The Accent Letters

How to Type Afrikaans Accents on Any Keyboard

Published September 16, 2026, 2 min read

Afrikaans uses the circumflex, diaeresis, acute and grave, for example in ê, ë, ô and ï. Here is how to type each of them on a computer or phone, whether you write Afrikaans every day or only need the odd name.

Afrikaans letters: á é è ê ë í î ï ó ô ö ú û ü

Copy and paste them here

Shortcut chart

LetterWindowsMacWordPhone
áAlt+0225Option+E, then ACtrl+', then Ahold a
éAlt+0233Option+E, then ECtrl+', then Ehold e
èAlt+0232Option+`, then ECtrl+`, then Ehold e
êAlt+0234Option+I, then ECtrl+Shift+^, then Ehold e
ëAlt+0235Option+U, then ECtrl+Shift+:, then Ehold e
íAlt+0237Option+E, then ICtrl+', then Ihold i
îAlt+0238Option+I, then ICtrl+Shift+^, then Ihold i
ïAlt+0239Option+U, then ICtrl+Shift+:, then Ihold i
óAlt+0243Option+E, then OCtrl+', then Ohold o
ôAlt+0244Option+I, then OCtrl+Shift+^, then Ohold o
öAlt+0246Option+U, then OCtrl+Shift+:, then Ohold o
úAlt+0250Option+E, then UCtrl+', then Uhold u
ûAlt+0251Option+I, then UCtrl+Shift+^, then Uhold u
üAlt+0252Option+U, then UCtrl+Shift+:, then Uhold u

Option 1: add the Afrikaans keyboard

If you write Afrikaans often, add its keyboard layout. On Windows, open Settings → Time & language → Language & region, add Afrikaans or add its keyboard under your current language, and switch with Win+Space. On a Mac, open System Settings → Keyboard → Text Input → Edit and add the Afrikaans layout. On iPhone and Android, add the Afrikaans keyboard in keyboard settings and switch with the globe key.

A native layout moves some punctuation keys, so print or note where they sit before you switch.

Option 2: use shortcuts on your current keyboard

Keep your usual layout and use the codes in the chart. On Windows the US-International layout covers many Western European accents with dead keys. On a Mac, Option+E, Option+`, Option+I, Option+U and Option+N cover the acute, grave, circumflex, umlaut and tilde, and Unicode Hex Input covers everything else.

Option 3: copy and paste

For occasional use, copy letters from the Afrikaans letters page. Click a letter to copy it, or click several to build a word in the text box first.

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