Braille Translator
Convert text to Grade 1 (uncontracted) Unicode braille and back — letters, numbers, and common punctuation, with capital and number indicators handled automatically.
Direction
Braille Alphabet & Numbers Chart
⠁
a
⠃
b
⠉
c
⠙
d
⠑
e
⠋
f
⠛
g
⠓
h
⠊
i
⠚
j
⠅
k
⠇
l
⠍
m
⠝
n
⠕
o
⠏
p
⠟
q
⠗
r
⠎
s
⠞
t
⠥
u
⠧
v
⠺
w
⠭
x
⠽
y
⠵
z
⠼⠁
1
⠼⠃
2
⠼⠉
3
⠼⠙
4
⠼⠑
5
⠼⠋
6
⠼⠛
7
⠼⠓
8
⠼⠊
9
⠼⠚
0
Numbers reuse the letters a-j after the number indicator ⠼, and the capital indicator ⠠ marks the following letter as uppercase.
A Note on Grade 1 vs Grade 2 Braille
This tool produces Grade 1 (uncontracted) braille, where every letter is written out cell by cell. Most real-world braille — books, signage, official documents — is Grade 2 (contracted), which uses around 180 contractions and shorthand signs to save space and speed up reading.
Treat this translator as an educational aid for learning the braille alphabet, not a substitute for professional transcription. Material intended for blind readers should be prepared by a certified braille transcriber.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What kind of braille does this translator produce?
- Grade 1 (uncontracted) braille, where every letter, digit, and punctuation mark is written out cell by cell. The output uses the Unicode braille patterns block, so the dots display on screen and can be copied anywhere.
- What is the difference between Grade 1 and Grade 2 braille?
- Grade 1 spells every word letter by letter. Grade 2 (contracted) braille adds around 180 contractions and shorthand signs — for example, a single cell can stand for "the" or "and" — and it is what most real-world books and signage actually use. This tool covers Grade 1 only.
- How are capital letters and numbers shown in braille?
- Braille has no separate capital or digit cells. A capital indicator (dot 6) is placed before a capitalised letter, and a number indicator (dots 3-4-5-6) is placed before a run of digits, which are then written with the letters a through j.
- Can I translate braille back into text?
- Yes. Switch the direction to braille-to-text and paste Unicode braille cells. The tool reads capital and number indicators, maps digit cells back through the a-j pattern, and restores letters and punctuation.
- Is this a substitute for professional braille transcription?
- No. This is an educational tool. Real-world braille is usually Grade 2 (contracted) and follows detailed transcription rules for formatting, mathematics, and foreign text. Material intended for blind readers should be prepared by a certified braille transcriber.