How to Type Hebrew Nikud on Any Device: iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac
Every device can type Hebrew nikud, but the option is well hidden. This guide shows where it is on each one. All methods share one rule: type the letter first, then add the mark to it.
Do you need nikud for song lyrics?
Usually not. Kleep adds nikud to Hebrew lyrics automatically, so plain Hebrew works. Add it by hand only when a rare name or word keeps being read wrong, and only on that word. There is no need to add nikud to the whole song.
iPhone and iPad
The built-in Hebrew keyboard has a nikud key from iOS 16 onward:
- Place the cursor right after the letter.
- Switch to the numbers keyboard with the 123 key.
- Press and hold the nikud key next to the space bar.
- Slide to the mark you want and let go.
The key only appears when the Hebrew keyboard is active. If you don't see it, check that your software is up to date.
Android
The simplest route is Google's free Gboard keyboard with the Hebrew language enabled. Press and hold the first letter of the mark's Hebrew name, then choose the mark from the popup:
- ק for kamatz, פ for patach
- ח for hiriq, ש for sheva
- ס for segol, צ for tsere
Keyboards from phone makers differ. If yours shows no nikud on long press, install Gboard and switch to it just for this.
Windows
With the default Hebrew (Standard) layout, type the letter and then press AltGr with the key below. AltGr is the right Alt key, or Ctrl + Alt together.
- Kamatz: AltGr + ק
- Patach: AltGr + פ
- Sheva: AltGr + ש
- Hiriq: AltGr + ח
- Segol: AltGr + ס
- Tsere: AltGr + צ
- Holam: AltGr + ו
- Kubutz: AltGr + \
- Dagesh: AltGr + ד
- Shin dot: AltGr + W, sin dot: AltGr + Q
On the older layout simply named Hebrew, turn on Caps Lock and press Shift with a number key instead. The Windows On-Screen Keyboard shows which mark is on which key.
Mac
On the standard Hebrew layout, type the letter and then press Option with a number key. For example, Option + 8 adds a kubutz. A dagesh is Option + comma.
On the Hebrew QWERTY layout the keys follow the sound of the mark, such as Option + U for kubutz, and a dagesh is the key to the left of 1. To see the whole map, open the Keyboard Viewer from the input menu and hold Option.
Using nikud in your lyrics
- Generate the song from plain Hebrew and listen.
- Find the word that comes out wrong.
- Add nikud to that word only, using the method for your device. You can also paste a word that already has nikud.
- Create the song again in Kleep.
More tips are in the help article on Hebrew pronunciation.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't the mark appear in the right place?
The mark attaches to the letter just before the cursor. Place the cursor right after the letter, then add the mark.
Do I have to add nikud to my lyrics on Kleep?
No. Kleep adds it automatically. Add it by hand only on a rare name or word that keeps being read wrong.
Can I copy a word with nikud from somewhere else?
Yes. Nikud is part of the text, so a word copied with its marks keeps them when you paste it into the lyrics field.
About the author
Kleep Editorial TeamAI music guides and product team
The Kleep editorial team builds and tests Kleep's AI song generator every day and writes practical, hands-on guides to creating songs with AI in English and Hebrew.
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