Text / Accessibility
Braille Translator (Text to Braille)
Translate English text into Unified English Braille, grade 1, as Unicode braille characters you can copy, with capitals, numbers, punctuation, and accented letters.
Braille Translator (Text to Braille): Each letter becomes its six-dot cell. Capitals take the capital indicator (⠠), whole words in capitals take two (⠠⠠), and three or more such words a passage indicator; numbers start with the numeric indicator (⠼) and use the cells for a to j. Punctuation, symbols, and accented letters follow Unified English Braille, the standard in English-speaking countries. The output matched the liblouis braille translator, used by screen readers, for 880 test sentences. Runs 100% locally in your browser with zero server file uploads.
- Category
- Text tools
- Runs
- In your browser
- Cost
- Free · no sign-up
- Availability
- Ready to use
Runs entirely in your browser
Unified English Braille, grade 1
⠠⠓⠑⠇⠇⠕⠀⠠⠺⠕⠗⠇⠙⠖⠀⠠⠗⠕⠕⠍⠀⠼⠁⠚⠁⠰⠃⠀⠉⠕⠎⠞⠎⠀⠈⠎⠼⠑⠲
The output uses Unicode braille patterns, which screen readers, braille displays, and embossing software can use. It is uncontracted (grade 1) braille: most English braille readers use grade 2, which abbreviates common words and letter groups, so check with a braille reader before printing anything important.
How braille cells work
A braille cell has six dots in two columns of three, numbered 1–3 down the left and 4–6 down the right, giving 63 patterns. Letters a to j use only the top four dots; k to t add dot 3; and u, v, x, y, z add dots 3 and 6. Numbers reuse a to j after the numeric indicator.
For other ways of writing letters as signals, see the Morse code translator.
Unicode braille
The Unicode block U+2800 to U+28FF holds every 8-dot pattern, so braille can be written and copied as ordinary text. Fonts show the dots, and braille software maps the characters straight to cells on a refreshable display or embosser.
How to use it
- Type or paste the text.
- Read the braille, written in Unicode braille patterns.
- Copy it into a document, label, or braille software.
Privacy & limitations
The text is translated in your browser and never uploaded.
Related tools
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between grade 1 and grade 2?
Grade 1 spells every letter out. Grade 2, which most adult English readers use, replaces common words and letter groups with shorter signs, such as one cell for and or the; this tool writes grade 1 only.
Can I print this as real braille?
The Unicode characters show the dots on screen, but embossed braille needs a braille embosser or service; send them the text or this output, and check with a braille reader before producing anything important.
Does it work for other languages?
Only English is supported here; other languages use different braille codes for accented letters and punctuation.
Free tool · runs in your browser · no account required