How to Type ā (A with macron) on LaTeX

Published July 16, 2026, 2 min read

Need ā on LaTeX for a name, an address or a word in another language? You do not have to copy it from a website every time. The fastest method is \={a}, and there are a few backups below for when that one is not available.

ā on LaTeX: \={a}

Ā on LaTeX: \={A}

Or copy it:

Method 1: LaTeX command

Write \={a} in text mode. Load \usepackage[T1]{fontenc} for correct hyphenation and copy-paste from the PDF.

Method 2: Type the character directly

Since 2018 pdfLaTeX reads UTF-8 by default, so you can paste ā into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

Method 3: In math mode

For a variable with this accent, use $\bar{a}$ . Math accents are for symbols, so use the text command for words.

How to type the capital Ā

The uppercase form works the same way with Shift added where a letter is typed.

LaTeX command

Write \={A} in text mode. Load \usepackage[T1]{fontenc} for correct hyphenation and copy-paste from the PDF.

Type the character directly

Since 2018 pdfLaTeX reads UTF-8 by default, so you can paste Ā into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

About the letter ā

ā is Unicode U+0101, named LATIN SMALL LETTER A WITH MACRON. It is used in Latvian, Mandarin Pinyin, Māori and Hawaiian. A flat bar above a vowel, used for long vowels in Latvian, Lithuanian, Māori, Hawaiian and Latin textbooks, and for the first tone in Pinyin. See the ā character page for every code and shortcut.

Troubleshooting

Accents on i and j need the dotless forms \i and \j in old LaTeX; modern LaTeX handles this automatically.
If the letter is missing in the PDF, the font lacks it. Switch to XeLaTeX or LuaLaTeX with a broader font.
Wrap commands in braces when the next character is a letter: \'{e}x, not \'ex.

Frequently asked questions

What is the shortcut for ā on LaTeX?

\={a}.

Can I just copy and paste ā?

Yes. Click the copy button above, then paste with Ctrl+V on Windows and Chromebook, Cmd+V on a Mac, or touch and hold and choose Paste on a phone.

What is the Unicode code for ā?

U+0101. In HTML it is ā.

Related guides

All accent shortcuts for LaTeX