How to Type æ (Ae ligature (ash)) on Microsoft Word

Published August 25, 2026, 2 min read

æ is ae ligature (ash), a letter used in French, Norwegian, Danish and Icelandic. On Microsoft Word, the quickest way to get it is Ctrl+Shift+&, then A. This guide covers every method that works, including the capital Æ and fixes for common problems.

æ on Microsoft Word: Ctrl+Shift+&, then A

Æ on Microsoft Word: Ctrl+Shift+&, then Shift+A

Or copy it:

Method 1: Word keyboard shortcut

Press Ctrl+Shift+&, then A. Press the first combination, release, then type the letter. This works in Word for Windows and in Outlook.

Method 2: Alt+X Unicode trick

Type 00E6 where you want the letter.
Press Alt+X. Word turns the code into æ.

Press Alt+X again to turn it back into the code. On a Mac, Word uses the macOS methods instead: Option+'.

Method 3: Insert Symbol

Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols.
Set "from" to Unicode (hex) and type 00E6 in Character code.
Click Insert. You can also assign a shortcut key here.

Method 4: Alt code

With Num Lock on, hold Alt and type 0230 on the number pad.

How to type the capital Æ

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

Word keyboard shortcut

Press Ctrl+Shift+&, then Shift+A. Press the first combination, release, then type the letter. This works in Word for Windows and in Outlook.

Alt+X Unicode trick

Type 00C6 where you want the letter.
Press Alt+X. Word turns the code into Æ.

Press Alt+X again to turn it back into the code. On a Mac, Word uses the macOS methods instead: Option+Shift+'.

About the letter æ

æ is Unicode U+00E6, named LATIN SMALL LETTER AE. It is used in French, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic and Faroese. See the æ character page for every code and shortcut.

Troubleshooting

Ctrl accent shortcuts are in Word for Windows. Word for Mac uses the macOS Option shortcuts.
If Alt+X converts the wrong text, select just the code first, then press Alt+X.
Change the font if the letter shows as an empty box; Calibri, Arial and Times New Roman cover common accents.

Frequently asked questions

What is the shortcut for æ on Microsoft Word?

Ctrl+Shift+&, then A.

Can I just copy and paste æ?

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 æ?

U+00E6. In HTML it is æ.

Related guides

All accent shortcuts for Microsoft Word