Just when you thought you had your new language’s alphabet under control, here come the accents! Those little marks above written letters aren’t just for show—they can often change the pronunciation and even the meaning of an accented word. Find out what kinds of accent marks you’re likely to encounter on a language learning journey, how they work in a sentence, and how to type letters with accents using letter combinations and accent marks on a keyboard.
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What are accent marks?
Accent marks, also called diacritical marks or diacritics, are typographical symbols that indicate a spoken or meaning change in the word. Even though they’re called accents, these marks have nothing to do with spoken accents, which describe the way someone sounds when they speak a language. The most common are found in Latin-based Romance languages, though you’ll also see diacritical marks in many Slavic languages, too.
Different types of accent marks
In every language, diacritics can change a vowel sound, show a stressed syllable, or differentiate words that are otherwise spelled exactly the same. For example, there are two different kinds of French accent marks in the phrase déjà vu, and each has a different job!
Take a look at the most common accent marks in different languages.
| Diacritical Mark | Examples of Sounds | Languages | Examples of Words |
| acute (é) | é should be pronounced as ay (French), or that syllable is stressed (Spanish) | French, Spanish, Italian, Hungarian, Dutch | cliché, fiancé |
| breve (ĕ) | ă sounds like uh, ğ lengthens the previous vowel (Turkish) | Romanian, Vietnamese, Turkish | măr (Romanian for apple), |
| caron or haček (č) | indicates palatized pronunciation of the consonant (depending on language) | Czech, Slovak, Lithuanian | čepice (Czech for cap), žvaigždė (Lithuanian) |
| cedilla (ç) | ç should be pronounced as s (French and Portuguese) or sh (Turkish) | French, Portuguese, Turkish | façade, açaí |
| circumflex (ê) | long vowel sound in â, ê, and ô, or shows a spelling change | French | hôpital (hospital), forêt (forest) |
| diaeresis (ë) | vowel is pronounced as a separate syllable | French | naïve, Noël |
| grave (è) | è should be pronounced as eh or uh | French, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch | très (very), frère (brother) |
| macron (ē) | show a long vowel sound | Serbo-Croatian, Māori, Hawaiian | kālā (Hawaiian for money), Māori (the language of Māori) |
| tilde (ñ) | ñ sounds like nya (Spanish), ã and õ are nasalized (Portuguese) | Spanish, Portuguese | señor (Spanish for Mister) mãe (Portuguese for mother) |
| umlaut (ä) | ä sounds like eh, ö sounds like eu, ü sounds like oo | German | Äpfel (apples), Brüder (brothers) |
How to type accents in Windows
If you’re used to typing on an English keyboard, learning how to type letters with accents may seem a bit intimidating. But with keyboard shortcuts and codes, typing these diacritics is easier than ever in the 21st century!
Find out how to type accents on Windows with different keyboard methods with our tips below to ensure you’re being as clear as possible in your new language.
Typing lowercase accents
Anyone familiar with keyboard shortcuts will appreciate these quick pathways to the correct accent mark! Memorize these straightforward key combinations to get Spanish keyboard shortcuts, French accent symbols, or any other accented lowercase letters you’re looking for.
First, hold down the CTRL button and the indicated key. Then release and choose the letter you want to type.
| Accent Symbol | Key Combination | Lowercase Letter |
| acute (á) | CTRL + ‘ (apostrophe), then letter | á, é, í, ó, ú, ý |
| grave (à) | CTRL + ` (accent grave), then letter | à, è, ì, ò, ù |
| cedilla (ç) | CTRL + , (comma), then letter | ç |
| circumflex (â) | CTRL + SHIFT + ^ (caret, 6), then letter | â, ê, î, ô, û |
| tilde (ã) | CTRL + SHIFT + ~ (tilde), then letter | ã, ñ, õ |
| diaeresis or umlaut (ä) | CTRL + SHIFT + : (colon), then letter | ä, ë, ï, ö, ü, ÿ |
Typing uppercase accents
Need an uppercase letter with an accent? Find the shortcut you need to start a sentence or capitalized word out with the correct accent mark. The instructions for typing capital letters with accents are the same as lowercase, except you use a combination of the Shift key and your chosen letter after releasing the CTRL key sequence.
| Accent Symbol | Key Combination | Uppercase Letter |
| acute (á) | CTRL + ‘ (apostrophe), then SHIFT + letter | Á, É, Í, Ó, Ú, Ý |
| grave (à) | CTRL + ` (accent grave), then SHIFT + letter | À, È, Ì, Ò, Ù |
| cedilla (ç) | CTRL + , (comma), then SHIFT + letter | Ç |
| circumflex (â) | CTRL + SHIFT + ^ (caret, 6), then SHIFT + letter | Â, Ê, Î, Ô, Û |
| tilde (ã) | CTRL + SHIFT + ~ (tilde), then SHIFT + letter | Ã, Ñ, Õ |
| diaeresis or umlaut (ä) | CTRL + SHIFT + : (colon), then SHIFT + letter | Ä, Ë, Ï, Ö, Ü, Ÿ |
Windows alt codes
Alt codes are the classic Windows method to create accent marks. Keep these codes handy when you need to create acute accents, German umlauts, or any other diacritic marks.
| Uppercase | Lowercase | |
| Acute Alt Codes | Á = Alt+0193 | á = Alt+0225 |
| É = Alt+0201 | é = Alt+0233 | |
| Í = Alt+0205 | í = Alt+0237 | |
| Ó = Alt+0211 | ó = Alt+0243 | |
| Ú = Alt+0218 | ú = Alt+0250 | |
| Ý = Alt+0221 | ý = Alt+0253 | |
| Grave Alt Codes | À = Alt+0192 | à = Alt+0224 |
| È = Alt+0200 | è = Alt+0232 | |
| Ì = Alt+0204 | ì = Alt+0236 | |
| Ò = Alt+0210 | ò = Alt+0242 | |
| Ù = Alt+0217 | ù = Alt+0249 | |
| Circumflex Alt Codes | Â = Alt+0194 | â = Alt+0226 |
| Ê = Alt+0202 | ê = Alt+0234 | |
| Î = Alt+0206 | î = Alt+0238 | |
| Ô = Alt+0212 | ô = Alt+0244 | |
| Û = Alt+0219 | û = Alt+0251 | |
| Tilde Alt Codes | Ã = Alt+0195 | ã = Alt+0227 |
| Ñ = Alt+0209 | ñ = Alt+0241 | |
| Õ = Alt+0213 | õ = Alt+0245 | |
| Umlaut Alt Codes | Ä = Alt+0196 | ä = Alt+0228 |
| Ë = Alt+0203 | ë = Alt+0235 | |
| Ï = Alt+0207 | ï = Alt+0239 | |
| Ö = Alt+0214 | ö = Alt+0246 | |
| Ü = Alt+0220 | ü = Alt+0252 | |
| Ÿ = Alt+0159 | ÿ = Alt+0255 | |
| Cedilla Alt Codes | Ç = Alt+0199 | ç = Alt+0231 |
Insert special characters
When you’re writing in Microsoft Word, you can find the accented character you need by opening the “Insert” tab, then selecting “Advanced Symbols.” Choose the letter you need, customize the selection available, or even create your own keyboard shortcuts to have quick access to accent marks you need!
Character Map
Another quick way to insert special characters in Windows is the Character Map. Just open the Character Map application, find the character you want, and copy and paste it into your document. The Character Map also lists the Alt codes you can use if you need a quick reference!
How to type accents on a Mac
Mac and Apple products also have straightforward methods to create accent marks on the keyboard. From keyboard shortcuts to specialized computer keyboards, adding accented letters in your new language won’t slow your writing down!
Mac keyboard shortcuts for lowercase and uppercase
Like Windows, Mac computers include keyboard shortcuts that produce the accented letters you want. Follow these key combinations, which include holding down the Option key and a letter, then the lowercase letter you’d like to add to your document.
| Accent Symbol | Key Combination | Lowercase Result |
| Acute (á) | Option + e, then letter | á, é, í, ó, ú, ý |
| Grave (à) | Option + ` (grave accent), then letter | à, è, ì, ò, ù |
| Cedilla (ç) | Option + c | ç |
| Circumflex (â) | Option + i, then letter | â, ê, î, ô, û |
| Tilde (ã) | Option + n, then letter | ã, ñ, õ |
| Diaeresis or Umlaut (ä) | Option + u, then letter | ä, ë, ï, ö, ü, ÿ |
For uppercase letters, follow the same shortcuts but follow the Option sequence with a capital letter (Shift + letter).
| Accent Symbol | Key Combination | Lowercase Result |
| Acute (á) | Option + e, then Shift + letter | Á, É, Í, Ó, Ú, Ý |
| Grave (à) | Option + ` (grave accent), then Shift + letter | À, È, Ì, Ò, Ù |
| Cedilla (ç) | Option + Shift + c | Ç |
| Circumflex (â) | Option + i, then Shift + letter | Â, Ê, Î, Ô, Û |
| Tilde (ã) | Option + n, then Shift + letter | Ã, Ñ, Õ |
| Diaeresis or Umlaut (ä) | Option + u, then Shift + letter | Ä, Ë, Ï, Ö, Ü, Ÿ |
Press and hold keyboard letter
Most Mac computers come with accented letters hidden right in the keyboard. All you need to do is hold down the letter you’re trying to accent (e, for example), and then choose the character you want by pressing the corresponding number. If you use Apple products, you may already be used to doing this on your iPhone or iPad!
How to type accents on a mobile device
Learning a new language in the 21st century means you’ll likely study on your mobile device. Luckily, creating accents on a smartphone or tablet is even easier than on your computer!
To type language accent marks on your mobile device, just hold down the letter on your onscreen keyboard or auxiliary keyboard. You’ll have a selection of accented characters to choose from, which you can choose with your touch screen and continue writing!
How to type accents on Google Docs
Once you know how to type accents on Windows, you’ll be able to add them on Google Docs, too. You can use the same Windows Alt codes, keyboard shortcuts, and special characters menu in Google Docs. (It’s under the “Insert” pulldown menu, right under “Symbols”).
And if you’re on a Mac, those shortcuts work on Google Docs, too. It’s really helpful to have the same keyboard shortcuts and letters that you use on other Mac applications in your Google Document!
Frequently asked questions about language accent marks
Have a few more questions on how to type letters with accents? See if your concerns are listed in the following answers to frequently asked questions about typing accents in any language.
Do you have to use accents when typing in another language?
Yes, you should use accents when you’re typing in another language. Accents can change the meaning of a word, so they are essential to use. While some learning programs may let you use the standard English alphabet when writing in another language, learning to type language accent marks helps you practice accurate vocabulary and grammar. It also makes learning a new alphabet easier in the long run!
Can’t you just copy and paste accented letters?
When you only need an occasional accented letter every once in a while, putting that word into a search engine and copying and pasting it may seem like a reasonable solution. But learning how to make proper accent marks on your keyboard is a much more time-efficient way to create these letters and helps you build confidence and fluency. It’s also more efficient since your copy and paste task may bring in a different font and affect the formatting.
What’s the difference between é and è?
If you’re just learning how to type an e with an accent, é and è might look exactly the same—but they’re not. The accented letter é has an acute accent and is the only type of accent used in Spanish (though it also appears in many other European languages). Acute accents indicate that a word uses a closed vowel sound or puts a stress on that syllable.
The letter è has a grave accent, which indicates an open vowel sound or stressed syllable, and can be found in several languages around the world (but not Spanish).
What’s the easiest way to type accents?
The easiest way to type language accent marks is whatever way you can remember. If holding down a keyboard letter on a Mac and selecting your accented character is easier than memorizing keyboard shortcuts, use that method. But if you already use many shortcuts and Alt codes, learning a few more to create accented characters might be a better choice for you. The most important thing is that any of these methods help you learn your language quickly!
Is a tittle an accent mark in English?
No, modern English does not have accent marks, though you might think the tittle is one. It’s the little dot above an i or j, which is sometimes called a superscript dot. However, most orthographers don’t count a tittle as an accent because it doesn’t change the word’s pronunciation. Tittles are classified as a diacritical mark though.
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