French Braille: Complete Guide to the Braille Français Alphabet (FR)
Learn French braille with our complete guide. See the full alphabet français in braille, accented characters (é, è, ê, ë, ç), numbers, and punctuation differences.
By Braille Translator Team
What Is French Braille? (FR)
French braille (braille français) is the original braille system. Louis Braille, a Frenchman who lost his sight at age 3, invented braille in Paris in 1824 and published his system in 1829. The French braille alphabet served as the foundation for virtually every braille code used worldwide today.
French braille uses the standard 6-dot cell but includes additional characters for French accented letters — é, è, ê, ë, à, â, ù, û, ô, î, ï, ç, œ, and others. These accented characters are what make French braille unique compared to English braille.
Try converting any French text to braille instantly with our Braille Translator.
French Braille Alphabet (A–Z) (FR)
The basic 26 letters in French braille are identical to English braille:
| Letter | Dots | Braille | Letter | Dots | Braille |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | ⠁ | N | 1-3-4-5 | ⠝ |
| B | 1-2 | ⠃ | O | 1-3-5 | ⠕ |
| C | 1-4 | ⠉ | P | 1-2-3-4 | ⠏ |
| D | 1-4-5 | ⠙ | Q | 1-2-3-4-5 | ⠟ |
| E | 1-5 | ⠑ | R | 1-2-3-5 | ⠗ |
| F | 1-2-4 | ⠋ | S | 2-3-4 | ⠎ |
| G | 1-2-4-5 | ⠛ | T | 2-3-4-5 | ⠞ |
| H | 1-2-5 | ⠓ | U | 1-3-6 | ⠥ |
| I | 2-4 | ⠊ | V | 1-2-3-6 | ⠧ |
| J | 2-4-5 | ⠚ | W | 2-4-5-6 | ⠺ |
| K | 1-3 | ⠅ | X | 1-3-4-6 | ⠭ |
| L | 1-2-3 | ⠇ | Y | 1-3-4-5-6 | ⠽ |
| M | 1-3-4 | ⠍ | Z | 1-3-5-6 | ⠵ |
Note: The letter W (⠺) was added later since W doesn’t exist in traditional French. Louis Braille’s original system didn’t include it.
French Accented Characters (FR)
This is where French braille differs significantly from English. French uses many accented vowels, and each has its own unique braille cell:
Accent Aigu (´) (FR)
| Character | Dots | Braille |
|---|---|---|
| é | 1-2-3-4-5-6 | ⠿ |
Accent Grave (`) (FR)
| Character | Dots | Braille |
|---|---|---|
| à | 1-2-3-5-6 | ⠷ |
| è | 2-3-4-6 | ⠮ |
| ù | 2-3-4-5-6 | ⠾ |
Accent Circonflexe (^) (FR)
| Character | Dots | Braille |
|---|---|---|
| â | 1-6 | ⠡ |
| ê | 1-2-6 | ⠣ |
| î | 1-4-6 | ⠩ |
| ô | 1-4-5-6 | ⠹ |
| û | 1-5-6 | ⠱ |
Tréma (¨) (FR)
| Character | Dots | Braille |
|---|---|---|
| ë | 1-2-4-6 | ⠫ |
| ï | 1-2-4-5-6 | ⠻ |
| ü | 1-2-5-6 | ⠳ |
Cédille (ç) (FR)
| Character | Dots | Braille |
|---|---|---|
| ç | 1-2-3-4-6 | ⠯ |
Ligature (FR)
| Character | Dots | Braille |
|---|---|---|
| œ | 2-4-6 | ⠪ |
French vs. English Braille: Key Differences (FR)
| Feature | French Braille | English Braille (UEB) |
|---|---|---|
| Accented characters | 16+ unique cells | Uses prefix indicators |
| Contractions | None (Grade 1 only) | 189 Grade 2 contractions |
| Number system | Same (⠼ prefix) | Same (⠼ prefix) |
| Capital indicator | ⠨ (dots 4-6) | ⠠ (dot 6) |
| Quotation marks | « » special cells | Uses English quote marks |
The biggest difference: French braille has no contractions. English braille uses Grade 2 contractions to shorten common words, but French braille writes every word in full (uncontracted). This makes French braille easier to learn but results in longer text.
French Braille Punctuation (FR)
| Symbol | Name (French) | Dots | Braille |
|---|---|---|---|
| . | Point | 2-5-6 | ⠲ |
| , | Virgule | 2 | ⠂ |
| ; | Point-virgule | 2-3 | ⠆ |
| : | Deux-points | 2-5 | ⠒ |
| ! | Point d’exclamation | 2-3-5 | ⠖ |
| ? | Point d’interrogation | 2-6 | ⠢ |
| ‘ | Apostrophe | 3 | ⠄ |
| - | Trait d’union | 3-6 | ⠤ |
French Braille Numbers (FR)
French braille numbers work exactly like English braille numbers. The number indicator ⠼ (dots 3-4-5-6) precedes the digit:
| Number | Braille | Based On |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ⠼⠁ | Letter A |
| 2 | ⠼⠃ | Letter B |
| 3 | ⠼⠉ | Letter C |
| 4 | ⠼⠙ | Letter D |
| 5 | ⠼⠑ | Letter E |
| 6 | ⠼⠋ | Letter F |
| 7 | ⠼⠛ | Letter G |
| 8 | ⠼⠓ | Letter H |
| 9 | ⠼⠊ | Letter I |
| 0 | ⠼⠚ | Letter J |
See the complete guide in our braille numbers article.
How to Type French Braille (FR)
- Visit our Braille Translator
- Type French text including accents (é, è, ê, à, ç, etc.)
- The translator converts it to braille instantly
- Copy the braille Unicode output
You can also use the Text to Braille converter for longer French texts.
Learning Resources for French Braille (FR)
- Braille Translator — instant French text to braille conversion
- Alphabet Chart — reference for the basic A-Z patterns
- Apprendre le braille — our French-language guide to learning braille
- Braille Quiz — practice identifying braille cells
Frequently Asked Questions (FR)
Is French braille different from English braille? (FR)
Yes. The basic A–Z letters are the same, but French braille has unique cells for accented characters (é, è, ê, ç, etc.) and uses a different capital indicator. French braille also has no contractions.
Did Louis Braille speak French? (FR)
Yes. Louis Braille was French, born in Coupvray near Paris in 1809. He developed his braille system while studying at the Royal Institute for Blind Youth in Paris.
How many characters are in French braille? (FR)
French braille includes 26 basic letters, 16+ accented characters, 10 digits, and approximately 20 punctuation marks — roughly 70+ unique cells.
Can I translate French to braille online? (FR)
Yes — use our free Braille Translator to convert any French text to braille instantly.