Braille Translator
Translate text to Braille and Braille back into readable text, with dot numbers and a full alphabet chart.
Braille alphabet chart
- A dots 1
- B dots 12
- C dots 14
- D dots 145
- E dots 15
- F dots 124
- G dots 1245
- H dots 125
- I dots 24
- J dots 245
- K dots 13
- L dots 123
- M dots 134
- N dots 1345
- O dots 135
- P dots 1234
- Q dots 12345
- R dots 1235
- S dots 234
- T dots 2345
- U dots 136
- V dots 1236
- W dots 2456
- X dots 1346
- Y dots 13456
- Z dots 1356
Numbers & indicators
Digits reuse the letters a–j after a number sign, so ⠼⠁⠃⠉ is 123.
- ⠠ Capital sign — placed before a capital letter
- ⠠⠠ Capital word sign — the whole word is capitalised
- ⠼ Number sign — the cells after it are digits 1–0
- ⠰ Letter sign — ends number mode, back to letters
How it works
Pick a direction, then type: the braille translator converts English text into Unicode braille characters (and braille back into text) as you type. It uses Grade 1 (uncontracted) braille in the UEB style, so every letter, digit and common punctuation mark maps to exactly one cell — capital letters get a capital sign ⠠ and numbers get a number sign ⠼, which is what makes the translation reversible. Turn on “Show dot numbers” to see which of the six dots each cell uses, handy for slate-and-stylus practice or for labelling a braille embosser file.
The output is plain Unicode text, so you can paste it anywhere — a document, a Slack message, a name tag — and a screen reader with a refreshable braille display will read it. Characters with no Grade 1 equivalent (emoji, for example) are skipped and listed under the output. Everything runs in your browser with JavaScript: nothing you type is uploaded, logged or sent to a server, unlike braille converters that translate server-side.
Frequently asked questions
How do I translate text to Braille?
Leave the direction on "Text → Braille", then type or paste your text. The translation appears instantly as Unicode braille characters, with a capital sign (⠠) before capital letters and a number sign (⠼) before digits. Use Copy output to paste the braille anywhere, or Download .txt to save it.
Can this translator convert Braille back into English text?
Yes. Switch the direction to "Braille → Text" and paste Unicode braille cells such as ⠓⠑⠇⠇⠕ to get plain text back. Because the tool writes the capital, number and letter signs, a translation made here round-trips exactly — the Swap direction button does it in one click.
How do I write my name in Braille, and does this support Grade 2 contractions?
Type your name with its capital letter and the tool prefixes each capital with ⠠, so "Anna" becomes ⠠⠁⠝⠝⠁. Names and this translator use Grade 1 (uncontracted) braille, where every letter is one cell; Grade 2 contractions such as single-cell "and" or "the" are not applied, which is exactly what you want for names, labels and learning the alphabet.