Felo

Lontara Script Transliteration Tool Online

Convert phonetic Latin or IPA-style input into Lontara (Bugis) script characters with an explicit, character-level mapping. Multi-character sequences such as ŋk and mp are matched before single letters, and unsupported symbols are reported instead of silently dropped. Try it online.

What is Lontara Script Transliteration Tool Online?

This Agent converts phonetic Latin or IPA-style text into Lontara (Bugis) script Unicode characters, and can run the reverse direction on request. It is a transliteration tool, not a translation engine: it maps individual symbols and a few multi-character sequences to Lontara code points, exactly as a character-substitution converter does. It also explains what the script does and does not encode, so you can interpret the result sensibly.

Key Features

Complete character mapping. Twenty-eight source symbols, including the vowel signs i, u, e, o, ɘ and the consonants k, g, ŋ, p, b, m, t, d, n, c, ɟ, ɲ, j, r, l, w, s, a, h, are converted to their Lontara counterparts.
Sequence-aware matching. The sequences ŋk, mp, nr and ɲc are converted as units before single letters are considered, so they do not split incorrectly.
Preservation reporting. Spaces, punctuation, digits and any unmapped characters are kept in place and listed, so nothing disappears without notice.
Reverse mode. Paste Lontara text and ask for Latin output; the Agent applies an explicit one-character-to-one-symbol reverse map and states where the reading is ambiguous rather than guessing silently.
Script notes. A short explanation of the inherent /a/ vowel, vowel diacritics, and the absence of virama helps you read the output correctly.

How to Use

Type or paste your phonetic Latin text into the chat, for example saraŋ or mpŋk. Say “to Lontara” if you want to be explicit.
Read the converted text in the copyable code block. Below it you will see a short note on any characters that were preserved but not converted.
Ask for a refinement, such as reverse conversion, a per-character breakdown, or an explanation of why a word looks shorter in Lontara than in Latin.

Example Use Cases

Rendering a name or short phrase in Lontara script for a design mock-up, a caption, or a cultural presentation, where you need the actual Unicode characters rather than a picture.
Checking how a phonetic transcription maps to Lontara while studying the Bugis script, including why nasal and glottal distinctions are not written.
Reverse-reading a Lontara string you found in printed literature or transcribed from a manuscript, to see which Latin readings are possible.

Tips for Best Results

Use the special symbols the mapping expects: ŋ for the velar nasal, ɲ for the palatal nasal, ɟ for the voiced palatal stop, and ɘ for the mid central vowel. Plain ng and ny are not the same input.
Remember that Lontara is an abugida: a bare consonant letter carries an inherent /a/, and the vowel signs change it. A short Lontara string can therefore represent a longer Latin string.
If you need a specific rendering, copy the Unicode text into your own document; appearance depends on the font installed on the viewing device.

FAQ

What input format does it accept?
Plain text in the chat, using the Latin/phonetic symbols listed above. There is no file upload requirement. Very long passages are handled in sections, and you will be told if a section was cut.

Is the output accurate?
It is accurate as character-level transliteration against the stated mapping. It is not a translation, and it cannot resolve the script's built-in ambiguity: the same Lontara string may correspond to several Latin readings. Where the mapping is one-way or ambiguous, the Agent says so.

How does reverse mode work?
Each Lontara character is mapped to one Latin symbol from the supplied list, and unmapped Lontara characters are preserved and reported. Because the script's inherent /a/ is not written, the reverse result is a character-level reading rather than a pronunciation; the Agent flags this ambiguity instead of asserting a single meaning. The reverse map is also not injective: ᨃ, ᨇ, ᨋ and ᨏ map to the sequences ŋk, mp, nr and ɲc, while ᨂ, ᨆ, ᨊ and ᨎ map to the single letters ŋ, m, n and ɲ, so the same Lontara character may correspond to a single-letter source or to part of a sequence source. The Agent states that its output is one possible reading and flags this ambiguity explicitly.

Can it produce an image or a font?
No. It returns Unicode text you can copy. Rendering depends on the fonts available where you paste it.