Ethio Amharic KeyboardMac
Requires macOS 13 or later. Plan about two minutes.
1. Install
Download
Download the disk image (.dmg) and open it.
Drag the app to Applications
Drag Ethio Amharic for Mac onto the Applications shortcut in the window, then open it from Applications.
Press Install
The app copies the keyboard into your account. No password is needed. It then shows the remaining steps, so you can keep it open while you follow them.
The first time you open it, macOS may ask you to confirm the app was downloaded from the internet. Click Open. The app is signed and notarized by Apple.
2. Turn it on
Open Keyboard settings
Press Open Keyboard Settings in the app, or open System Settings → Keyboard.
Add the keyboard
- Next to Input Sources, click Edit…
- Click + at the bottom left.
- Choose Amharic in the language list, then Ethio Amharic Keyboard.
- Click Add, then Done.
Switch to it
Click the input menu in the menu bar (it shows a language icon, such as A for U.S.) and choose Ethio Amharic Keyboard. To switch with a key, use Control + Space or the fn / Globe key (set in System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Input Sources).
3. Type Amharic
Switch to Ethio Amharic Keyboard from the input menu in the menu bar first. If an app still types English after installing or updating, restart that app. Apps that were open keep an old connection. Logging out and back in once also fixes every app at once.
Type the English sound. The Amharic letter is underlined while you type. Press Space to finish the word.
| Type | You get |
|---|---|
| selam | ሰላም |
| sh ch zh ny ts kh | ሸ ቸ ዠ ኘ ጸ ኸ |
| a u i e o (on their own) | አ ኡ ኢ እ ኦ |
| c | ክ (press Tab for ች) |
Space finishes the word and adds a space. Return finishes it without a space. Esc cancels. Delete removes the last letter. Suggestions appear in the palette; use ← → and Space to pick one, or Option + 1–5.
Tab: switch to a letter that sounds the same
While the letter is still underlined, press Tab to move to the next same-sounding letter. Shift + Tab goes back. It changes the last letter you typed; to change an earlier one, delete back to it.
| Type | Tab cycles through |
|---|---|
| t | ተ → ጠ |
| s | ሰ → ሠ |
| h | ሀ → ሐ → ኀ |
| c | ክ → ች → ጭ |
| ch | ቸ → ጨ |
| ts | ጸ → ፀ |
| p | ፐ → ጰ |
| k | ከ → ቀ → ኸ |
| q | ቀ → ከ → ቐ |
| a, u, i, e, o on their own | አ → ዐ, ኡ → ዑ, ኢ → ዒ, እ → ዕ, ኦ → ዖ |
Letters with no alternative (like m) use Tab to move through the word suggestions instead.
Vowel forms
Every consonant has seven forms. Type the consonant and then the key below. The palette shows the key under each form.
| Form | Key after the consonant | Example with s |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | e | ሰ (se) |
| 2nd | u | ሱ (su) |
| 3rd | i | ሲ (si) |
| 4th | a | ሳ (sa) |
| 5th | ie | ሴ (sie) |
| 6th | none | ስ (s, no vowel) |
| 7th | o | ሶ (so) |
| “wa” form | wa | ሷ (key 8) |
Changed your mind? While the letter is underlined, press 1–7 (or 8 for the “wa” form), or click a form in the palette. For example s then 4 gives ሳ. pe gives ፐ; for ፔ type pie or press 5.
On the vowel letters (አ), the keys are a u i e o for አ ኡ ኢ እ ኦ. ኣ and ኤ can be clicked in the palette.
Punctuation and numbers
| Keys | You get |
|---|---|
| . , ; : ? | ። ፣ ፤ ፥ ፧ (while typing, or right after Amharic text) |
| Option + . , ; / - ' \ | ። ፣ ፤ ፧ ፡ ፦ ፨ (always) |
| Option + 1–9 | ፩ to ፱ |
| Option + Shift + 1–9 | ፲ to ፺ |
| Option + 0 / Option + Shift + 0 | ፻ / ፼ |
| Option + Space | Opens a numbered symbol picker; press 1–9 to insert |
Shortcuts
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Tab / Shift+Tab | Next / previous letter that sounds the same |
| 1–8 | Change the vowel form of the last letter |
| Control+Option+Space | Type English without leaving the keyboard (press again to return) |
| Control+Option+P | Show or hide the palette |
| Option+1–5 | Pick suggestion 1 to 5 |
| Esc | Cancel what you are typing |
The palette follows your text cursor; drag it to move it. Open the input menu in the menu bar for the Fidel chart and settings. Command and Control shortcuts such as copy and paste always work as usual.
Uninstall
Press Uninstall
Open Ethio Amharic for Mac and press Uninstall…, then confirm. This removes the keyboard and its settings from your Mac.
Clear the input menu if needed
If it still shows in the menu bar, open System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources → Edit, select Ethio Amharic Keyboard and click −. If it lingers, log out and back in.
Delete the setup app
Drag Ethio Amharic for Mac from Applications to the Trash.
Good to know: clicking − in System Settings on its own only takes the keyboard out of your list. It does not delete it, and you can add it back with +. Use Uninstall… to remove it completely.
No longer have the setup app?
In Finder choose Go → Go to Folder…, enter ~/Library/Input Methods and move Ethio Amharic.app to the Trash. Then remove the entry in Input Sources as above and log out and back in.
Troubleshooting
More answers are in the FAQ.
It types English letters
Check that Ethio Amharic Keyboard is selected in the menu bar. If it is, and you just installed or updated, restart that app (or log out and back in once). You may also have turned on English typing with Control + Option + Space; press it again.
It is not in the list
Run the install again and look under Amharic in Edit… → +. If it is still missing, log out and back in once, then look again.
The palette is in the wrong place
Some apps do not report where the cursor is. Drag the palette where you want it, or use Reset palette position in the settings.
Still stuck?
Email henoktasissa@gmail.com with your macOS version and the app you were typing in.
iPhone & iPad
Get the app from the App Store, then follow these steps.
Install the app
Get Ethio Amharic Keyboard from the App Store and open it once.
Add the keyboard
Open Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards → Add New Keyboard and choose Ethio Keyboard. You do not need to turn on Full Access.
Switch to it
In any text field, tap and hold the globe key (or the globe at the bottom of the screen) and choose Ethio Keyboard.
Type Amharic with English letters
Tap the EN key twice to reach phonetic mode. Type selam and press space to get ሰላም. Tap a suggestion to choose a different spelling.
Themes and key size
Open the app to choose from nine colour themes and three key sizes, and to turn key-press preview and key click on or off.
Emoji, numbers and symbols
They are one tap away on the keyboard. Geez numbers and punctuation are on the number and symbol pages.