YAVERTY ("phonetic") Ukrainian keyboard support?

[mbert]

After having used Android for a long time I am considering switching back to iPhone. One crucial functionality for me is the ability to quickly change between input languages and use the only keyboard layout I know well (querty) for all target languages.

For languages with cyrillic script there are usually "native" and "phonetic" variants mapping the cyrillic letters to the querty layout as good as possible; this is then often called "YAVERTY" or in a different variant "YASHERTY".

While for Bulgarian and Russian those variants are part of the OS, there doesn't seem to be one for Ukrainian. Also, as a friend was so kind to find out for me, it seems like there is no autocorrection and suggestions available with the stock OS.

Are these observations correct? Can this be added by third-party apps at similar quality as the stock OS? The second question is motivated by my memory that on my iPhone 4 years ago all these third-party apps usually did not integrate well with the stock OS and were not really fun to use. But things may have changed. And before I spend my money for a new device I'd just like to know that it will do the job for me...

 

[darkpaw]

I just went into the Settings app > General Keyboard > Add New Keyboard... and chose Ukranian. This is what comes up in the Notes app:


To switch between the different keyboards, you just tap the globe icon in the bottom left. Hold down to choose from a list.

 

[mbert]

I just went into the Settings app > General Keyboard > Add New Keyboard... and chose Ukranian. This is what comes up in the Notes app:

[...]
To switch between the different keyboards, you just tap the globe icon in the bottom left. Hold down to choose from a list.

Thank you. That's the "original" Ukrainian layout which I try to avoid. That's why I am looking for a "phonetic" variant.

 

[darkpaw]

Yep, that's the only thing that's baked into iOS as far as I can see, so you will likely need some third-party app if it exists.

 

[mbert]

It has turned out that the "Translit Keyboard" app works quite well. The suggestions are missed though (and other stuff I have got used to on Android, like using my own notification sounds practically everywhere, ...).

 

[larrylaffer]

I would send feedback to Apple requesting this to be added. After some Googling you’re not the first person to ask about this.

Who knows, maybe they’ll listen

 

[rserla]

I have given feedback for years, but given the recent events I believe it pushed it over the top. They have finally integrated Ukrainian qwerty into the macOS, which was my major gripe - specifically since the russian qwerty has existed for many years.

Now I am having a problem with the iPad OS Magic Keyboard not having the Ukrainian qwerty and will try once again to make a suggestion/feedback.