---
name: "vimtutor"
section: "1"
platform: "macos"
package: "vim"
version: "167"
release: "macOS 26.5"
platforms: ["linux", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/vimtutor"
---

# vimtutor(1)

the Vim tutor

## NAME

vimtutor - the Vim tutor

## SYNOPSIS

**vimtutor \[-l \| --language ISO639\] \[-c \| --chapter NUMBER\] \[-g \| --gui\] \[ISO639\]**\
 **vimtutor \[-h \| --help\]**\
 **vimtutor \[--list\]**

## DESCRIPTION

**Vimtutor** starts the **Vim** tutor.

The **Vimtutor** is useful for people that want to learn their first **Vim** commands. The optional \[ISO639\] argument is the two or three letter name of a language, like "it" or "es".

**Vimtutor** only opens temporary copies of the original tutor files, there is no danger of overwriting the lessons.

**Vim** is always started in **Vi** nocompatible mode.

## OPTIONS

- **-l**, **--language *ISO639***

  Set the two or three letter language code. E.g. 'it', 'es', 'bar'. Defaults to language of locale if available, else to English.

- **-c**, **--chapter *NUMBER***

  Set the chapter number. Defaults to chapter one.

- **-g**, **--gui**

  Start **vimtutor** in the GUI version of vim if available, otherwise fallback to console vim.

- **-h**, **--help**

  Display usage information.

- **--list**

  Display chapters and languages.

## EXAMPLES

To start **vimtutor** in German on chapter one:

```
vimtutor de
```

In English on chapter two:

```
vimtutor -c2
```

Longform command for Bavarian in the GUI on chapter one:

```
vimtutor --language bar --chapter 1 --gui
```

## FILES

- /usr/local/share/vim/vim??/tutor/tutor1\[.language\]

  The **Vimtutor** chapter one text file(s).

- /usr/local/share/vim/vim??/tutor/tutor2\[.language\]

  The **Vimtutor** chapter two text file(s).

- /usr/local/share/vim/vim??/tutor/tutor.vim

  The **Vim** script used to copy the **Vimtutor** text file.

## AUTHOR

**The Vi Tutorial** was originally written for Vi by Michael C. Pierce and Robert K. Ware, Colorado School of Mines using ideas supplied by Charles Smith, Colorado State University. **E-mail: bware@mines.colorado.edu (now invalid).**

Modified for **Vim** by Bram Moolenaar.

Translation contributors are listed in the tutor files.

## SEE ALSO

[vim(1)](/vim/1.md)