Many languages have special characters, accents or symbols that are needed to write and use the language correctly. Adding a specific keyboard to your device makes it easier to practice and communicate in the language you're learning.
iOS devices
To add a new keyboard language on your iPhone or iPad:
- Go to Settings > General > Keyboard
- Tap Keyboards > Add a New Keyboard
- Choose your learning language from the list
When you're typing, simply tap and hold the emoji icon 😀 or globe icon 🌐 at the bottom of your keyboard to switch between languages.
Android devices
To add a new keyboard language on your Android device:
- Go to Settings > System > Languages & input > Languages
- Tap Add a Language
- Choose your learning language from the list
While typing, tap the globe icon 🌐 or press and hold the spacebar to switch between your installed keyboards.
Mac computers
To add a new keyboard language on your Mac computer:
- Open the Apple menu and select System Settings
- Navigate to Keyboard, then click Text Input
- Click Edit and use the plus button to add your language
You can switch between keyboards by clicking the input menu in your menu bar or pressing Control + Spacebar.
Computers with Windows
To add a new keyboard language on your computer with Windows:
- Go to Settings > Time & Language > Language
- Select Add a language and choose the one you're learning
Press Windows key + Spacebar to switch your installed keyboards.
Settings can look different on different devices, so don't hesitate to check your device's support resources.
Table with special characters
When learning on your computer, Babbel includes a handy character table - it shows you keyboard shortcuts for special characters in your learning language.
Simply type the key combinations displayed. For instance, typing o followed by : will produce ö, while a followed by : creates ä.
You can show or hide the table anytime using the toggle in the bottom right corner.