Caveat
Designed by Pablo Impallari of Impallari Type and commissioned by Google, Caveat is a handwriting family built for both short annotations and longer body text. It features OpenType alternates that subtly vary letterforms based on position within a word, creating an authentic, natural handwritten feel with smooth rounded strokes and a slight slant. Perfect for personal brands, annotations, informal notes, and any design that needs approachable, human warmth.
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
About Caveat
- Designer
- Pablo Impallari
- Foundry
- Impallari Type / Google
- Released
- 2014
- License
- SIL Open Font License 1.1
- Category
- Handwritten
- Recommended Weight
- 700
- Variable Axes
- weight
- Script Support
- Latin, Cyrillic
- Available Weights
- 400500600700
Pairs Well With
Inter
Inter’s clean, modern forms create a sharp contrast with Caveat’s casual handwriting, making annotations and callouts stand out against structured content.
Compare side by sideOpen Sans
Open Sans’ friendly neutrality provides a stable foundation for layouts that use Caveat as an expressive accent for notes and personal touches.
Compare side by sideLato
Lato’s warmth complements Caveat’s approachable handwritten character, creating a cohesive personal tone throughout the design.
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Permanent Marker
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Satisfy
Flowing script — elegant casual, invitations, personal brands
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Caveat achieve a natural handwritten look without repeating letterforms?
Caveat uses OpenType contextual alternates that automatically swap letterforms based on their position within a word. This means the same letter can look slightly different each time it appears, mimicking the natural variation found in real handwriting.
Is Caveat readable enough for body text or only short annotations?
Caveat was specifically designed to work for both short annotations and longer body text. Its smooth, rounded strokes and consistent baseline maintain readability in paragraphs, though it performs best at medium to large sizes where the handwritten details are clearly visible.
Why does Caveat offer multiple weights for a handwriting font?
The four weights (Regular through Bold) give designers flexibility to create typographic hierarchy within the handwritten style. Lighter weights work well for subtle annotations, while bolder weights provide emphasis for headlines and callouts, all while maintaining the same casual personality.