Typing in Multiple Languages and Keyboard Layouts
QWERTY, AZERTY, Dvorak, and beyond — how layout choice affects speed, and tips for multilingual typists.
Cheetah Typing Team
The Cheetah Typing team writes practical, research-backed guides to help you type faster and more accurately.
Most of the world types on QWERTY, but it is not the only layout — and not the most efficient. Understanding the options helps you choose, especially if you work across languages.
Common layouts
- QWERTY: the default in English-speaking countries.
- AZERTY / QWERTZ: variants used across parts of Europe.
- Dvorak / Colemak: alternative English layouts designed to reduce finger travel.
- Language-specific: Cyrillic, Arabic, and others for non-Latin scripts.
Should you switch layouts?
For most people, no. The speed gain from an 'optimized' layout is small compared to the weeks of relearning. Switch only if you have a repetitive-strain concern or a strong efficiency motive. For multilingual typists, learning each language's standard layout is usually the pragmatic path.
Put this into practice
Take a free typing test or jump into a lesson to apply what you just read.