Braille Alphabet
The full Braille alphabet from A to Z, with a chart and a translator. See how each letter is formed in the six-dot cell and convert your own text.
The Braille alphabet, letter by letter
The Braille alphabet represents each of the 26 letters with a unique pattern of raised dots inside a cell of six positions, arranged in two columns of three. Reading from the top, the dots are numbered 1–2–3 on the left and 4–5–6 on the right.
The first ten letters (a–j) use only the top four dots. The next ten (k–t) repeat that pattern and add dot 3. The last letters add dot 6. Spotting this structure makes the whole alphabet much easier to memorize.
You do not have to memorize anything to use the tool, though — type a letter or a whole word above and the matching cells appear instantly, which is a fast way to learn by seeing the patterns build up.
How Braille turns letters into dots
Before looking up each letter, it helps to understand the idea behind the chart. Braille does not use a different random shape for every letter. Instead it works from a small, logical pattern that repeats, which is why the alphabet can be learned far more quickly than it first appears.
Every character lives in the same little grid of six possible dots. By raising different combinations, the system builds twenty-six distinct letters, and those letters fall into clear families. The first group uses only the upper dots; the next group repeats those exact shapes with one extra dot added low down; a final group adds another. Seeing the chart with that structure in mind changes it from a list to memorize into a system to understand. Type any letter or word in the tool above and watch the cells appear, and the logic of the alphabet becomes obvious through seeing the patterns build rather than through rote repetition.
Full A–Z Braille chart
Here is every letter with its Braille cell. Type in the tool above to see any letter or word rendered live.
The Braille alphabet
Capital letters and numbers
A capital letter is shown by placing the capital sign (⠠) before it. Numbers reuse the first ten letters: put the number sign (⠼) first, then a–j stand for 1–0.
Numbers in Braille
How to memorize the alphabet
The alphabet falls into neat groups that make learning much quicker:
- Letters a–j use only the top four dots (positions 1, 2, 4, 5). Learn these ten shapes first.
- Letters k–t are exactly a–j with dot 3 added. So k is a plus dot 3, l is b plus dot 3, and so on.
- Letters u, v, x, y, z add dot 6 as well; w is a special case because Braille predates w’s common use in French.
Practice by writing short words in the tool, then covering the screen and recalling the cells. Start with your own name using the name guide, then build up to full sentences. Pairing the letters with numbers rounds out the basics.
Letters and words in Braille
| Text | In Braille |
|---|---|
| A | ⠠⠁ |
| Cat | ⠠⠉⠁⠞ |
| Dog | ⠠⠙⠕⠛ |
| Hello | ⠠⠓⠑⠇⠇⠕ |
| Z | ⠠⠵ |
Each example uses the standard Braille alphabet, with the capital sign (⠠) and number sign (⠼) applied when needed.
Tips and more
Once you know the alphabet, try writing a name in Braille or learn the number system. For the story behind the code, read what Braille is.
Frequently asked questions
How many letters are in the Braille alphabet?
The 26 letters of the Latin alphabet, each a unique cell of up to six dots.
How is a capital letter written?
Place the capital sign (⠠) before the letter.
How are numbers shown?
The number sign (⠼) comes first, then a–j represent the digits 1–0.
Is there an easy way to memorize it?
Yes — a–j use the top four dots, k–t add dot 3, and the rest add dot 6.
Can I convert a whole word?
Yes. Type any word in the tool to see it in Braille instantly.