Braille Contractions List: Complete Grade 2 UEB Contractions Chart (RU)
Complete list of 189 Grade 2 braille contractions in UEB. Alphabetical contractions, short-form words, wordsigns, and groupsigns with braille cells and examples.
By Braille Translator Team
What Are Braille Contractions? (RU)
Braille contractions are shorthand symbols used in Grade 2 braille (also called contracted braille) to reduce the length of braille text. Instead of spelling every word letter-by-letter, contractions replace common words, letter combinations, and prefixes/suffixes with fewer braille cells.
For example, the word “the” in Grade 1 braille requires 3 cells: ⠞⠓⠑. In Grade 2, it becomes a single cell: ⠮. This saves space and reading time.
Grade 2 braille is the standard for published braille materials worldwide. All braille books, magazines, and signs use Grade 2 contractions. Understanding them is essential for braille literacy.
Look up any contraction instantly with our Contraction Lookup tool, or convert text with our Braille Translator.
Types of Braille Contractions (RU)
1. Alphabetical Wordsigns (RU)
Each letter of the alphabet can stand for a whole word when written alone:
| Braille | Letter | Word | Braille | Letter | Word |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⠁ | a | a | ⠝ | n | not |
| ⠃ | b | but | ⠕ | o | — |
| ⠉ | c | can | ⠏ | p | people |
| ⠙ | d | do | ⠟ | q | quite |
| ⠑ | e | every | ⠗ | r | rather |
| ⠋ | f | from | ⠎ | s | so |
| ⠛ | g | go | ⠞ | t | that |
| ⠓ | h | have | ⠥ | u | us |
| ⠊ | i | I | ⠧ | v | very |
| ⠚ | j | just | ⠺ | w | will |
| ⠅ | k | knowledge | ⠭ | x | it |
| ⠇ | l | like | ⠽ | y | you |
| ⠍ | m | more | ⠵ | z | as |
2. Strong Wordsigns (RU)
These single-cell contractions represent common words:
| Braille | Dots | Word |
|---|---|---|
| ⠮ | 2-3-4-6 | the |
| ⠷ | 1-2-3-5-6 | of |
| ⠾ | 2-3-4-5-6 | were |
| ⠿ | 1-2-3-4-5-6 | for |
| ⠱ | 1-5-6 | wh (when used as word: which) |
| ⠡ | 1-6 | ch (when used as word: child) |
| ⠩ | 1-4-6 | sh (when used as word: shall) |
| ⠹ | 1-4-5-6 | th (when used as word: this) |
| ⠳ | 1-2-5-6 | ou (when used as word: out) |
| ⠌ | 3-4 | st (when used as word: still) |
3. Strong Groupsigns (RU)
These represent letter combinations within words:
| Braille | Dots | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| ⠡ | 1-6 | ch |
| ⠩ | 1-4-6 | sh |
| ⠹ | 1-4-5-6 | th |
| ⠱ | 1-5-6 | wh |
| ⠳ | 1-2-5-6 | ou |
| ⠌ | 3-4 | st |
| ⠣ | 1-2-6 | gh |
| ⠫ | 1-2-4-6 | ed |
| ⠻ | 1-2-4-5-6 | er |
| ⠪ | 2-4-6 | ow |
| ⠜ | 3-4-5 | ar |
| ⠬ | 3-4-6 | ing |
4. Lower Wordsigns and Groupsigns (RU)
These use the lower part of the braille cell (dots 2, 3, 5, 6):
| Braille | Dots | Word/Letters |
|---|---|---|
| ⠆ | 2-3 | be (word: be) |
| ⠒ | 2-5 | con |
| ⠲ | 2-5-6 | dis |
| ⠢ | 2-6 | en (word: enough) |
| ⠶ | 2-3-5-6 | ff |
| ⠔ | 3-5 | in (word: in) |
| ⠴ | 3-5-6 | ble |
| ⠤ | 3-6 | com |
5. Short-Form Words (RU)
These are multi-cell abbreviations for common words:
| Braille | Word | Braille | Word |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⠁⠃ | about | ⠇⠗ | letter |
| ⠁⠉ | according | ⠇⠇ | little |
| ⠁⠋ | after | ⠍⠌ | must |
| ⠁⠋⠝ | afternoon | ⠍⠡ | much |
| ⠁⠛ | again | ⠝⠑⠊ | neither |
| ⠁⠇ | also | ⠕⠝⠑⠎ | oneself |
| ⠁⠇⠍ | almost | ⠏⠙ | paid |
| ⠁⠇⠗ | already | ⠏⠻⠓ | perhaps |
| ⠁⠇⠹ | although | ⠟⠅ | quick |
| ⠁⠇⠺ | always | ⠗⠉⠧ | receive |
| ⠃⠇ | blind | ⠗⠚⠉ | rejoice |
| ⠃⠗⠇ | braille | ⠎⠙ | said |
| ⠡⠝ | children | ⠩⠙ | should |
| ⠉⠙ | could | ⠞⠙ | today |
| ⠙⠉⠇ | declare | ⠞⠛ | together |
| ⠑⠊ | either | ⠞⠍ | tomorrow |
| ⠋⠌ | first | ⠞⠝ | tonight |
| ⠋⠗ | friend | ⠺⠙ | would |
| ⠛⠙ | good | ⠽⠗ | your |
| ⠛⠗⠞ | great | ⠽⠗⠎ | yours |
| ⠓⠍ | him | ⠽⠗⠋ | yourself |
| ⠊⠍⠍ | immediate | ⠽⠗⠧⠎ | yourselves |
How to Use Braille Contractions (RU)
Rules for Using Contractions (RU)
- Strong contractions can be used anywhere in a word (beginning, middle, or end)
- Lower groupsigns can only be used in the middle or end of a word, never at the beginning
- Contractions cannot bridge syllable boundaries in ways that change pronunciation
- A contraction cannot be used if it would cause ambiguity
Examples (RU)
| Word | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Contractions Used |
|---|---|---|---|
| the | ⠞⠓⠑ | ⠮ | “the” wordsign |
| braille | ⠃⠗⠁⠊⠇⠇⠑ | ⠃⠗⠇ | short-form word |
| children | ⠉⠓⠊⠇⠙⠗⠑⠝ | ⠡⠝ | “ch” + short-form |
| knowledge | ⠅⠝⠕⠺⠇⠑⠙⠛⠑ | ⠅ | alphabetical wordsign |
Practice Contractions (RU)
- Contraction Lookup — search any word and see its contracted braille form
- Braille Translator — type text and toggle between Grade 1 and Grade 2 output
- Text to Braille — convert longer texts with full Grade 2 support
- Braille Quiz — test your knowledge of contractions
Grade 1 vs. Grade 2 Braille (RU)
| Feature | Grade 1 (Uncontracted) | Grade 2 (Contracted) |
|---|---|---|
| Contractions | None | 189 contractions |
| Text length | Longer | ~25% shorter |
| Learning difficulty | Easier | Harder |
| Usage | Beginners, labeling | Published materials |
| Reading speed | Slower | Faster (for fluent readers) |
Read our detailed comparison in Grade 1 vs Grade 2 Braille.
Frequently Asked Questions (RU)
How many braille contractions are there? (RU)
UEB (Unified English Braille) has 189 contractions including alphabetical wordsigns, strong wordsigns, groupsigns, and short-form words.
Do I need to learn contractions? (RU)
If you want to read published braille materials (books, magazines, signs), yes. Grade 2 contracted braille is the standard for all published braille.
What’s the most common braille contraction? (RU)
The most frequently used contraction is ⠮ (the), followed by ⠁⠝⠙ (and) and ⠷ (of).
Can I look up contractions online? (RU)
Yes — use our free Contraction Lookup tool to search any word and see its Grade 2 braille form.