The present invention is directed to a system and method for typing Ethiopic characters in a computer system using at most two keystrokes. The rendering of characters is based on the timing between a first and second keystroke and on whether the first and second keystroke are, together, one of a predetermined number of ordered key pairs. Conventional symbol typing may be preserved by a prioritized assignment of the symbols to alternative shift keys. A timing disable key may be defined that allows typing of default characters at a comfortable speed.