How to Type Vietnamese Accents: A Comprehensive Guide

Vietnamese is a unique and beautiful language, known for its rich tones and use of diacritics or accents. These accents are crucial to the meaning of words and often make the difference between similar-sounding words. In this article, we will explore how to type Vietnamese accents on different devices, including using VNI and Telex methods on a computer, and how to type Vietnamese on a smartphone.

Introduction to the Vietnamese Language and Its Accents

Vietnamese is a tonal language with six distinctive tones. Each tone is represented by a specific diacritic mark, or accent, placed above or below vowels. These accents give words their unique meaning, which is especially important when dealing with homophones.

The Vietnamese accents are:

• Dấu sắc (´) – represents the high rising tone.
• Dấu huyền (`) – represents the falling tone.
• Dấu hỏi (?) – represents the mid-rising tone.
• Dấu ngã (~) – represents the high broken tone.
• Dấu nặng (.) – represents the low falling tone.
• Dấu không dấu (no accent) – indicates a flat tone.

Mastering how to type these accents is essential for proper written communication in Vietnamese. Whether you’re typing on a computer or mobile device, the process is fairly simple once you understand the keyboard layout and typing methods.

How to Type Vietnamese Accents on a Computer Using VNI and Telex (via UNIKey)

On a computer, typing Vietnamese accents is commonly done using specialized input methods like VNI or Telex. One popular tool for typing Vietnamese on Windows is UNIKey, a free Vietnamese keyboard software.

VNI Method

The VNI method involves typing numbers to represent accents. After typing the base word, you press a number key to add the appropriate accent:

• 1 = dấu sắc (´)
• 2 = dấu huyền (`)
• 3 = dấu hỏi (?)
• 4 = dấu ngã (~)
• 5 = dấu nặng (.)
• ă = a8
• â = a6
• ê = e6
• ô = o6
• ơ = o7
• ư = u7
• đ = d9

For example:

• To type “chào”, type “cha2o”
• To type “đẹp”, type “d9e4p”

Telex Method

The Telex method is another popular way to type Vietnamese accents. It uses a combination of letters to represent accents:

• ‘s’ = dấu sắc (´)
• ‘f’ = dấu huyền (`)
• ‘r’ = dấu hỏi (?)
• ‘x’ = dấu ngã (~)
• ‘j’ = dấu nặng (.)
• ă = aw
• â = aa
• ê = ee
• ô = oo
• ơ – ow
• ư = uw
• đ = dd

For example:

• To type “chào”, type “chafo”
• To type “đẹp”, type “ddejp”

Both VNI and Telex are easy to set up and can be used effectively once you get the hang of their respective methods. They are also widely supported on Vietnamese typing software such as UNIKey.

How to Type Vietnamese Accents on a Smartphone

Typing Vietnamese on a smartphone is just as easy as on a computer. Most modern smartphones come with built-in support for Vietnamese characters. Here’s how you can type Vietnamese accents on iOS and Android devices:

iOS (iPhone/iPad)

1. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards.
2. Add the Vietnamese keyboard.
3. Once the keyboard is added, you can choose either the Telex or VNI input method.
4. When typing, tap and hold the world icon (????) located at the bottom left of the keyboard to switch to the Vietnamese keyboard.
5. Type your word as you normally would using the chosen input method (Telex or VNI)

Android

1. Go to Settings > General Management > Language and Input > On-screen Keyboard (or “Virtual Keyboard” on some devices) > Samsung Keyboard.
2. Tap “Language and Types” or “Select Input Languages” depending on the device and then “MANAGE INPUT LANGUAGES” if available.
3. Select “Tiếng Việt” from the list. Then, you can choose either the “Telex Qwerty” or “VNI Qwerty” input method.
4. If you do not see “Tiếng Việt” listed, select “Manage Input Languages”, search and download Tiếng Việt in the available languages section.
5. Once you have downloaded, activate Vietnamese by turning the switch next to Tiếng Việt on.
6. When typing, press and hold the space bar on the keyboard and slide it to the language that you want to select.

Typing Vietnamese on smartphones is intuitive, as most keyboards now support diacritical marks and accent selection. It is ideal for both casual texting and more formal writing.

Tips for Typing Vietnamese Using the Telex Method

Telex is the most popular typing method for texting because it is the fastest typing method on mobile phones. The reason for this is that the keys to add accents are located right around the main letter keys, so you don’t have to move your finger far to type the accents. This makes typing with Telex especially quick and efficient when you’re writing in Vietnamese.

However, when you need to type in Vietnamese and another language, such as English, Telex can sometimes add unwanted accents to letters. This happens because Telex is designed to add accents to characters like vowels, and it might mistakenly place an accent on an English letter.

If you’re typing multiple languages together and don’t want the unwanted accents, VNI may be a better choice as it is less likely to interfere with non-Vietnamese characters. But if you prefer Telex, there are simple ways to fix these issues:

1. Switching to another language: You can quickly switch between Vietnamese and other language keyboards by tapping the world icon (????) on your keyboard. This will allow you to type in English or other languages without adding Vietnamese accents to non-Vietnamese words.
2. Double-tapping letters: Another quick fix when Telex is activated is to type the letter twice if it becomes accented. For example, if you type “of,” it will turn into “ò.” To avoid this, just type “f” again, and it will return to “of.” So, to type “off” when Telex is on, simply type “off” — the second “f” will override the accent.

With these tips, you can easily switch between languages and ensure your typing experience is smooth and efficient, whether you’re using Telex or VNI.

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Conclusion

Typing Vietnamese accents may seem challenging at first, but with the right tools and methods, it becomes second nature. Whether you’re using VNI, Telex, or a smartphone keyboard, understanding how to type accents is essential for clear communication. And if you’re serious about learning the language, VLS is the perfect place to start your journey toward fluency. Happy typing and good luck with your Vietnamese language learning adventure!