Accented letter alt codes let you type é, ñ, ü, ç and every other accented letter in Word on an English keyboard. This guide lists 61 of them in lower case and capitals, and Word also has its own two-step accent shortcuts that are easier to remember. Both are below, and the same method works for money signs in the guide to currency symbol alt codes.
In this guide, you’ll learn the Alt code for each accented letter, Word’s built-in accent shortcuts, and how to type capitals. Everything here works in Word for Windows in Microsoft 365, Word 2021, 2019 and 2016.
Download the Free PDF Cheat Sheet
All 61 accented letter alt codes in this guide fit on a free one-page A4 printable PDF, with Word’s accent shortcuts down the side. Print it for language homework, names and addresses.
What This Accented Letters Cheat Sheet Covers
The sheet covers the accents used in French, Spanish, Portuguese, German and the Nordic languages. Every letter on it has a classic Alt code, because they all belong to the original Windows character set.
It is most useful when you need to:
- Spell names and places correctly, such as Zoë, José or São Paulo.
- Write words borrowed into English: café, naïve, résumé.
- Do French, Spanish or German homework on an English keyboard.
- Type addresses and company names in other languages.
How to Type an Alt Code in Word
An Alt code is a four-digit number you type on the numeric keypad while holding Alt. Word turns the number into the symbol the moment you let go. The leading zero matters: Alt + 0128 gives €, while the same digits without the zero give a different character.
Steps:
- Click where you want the symbol.
- Make sure Num Lock is on (the keypad light is lit).
- Hold down Alt.
- Type the four digits on the numeric keypad, not the number row above the letters.
- Let go of Alt. The symbol appears.
👉 The symbol takes the font of the text around it, so it matches your document.
Word’s Built-in Accent Shortcuts
Word has a shortcut for each accent that does not need a numeric keypad. Press the keys before the comma together, let go, then type the letter. For a capital, type a capital letter in the last step. Microsoft lists them on its page of keyboard shortcuts for accent marks.
| Accent | Word shortcut | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Acute | Ctrl + ', then the letter | é |
| Grave | Ctrl + `, then the letter | è |
| Circumflex | Ctrl + Shift + ^, then the letter | ê |
| Umlaut | Ctrl + Shift + :, then the letter | ë |
| Tilde | Ctrl + Shift + ~, then the letter | ñ |
| Ring | Ctrl + Shift + @, then the letter | å |
| Cedilla | Ctrl + ,, then the letter | ç |
| Slash | Ctrl + /, then the letter | ø |
| Ligatures | Ctrl + Shift + &, then the letter | æ |
👉 Ctrl + ', then e gives é. These shortcuts work in Word and Outlook; Alt codes work in most other programs too.
Acute and Grave Accent Alt Codes
| Lower case | Alt code | Capital | Alt code | Accent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| á | Alt + 0225 | Á | Alt + 0193 | Acute |
| é | Alt + 0233 | É | Alt + 0201 | Acute |
| í | Alt + 0237 | Í | Alt + 0205 | Acute |
| ó | Alt + 0243 | Ó | Alt + 0211 | Acute |
| ú | Alt + 0250 | Ú | Alt + 0218 | Acute |
| ý | Alt + 0253 | Ý | Alt + 0221 | Acute |
| à | Alt + 0224 | À | Alt + 0192 | Grave |
| è | Alt + 0232 | È | Alt + 0200 | Grave |
| ì | Alt + 0236 | Ì | Alt + 0204 | Grave |
| ò | Alt + 0242 | Ò | Alt + 0210 | Grave |
| ù | Alt + 0249 | Ù | Alt + 0217 | Grave |
Circumflex and Umlaut Alt Codes
| Lower case | Alt code | Capital | Alt code | Accent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| â | Alt + 0226 | Â | Alt + 0194 | Circumflex |
| ê | Alt + 0234 | Ê | Alt + 0202 | Circumflex |
| î | Alt + 0238 | Î | Alt + 0206 | Circumflex |
| ô | Alt + 0244 | Ô | Alt + 0212 | Circumflex |
| û | Alt + 0251 | Û | Alt + 0219 | Circumflex |
| ä | Alt + 0228 | Ä | Alt + 0196 | Umlaut |
| ë | Alt + 0235 | Ë | Alt + 0203 | Umlaut |
| ï | Alt + 0239 | Ï | Alt + 0207 | Umlaut |
| ö | Alt + 0246 | Ö | Alt + 0214 | Umlaut |
| ü | Alt + 0252 | Ü | Alt + 0220 | Umlaut |
| ÿ | Alt + 0255 | Ÿ | Alt + 0159 | Umlaut |
Tilde, Ring, Cedilla and Slash Alt Codes
| Lower case | Alt code | Capital | Alt code | Accent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ã | Alt + 0227 | Ã | Alt + 0195 | Tilde |
| ñ | Alt + 0241 | Ñ | Alt + 0209 | Tilde |
| õ | Alt + 0245 | Õ | Alt + 0213 | Tilde |
| å | Alt + 0229 | Å | Alt + 0197 | Ring |
| ç | Alt + 0231 | Ç | Alt + 0199 | Cedilla |
| ø | Alt + 0248 | Ø | Alt + 0216 | Slash |
Ligature Alt Codes
| Lower case | Alt code | Capital | Alt code | Accent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| æ | Alt + 0230 | Æ | Alt + 0198 | Ligatures |
| œ | Alt + 0156 | Œ | Alt + 0140 | Ligatures |
| ß | Alt + 0223 | — | — | Ligatures |
👉 ß has no capital form on the sheet: German uses SS in capitals.
Common Problems and Fixes
- Nothing happens, or a different character appears: turn on Num Lock and use the numeric keypad. The number row above the letters does not work for Alt codes.
- No numeric keypad: use the Alt + X code instead. It needs no keypad.
- Alt + X changes the wrong text: put a space before the code so Word does not include the letters in front of it.
- An empty box appears: the font has no picture for that symbol. Select it and pick a fuller font such as Aptos, Segoe UI or Arial — see how to change the font in Word.
- The Word shortcut types a symbol instead: make sure you let go of the first keys before typing the letter.
Pro Tips for Accented Letter Alt Codes
- If you type in another language every day, add that language’s keyboard in Windows Settings instead — it gives accents on single keys.
- Word’s spell checker often suggests the accented spelling: right-click “cafe” and choose “café”.
- Alt codes and the Word shortcuts give exactly the same letter, so mix them freely.
- Keep the common symbol alt codes sheet with this one for «guillemets» and ¿ ¡.
FAQs
What is the Alt code for é?
Hold Alt and type 0233 on the numeric keypad. In Word you can also press Ctrl + ‘ and then e.
What is the Alt code for ñ?
Hold Alt and type 0241 for ñ, or 0209 for Ñ. In Word, Ctrl + Shift + ~ then n also works.
How do I type ü in Word?
Hold Alt and type 0252, or press Ctrl + Shift + : and then u.
How do I type ç?
Hold Alt and type 0231, or press Ctrl + , (comma) and then c.
How do I type capital accented letters?
Use the capital’s own Alt code from the table, or use the Word shortcut and type a capital letter at the end.
Do these shortcuts work on a laptop without a numeric keypad?
Word’s Ctrl shortcuts do. Alt codes need a numeric keypad; on a laptop, use the Ctrl shortcuts instead.
Conclusion
Accented letter alt codes and Word’s accent shortcuts mean you never have to copy an é from the web again.
Download the free PDF, and for €, £ and other money signs, the companion guide to currency symbol alt codes in Word works the same way.
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