French Keyboard

If you visit a cyber cafe in France, you may be surprised to find letters in all the wrong places on the keyboard. That's because the AZERTY French keyboard layout is different, which can really slow you down (all the while you are paying by the minute to go online). Prepare yourself before you get there.

Here is how the core letters appear on the French keyboard. Look down at your own keyboard and you'll see the differences:

a z e r t y u i o p

q s d f g h j k l m

w x c v b n

One way to prepare yourself is to tape some small (and removable) stickers onto your own keyboard and practice. You can even use Windows to alternate between a French EZERTY keyboard and the traditional keyboard you have now. Find out how with the French guide's article, How to Set Up the French keyboard.

If you really want to get into practicing (or will be moving to France, going to work in France or spending an extended period of time there), you can order a French keyboard or buy overlay stickers for your keyboard. Check with your computer manufacturer on making this work properly.

And if you really don't feel that compelled to prepare, just be aware it make take a little longer than usual to write e-mails and do other typing. So don't expect to whip into that cafe, drop a few euros for 15 minutes and be done in time.