How to Type č (C with caron) on LaTeX

Published July 19, 2026, 2 min read

Typing č (c with caron) on LaTeX takes a few seconds once you know the trick. The short answer is \v{c}. Read on for step-by-step instructions, the uppercase Č and what to do when a method does not work.

č on LaTeX: \v{c}

Č on LaTeX: \v{C}

Or copy it:

Method 1: LaTeX command

Write \v{c} 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 č into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

Method 3: In math mode

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

How to type the capital Č

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

LaTeX command

Write \v{C} 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 Č into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

About the letter č

č is Unicode U+010D, named LATIN SMALL LETTER C WITH CARON. It is used in Czech, Slovak, Croatian, Slovenian, Latvian and Lithuanian. A small v above a letter, called háček in Czech and kvačica in Croatian. It softens consonants (č, š, ž, ř) and marks the third tone in Pinyin (ǎ, ǐ). See the č 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 č on LaTeX?

\v{c}.

Can I just copy and paste č?

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 č?

U+010D. In HTML it is č.

Related guides

All accent shortcuts for LaTeX