ZKey
Typing with ZKey
Last updated: October 1, 2026
The Telex and VNI keys, shorthand ZKey understands, mixing English with Vietnamese, and Esc and Backspace.
Key table
Marks and letters
Choose Telex or VNI under ZKey Settings → Bộ gõ. Mark keys work at the end of a word or in the middle; press a mark key again to undo it.
| Mark / letter | Telex | VNI | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute (sắc) | s | 1 | as → á · a1 → á |
| Grave (huyền) | f | 2 | af → à · a2 → à |
| Hook (hỏi) | r | 3 | ar → ả · a3 → ả |
| Tilde (ngã) | x | 4 | ax → ã · a4 → ã |
| Dot below (nặng) | j | 5 | aj → ạ · a5 → ạ |
| Remove mark | z | 0 | asz → a · a10 → a |
| â ê ô | aaeeoo | 6 | aa → â · e6 → ê |
| ă | aw | 8 | aw → ă · a8 → ă |
| ơ ư | owuww | 7 | ow → ơ · u7 → ư · tw → tư |
| đ | dd | 9 | dd → đ · d9 → đ |
Telex: a w after the initial consonant becomes ư (tw → tư, nhw → như); type ww to keep a w.
Examples
What ZKey understands
Beyond the standard keys, ZKey accepts a few habits and leaves English words alone.
- tieengstiếngVietnamese
- VieetjViệtVietnamese
A capital first letter still types Telex
- nhieuenhiêuVietnamese
The e can come after the whole vowel cluster
- chuyenerchuyểnVietnamese
An e after the final consonant: chuyên → chuyển
- dongdđongVietnamese
A d typed after the syllable still makes đ
- giwxgiữVietnamese
Shorthand: giw → giư, giwx → giữ
- databasedatabaseEnglish kept
No longer becomes “dât”
- cameracameraEnglish kept
On the English list, so it stays
- userNameuserNameName in code
camelCase stays when every part is an English word
- HTTPServerHTTPServerName in code
So does PascalCase
1. Esc and Backspace
Backspace removes one key and works the word out again: giwx gives giữ, Backspace gives giư, again gives gi. Esc turns the word being typed back into exactly the keys you pressed and commits it — handy for an unusual word you do not want shaped.
2. English in the middle of Vietnamese
When a word is committed (Space, punctuation, Return…), ZKey checks the dictionary: a Vietnamese word in the dictionary keeps its shape, a word on the English or technical list keeps its keys, and a shaped word that is not in the dictionary goes back to its keys. camelCase and PascalCase names like userName and HTTPServer stay as typed when every part is on the list. A capital first letter does not switch Telex off: Tieengs still becomes Tiếng.
While typing you may see marks appear before an English word is restored on commit — that is expected.
3. Custom words
Missing names, terms or syllables: open ZKey Settings → Từ điển (Dictionary) → Từ bổ sung (Custom words), one word or phrase per line. Your words take priority over the English list. For looser typing, allow valid syllables that are not in the dictionary, or turn the dictionary check off.
4. Quick on/off
Control + Shift + Space turns Vietnamese on and off; change it to Option + Shift + Space or turn the shortcut off. The shortcut only works while ZKey is the selected input source, and holding it down does not toggle repeatedly. The input menu also has “Tắt gõ tiếng Việt”.
5. When changes take effect
A new input method or tone style applies from the next word — the word being typed keeps the rules it started with. On/off and the excluded-apps list apply from the next key.
What ZKey does not do yet
So you know up front:
- No VIQR, macros or clipboard conversionTelex and VNI only, with precomposed Unicode.
- No editing of committed wordsTo change a finished word's marks, delete it and type it again.
- Not every string can be guessedVietnamese/English detection relies on the dictionary and term lists; for unusual words, add them as custom words or use Esc.
Ready?
Install ZKey in two minutes
Download the installer, run it, then pick ZKey in the menu bar. The guide has a screenshot for every step.