Lutheran Theological Seminary
at Gettysburg

Mark Vitalis Hoffman
mhoffman@ltsg.edu
Valentine 414
717.334.6286 x2414

MGVH HomePage at LTSG CrossMarks

Greek and Hebrew Font Support

Greek Fonts

In the past, you had to use different TrueType font sets to compose in and view different language characters. (An English set like TimesNewRoman or Arial, a Greek set, a Hebrew set, dingbat set, etc.) If someone else wanted to view your work, they would need the specific font sets that you used. 

The promise of Unicode fonts is that there is a spot for every single language character in just one font set. You need only have a way to access the different character areas in that font set. It is a great thing, because anyone can view your work just by having any Unicode font on their system. (If you want to know more about Unicode, check here.)

Until these Unicode fonts become system and web standards, however, there will be issues in the proper viewing of and composing with Greek fonts. Unicode fonts work very well with Windows2000 or WindowsXP, so if you have some other operating system, you will experience limitations.  With these issues in mind, I have decided that the best course is still to go with Unicode fonts, and in everything I print, upload, or post to the web, I will be using the Cardo Unicode font. 

SO, Step 1, get this font:

Cardo - This is an attractive, true Unicode font. It is especially nice for Biblical scholars because it has both Greek and Hebrew characters. Use it with the Keyman program described below. More information and a free download is available at: http://scholarsfonts.net/cardofnt.html ) Versions available for both Mac (check at the web site) and Windows (download [right click and save target] this file [ Cardo71s.ttf ] and then install it on your computer)

Typing in Greek

You have a number of options for typing in Greek once you have the fonts. For non-Unicode fonts, it is a matter of choosing the font and typing using that particular fonts key assignments. My recommendation:

Step 2:
  • Get the Keyman program (and perhaps also the WordLink program if you are using WinME or earlier). Both programs are free for non-commercial use. Go here: Tavultesoft Keyman and download and install the latest Keyman file.

Then, Step 3:

  • Get a keyboard layout. Go to: Classical Greek Unicode Keyboard - This is the most logical keyboard I have found for English users. (To get the keyboard directly, click here: GreekClassical.kmp ) Using the Keyman configuration, install this keyboard. I also would recommend setting an easy hotkey (I use CTRL-SHFT-ALT G for Greek) and then, under the Options tab, another one for the Keyman off (I use CTRL-SHFT-ALT E to get back to English)
  • Once set this way, when you are in your word processor, just use the hotkey to switch to Greek and start typing. (Make sure that you are using the Cardo font or some other Unicode font.)
  • For maps of the keyboard layout: Classical Greek (Manuel Lopez's keyboard) chart (UnicodeKybdLopez.pdf format)
  • (For fuller instructions on installing Keyman and keyboards, see Greek and Hebrew Fonts - Tyndale House)

Viewing Greek in a Browser

If you see accented Greek here with no funny boxes > Πάτερ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς < you are good to go. If you see some Greek, with little boxes, you need to set your internet browser correctly. At the top left of the window, go to View, Encoding, More and select Unicode (UTF-8). Look good now?

If not, on your browser menu, choose Tools / Internet Options > on the General Tab, click on Fonts, then in the left column under Web Page Fonts, choose one of your Unicode fonts.

Still problems? This page will tell you more: JSTOR Help Setting up Unicode Fonts

Hebrew Font Support

Another level of complexity is introduced with Hebrew due to the need to compose from right to left. Programs like Bibloi and BibleWorks come with right-to-left Hebrew support that can be pasted into other word processors. With Win2000 or WinXP or better, there are some built in ways properly to enter Hebrew, either with Keyman or with keyboard drivers. (See the info with the fonts below.

As for fonts:

 If you are working with a pre-WinXP system and do not have a Bible software program to help you out, try:

Other Fonts supporting Greek and/or Hebrew

More about Unicode than you really need to know

Note that while all Unicode fonts have each character location specified, not all fonts have actually composed characters for every language set. For example, the Gentium font has all the Greek characters you need but not any Hebrew. The advantage to supporting limited character sets is a smaller font file size. Arial Unicode MS has everything, but the file is huge. (22Mb compared to well under 1Mb for more limited sets)