This page is meant to help you be able to learn, display and type the N’ko script on your computer, phone or tablet.
You haven’t yet learned how to read or write in N’ko? Follow this video tutorial to learn all the letters!
How to install the N’ko font
Many devices now come with a pre-installed font that can display the N’ko script.
Can you see the following sentence in N’ko?
ߣߌ߲߬ ߧߋ߫ ߒߞߏ ߘߌ߫
Congratulations! You already have an N’ko font installed!
Do you only see the sentence or an N’ko website like Kanjamadi as “tofu” (in short, blank squares)?
If so, try installing one of the following options:
Noto Sans N’ko: A free font designed by Google.
Conakry: A free font designed by Evertype’s Michael Everson.
Are you trying to display N’ko in a different software program? Some programs comes with a pre-installed font that can display the N’ko script. For instance:
Kigelia: This typeface (that is, a family of fonts) from JamraPatel includes N’ko and it comes for free with the Microsoft Office software suite. You just need to select it and it will download automatically.
How to install an N’ko keyboard
If you can see the N’ko script on your device, but you can’t type it, try the following options.
Desktop
For desktop devices try one of the following:
Mac
Evertype’s Keyboards: A set of keyboards in an N’ko or N.Wa.Sa.Ja layout, QWERTY layout (familiar to English language typists), and AZERTY (familiar to French language typists). I use the QWERTY layout of this keyboard.
JamraPatel’s Keyboard: This keyboard uses the N.Wa.Sa.Ja (ߒ.ߥ.ߛ.ߖ) layout, which doesn’t line up very nicely with the QWERTY layout that most English speakers are used to.
Windows
Windows pre-installed N’ko Keyboard: A keyboard that ships with Windows and is available if you enable N'ko in the language settings.
JamraPatel’s Keyboard: This keyboard uses the N.Wa.Sa.Ja (ߒ.ߥ.ߛ.ߖ) layout, which doesn’t line up very nicely with the QWERTY layout that most English language typists are used to.
Coleman’s QWERTY N’ko Keyboard: A custom N’ko keyboard that I made for myself with a QWERTY layout.
SIL’s Keyman: A common Windows software solution for keyboards that is popular with field linguists and Christian missionaries. The N’ko package also works on other devices and systems.
NkoBoard: An N’ko keyboard based on the QWERTY layout.
Mobile
For mobile devices try one of the following:
iOS
Jamra Patel’s Sebedenwala: A free keyboard app specifically for N’ko. It includes a N’ko QWERTY layout or “input method”.
Google’s GBoard: A free keyboard app with support for an N’ko layout. See my installation instructions.
Android
Jamra Patel’s Sebedenwala: A free keyboard app specifically for N’ko. It includes a N’ko QWERTY layout or “input method”. This is what I use.
Google’s GBoard: A free keyboard app with support an N’ko layout. See my installation instructions.
NkoBoard: An N’ko keyboard based on the QWERTY layout.
