keyboard (BDS default) with physical key highlighting, or switch to Latin → Cyrillic compose: type zdravey and press space for здравей.
Bulgarian uses a 30-letter Cyrillic alphabet. Special letters for learners: Ъ (er golyam), Щ (sht), Ь (soft sign), Й (i kratko), Ю and Я. Standard Bulgarian does not use Russian ё, ы, or э.
The Cyrillic script was developed for Slavic liturgical and literary use in the 9th century. Modern Bulgarian orthography was standardized in the 19th century and uses the 30-letter alphabet taught in schools today.
BDS (Bulgarian Typewriter, BDS 5237:2006) is the official layout in Bulgaria — optimized for typing speed. Phonetic maps Cyrillic to similar QWERTY keys (а on A, б on B) — easier for diaspora and learners on US keyboards.
Both use Cyrillic but differ: Bulgarian has 30 letters; Russian has 33 including ё. Bulgarian Щ is /ʃt/ (sht); Russian Щ is /ɕː/. Bulgarian Ъ is a vowel; Russian Ъ is a hard sign. Layouts look similar but map different letters — use BDS for Bulgarian, not Russian ЙЦУКЕН.
Bulgarian Cyrillic is standard Unicode — copy from KeyLingo into email, Word, and social apps reliably. Decorative Unicode styles usually only transform basic Latin; Cyrillic letters stay plain until a dedicated Bulgarian font generator is available.
Use Phonetic layout on US hardware; BDS if you learned it in Bulgaria. In compose mode, press space after each word. Disable mobile autocorrect when typing Latin phonetics. Switch layouts with the tab above the keyboard.
All typing and compose conversion run locally in your browser. KeyLingo never uploads your Bulgarian text to a server.
Bulgarian keyboard, input methods, and privacy — answered clearly.
Use Latin → Cyrillic compose: type zdravey, blagodarya, shtastliv and press space after each word. Or switch to Phonetic virtual keyboard where QWERTY keys map to similar Cyrillic letters.
BDS is the official Bulgarian layout used in schools and offices. Phonetic maps letters to QWERTY by sound/shape — easier for beginners and diaspora on US keyboards.
Thirty letters in standard modern Bulgarian Cyrillic. The alphabet includes Ъ, Щ, Ь, Й, Ю, and Я — and does not use Russian ё, ы, or э in standard spelling.
Bulgarian has 30 letters; Russian has 33. Bulgarian lacks ё; Russian lacks Bulgarian-specific vowel uses of Ъ. BDS and Russian ЙЦУКЕН look similar but differ on several keys — using the wrong layout produces incorrect letters.
Transliteration changes script (zdravey → здравей). Translation changes meaning (hello → здравей). KeyLingo compose mode transliterates — it does not translate sentences.
On BDS, щ is on the Y key. In compose mode, type sht. On Phonetic layout, щ is on the ] key.
On BDS, ъ is on C. In Phonetic layout, ъ is on Y. In compose mode, context-dependent — learn common words like българия, път.
Yes. Use the virtual keyboard sheet or Latin compose mode. Touch-friendly letter strip for Ъ, Щ, Ь, Й, Ю, Я.
No. Everything runs locally in your browser — zero server uploads.
Българска клавиатура means Bulgarian keyboard — software or online layout for typing Cyrillic Bulgarian text.
No. It helps you type Cyrillic characters from Latin phonetics or virtual keys — not translate meaning.
Most decorative Unicode styles only transform basic A–Z. Cyrillic stays plain — type full Bulgarian text here; see Russian Font Generator for partial Cyrillic styling until Bulgarian styles ship.
More language typing tools