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QWERTY-LT (Lithuanian ĄŽERTY) — The Layout That Replaces the Number Row

QWERTY-LT (Lithuanian ĄŽERTY) — The Layout That Replaces the Number Row

· 3 min read · by Robin Érsek-Obádovics

The Lithuanian QWERTY-LT layout — often called "ĄŽERTY" — has a unique characteristic: the number row is replaced with Lithuanian diacritic letters. Press the default top row and you get ą, č, ę, ė, į, š, ų, ū. To type numbers, you need Shift + the same keys.

The number row replacement

Standard QWERTY:

` 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 - =

Lithuanian QWERTY-LT (ĄŽERTY):

` ą č ę ė į š ų ū 9 0 - ž

The top row default produces Lithuanian diacritics. Numbers require Shift:

  • Shift + ą = 1
  • Shift + č = 2
  • etc.

The letters Z is on the far right of the top row (where the original layout had =).

Why the unusual design

Lithuanian uses 9 diacritic letters (ą, č, ę, ė, į, š, ų, ū, ž). The designers chose to:

  • Give diacritics top-row direct access (frequent use = easy access)
  • Push numbers to Shift-position (less frequent in most text)
  • Keep letter A-Z positions identical to QWERTY-US

This is similar to AZERTY-FR's design philosophy (default top row = letters/accents; Shift = numbers).

Where each Lithuanian character lives on QWERTY-LT

  • ą: top row (where 1 is on QWERTY)
  • č: top row (where 2 is)
  • ę: top row (where 3 is)
  • ė: top row (where 4 is)
  • į: top row (where 5 is)
  • š: top row (where 6 is)
  • ų: top row (where 7 is)
  • ū: top row (where 8 is)
  • ž: top row far right (where = is)

All 9 Lithuanian diacritics get direct top-row access — no AltGr or dead keys needed.

Practice the Lithuanian layout at /lt/qwerty_lt/.

Common Lithuanian typing patterns

  • ir, yra, kad, kaip — common short words
  • ąžuolas (oak), šuns (dog's), medis (tree) — common nouns
  • viskas, mažytis, gražus — common adjectives
  • Lietuva, Vilnius, lietuvis — proper nouns
  • galėti, žinoti, turėti — common verbs

The diacritic-heavy nature of Lithuanian (9 special letters!) makes the direct-access top row essential.

QWERTY-LT vs other Baltic layouts

  • Latvian (LV) — Latvian Ergonomic (ŪGJRMV) — completely rearranged
  • Estonian (EE) — standard QWERTY with Õ, Ä, Ö, Ü dead/direct keys
  • Lithuanian (LT) — QWERTY with diacritic number row

Despite being neighbors, the three Baltic states have very different keyboard designs. None share with each other.

The number-typing trade-off

The biggest UX cost of ĄŽERTY: typing numbers requires Shift. For:

  • Office work with frequent numbers (accounting, data entry): slow
  • Code with lots of numeric literals: slow
  • Casual text writing: fine
  • Lithuanian language writing: optimal

Many Lithuanian programmers use QWERTY-US for code and switch to QWERTY-LT for Lithuanian text. Or use numpad for numbers.

Touch typing tips for Lithuanian

  1. Drill the diacritic top row — completely new positions vs QWERTY
  2. Number row requires Shift — adjust habits if you type numbers often
  3. Master ž at top-right — Lithuanian uses ž frequently
  4. Letter positions A-Z unchanged — muscle memory transfers from QWERTY

Frequently Asked Questions

Why "ĄŽERTY"?

The first 6 keys of the top row are ą, č, ę, ė, į, š — but the colloquial name picks ą + ž (the first and last diacritics) plus "erty" suffix to echo QWERTY/AZERTY.

Is the Shift-for-numbers system annoying?

For Lithuanian writing: no, it's optimal. For programmers/accountants: yes — many use a separate layout for numbers-heavy work.

Can I type Lithuanian on QWERTY-US?

Yes — install Lithuanian QWERTY-US variant (no top row replacement, dead-key diacritics). Or use US-International. Less optimal for native Lithuanian writers.

Is the @ symbol on QWERTY-LT?

AltGr+2 (where Shift+2 would be) — but Shift+č gives @ on most Lithuanian-LT keyboards. Check your specific OS configuration.

Are there alternative Lithuanian layouts?

Yes — Lithuanian Standard (no number-row replacement, more like QWERTY-US with diacritic dead keys). ĄŽERTY is more common in native Lithuanian use.

Should programmers in Lithuania use ĄŽERTY?

Many don't — they use QWERTY-US for code and ĄŽERTY for prose. Switching layouts via shortcut (Alt+Shift) is common.

Try it

Practice QWERTY-LT on Typing Hero App — 19 progressive lessons including the diacritic top row.

For more: How to type in Lithuanian, QWERTY-LV Latvian Ergonomic, QWERTY-EE Estonian.