Disclosed is an apparatus and method for inputting character and numerals to display of a mobile communication terminal. According to the present invention, consonant letters of a language are marked on each key of the keypad, and vowel letters are arranged in at least four directions (upper, lower, left, right, and diagonal) along the sliding directions of the keypad. In the case of a keypad with Korean alphabets, a user inputs a consonant by pressing a key on the keypad, and slides the keypad in 4 directions at least to input a desired vowel. In the case of a keypad with Roman alphabets, a user inputs two kinds of consonants by pressing keys on the keypad, and slides the keypad in 4 directions at least to input a desired vowel. Likewise, in the case of a keypad with Japanese alphabets, a user inputs (I) on each row by pressing a key on the keypad, and slides the keypad in 4 directions at least to input (II), and other special characters and functional keys.