Braille Translator
Free Grade 1 Braille translator. Convert text to Unicode Braille and back, with numbers, capitals, and punctuation in your browser.
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What is Braille Translator?
The Braille Translator is a free browser tool that converts Latin text to Grade 1 (uncontracted) English Braille in the Unicode Braille Patterns block, and decodes those cells back to text.
Key Benefits
- See each letter, digit, and punctuation cell as you type
- Round-trip text to verify number and capital indicators
- Copy Unicode Braille that pastes into other apps
- Keep a Grade 1 alphabet chart on the same page
Common Use Cases
- β’Learning the Grade 1 English Braille alphabet
- β’Checking homework or teaching materials
- β’Adding Unicode Braille labels to slides and documents
- β’Decoding Braille pasted from another editor
How to Use the Braille Translator
- Choose a direction: Select Text to Braille or Braille to Text. Swap copies the current result into the input.
- Type or paste: Enter Latin text, or paste Unicode Braille from the U+2800 block. A sample phrase is one tap away.
- Read the result: Grade 1 cells appear instantly, including capital indicators, the number sign, and punctuation.
- Copy or check the chart: Copy the output, then use the letter, digit, and indicator chart if a cell looks unfamiliar.
Key Features
- Bidirectional Grade 1 English Braille (text and Braille)
- Capital letter and capital-word indicators
- Number sign with a-j digit cells and letter sign when needed
- Common punctuation including quotes, parentheses, and email symbols
- Live Unicode Braille chart for letters, digits, and indicators
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Grade 1 Braille?
Grade 1 (uncontracted) Braille maps each letter, digit, and punctuation mark to Braille cells. It does not use Grade 2 contractions such as the single-cell βandβ or βtheβ.
How are numbers written?
A number sign (dots 3-4-5-6) comes first. Then 1-9 and 0 use the cells for a-j. If a letter a-j follows a number, a letter sign is inserted so it is not read as another digit.
Does this support Grade 2 contractions or Thai Braille?
No. This tool is English Grade 1 only, using Unicode Braille Patterns. Thai Braille and contracted English Braille are different systems.
Does my text leave the browser?
No. Encoding and decoding run in this page. You can use the translator offline after the page has loaded.