How to Type Tamil in Microsoft Word: Keyboard and Speech-to-Text (Dictate)

There are two ways to write Tamil in Microsoft Word: type it with a Tamil keyboard built into Windows, or speak it using Word’s Dictate feature. Both produce Unicode Tamil, which is what journals – including KALANJIYAM – ask for.

Method 1: Type with a Windows Tamil keyboard

1. Open Settings → Time & language → Language & region.
2. Select Add a language, choose Tamil, then Next and Install. Tamil is installed with the Tamil 99 keyboard.
3. If you prefer to type Tamil using English letters (for example amma → அம்மா), select the … next to Tamil → Language options → Add a keyboard → Tamil Phonetic.
4. In Word, press Windows key + Space to switch between English and Tamil keyboards, and type.

Use a Unicode font such as Latha, Vijaya or Nirmala UI. Text typed in old non-Unicode fonts (Bamini, TSCII) has to be converted before submission.

Method 2: Speak Tamil with Dictate

1. Sign in to Word with a Microsoft 365 subscription and make sure your microphone works.
2. Go to Home → Dictate.
3. Open Dictate’s settings (gear icon) and choose Tamil (India) as the Spoken language.
4. Speak clearly; say punctuation where needed, then check the text.

Microsoft lists Tamil (India) as a preview dictation language, which may have lower accuracy or limited punctuation, so always proofread dictated text.

Note: changing the proofing language in Word (Review → Language) does not change the dictation language or the keyboard – it only affects spell-checking.

Writing a research paper in Tamil?

See KALANJIYAM’s Author Guidelines and manuscript template.

Sources: Microsoft Support, “Dictate your documents in Word”; Microsoft Learn, “Tamil IME”.