[Originally posted on 03/23/15 on the Duolingo Ukrainian for English speakers forum by Darktroyd]
Hi! Привіт! This is something I will put out there to those wanting to learn Ukrainian on Duolingo. I will of course post these directions later on before release for those starting the course. These are the instructions for downloading a Cyrillic keyboard for those who want to get ready for the Ukraine course release.
The Cyrillic keyboard layout is a challenge to get used to so the best advice I can give you is just practice, practice, practice!
Steps for getting a Ukrainian Keyboard (note this may be different for a Mac):
1: Go to your start menu and search the word “Keyboard Input”.
2: Select the one that says something along the lines of changing your input options.
3: A window should open called “Region and Languages”, click the button that says “Change Keyboards”
4: Select “Add” and then select which language you want (Ukrainian)
5: Make sure before you are done to click “APPLY”.
There are two methods you can use to show your input options:
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Buy keyboard stickers for your computer.
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(preferred) Turn on the “On-screen keyboard”
On-Screen Keyboard instructions:
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Search “On screen keyboard” in the start menu.
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Click on “On-screen Keyboard” and it will pop up.
Optional Things:
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If you want to hot key your keyboard to switch between languages: get to the window where you would add another keyboard language, click on “Advanced Settings”, and then click on “Change key sequence”. Then when ever you want to change between language keyboards just hit your selected key(s) and it will switch input.
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You can move the virtual keyboard around like any other window. The keyboard will remain visible at all times unless you exit out of it/minimize it.
Good luck with learning the language! 😀
Selected comments on original post
There is also Google Input Tools, which is a browser extension, which enables typing in other languages.
Another option. To be honest, whatever works best for you is good. This is just probably what I will send out to the general audience. 🙂
Thank you so much for this! What is the difference between the Ukrainian and the Ukrainian (Enhanced)?
To be honest I have no idea what the difference is. That option does not come up on my computer. My suggestion is just to try one. If it does not work then get the other one. 😀
Is there a shortcut for the letters ґ, і, ї, and є. I’m used to the Bulgarian layout and switching to the Ukrainian one is almost imposible for me to use.
What do you mean by shortcuts? These mentioned characters are just normal keys. Also the lessons will not be using the ґ character so you will not have to worry about it. I recommend using just your Bulgarian keyboard for the lessons since, I assume, you are already used to it. It should be like using an English keyboard for French courses. If not let me know and I will figure something out. 😀
The problem was that Bulgarian Cyrillic doesn’t have those four characters. I made a custom layout and put them in the place of some punctuation button, so it should work hopefully.
It works! Haha, I can change my keyboard! йщшгуефл діварббьфиуі ийцушеенб, I don’t know what the hell I wrote but it’s cool. The onlly problem is that I can’t not see wich letter I’m typing, but I don’t thing that I’m going to buy some stickers.
Great! You can also download an on screen keyboard (written above) so you can see what you are typing. 😀
I could not do it. can you help me in any other way because otherwise I will have to dropout the course
If you would like there will soon be a British Standard romanized keyboard available in the next few days that they have been working on, you may use that. What device are you learning on? If you are on a phone you can go into your keyboard settings under “General”(for ios) or go to your Keyboard settings in the settings of your Android device in the Settings application. If you are on a Mac there is a comment by liam.dunn up above and he has instructions for that. If this does not help just let me know. Thanks, and enjoy the course! 😀
Google Input Tools is perfect for me 🙂 Since I might not use Ukrainian that much and I already got 4 languages on my windows keyboard. Now, I have a problem with this keyboard, I don’t know where ы is located. Can anybody tell me please?
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