How to Type ê (E with circumflex) on Android

Published August 22, 2026, 2 min read

Typing ê (e with circumflex) on Android takes a few seconds once you know the trick. The short answer is Hold e. Read on for step-by-step instructions, the uppercase Ê and what to do when a method does not work.

ê on Android: Hold e

Ê on Android: Hold e

Or copy it:

Method 1: Long-press the letter

Open the keyboard in any app.
Touch and hold the e key.
Slide your finger to ê and lift it.

ê is on the long-press menu of the default English keyboard.

Method 2: Add the French keyboard

Open Settings → System → Languages & input → On-screen keyboard → Gboard → Languages.
Tap Add keyboard and pick French.
Switch keyboards with the globe key or by holding the space bar.

Method 3: Personal dictionary shortcut

In Gboard go to Settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary, pick your language, tap +, paste ê as the word and add a shortcut such as eci. Typing the shortcut then suggests ê.

How to type the capital Ê

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

Long-press the letter

Open the keyboard in any app.
Touch and hold the E key (with Shift on).
Slide your finger to Ê and lift it.

Ê is on the long-press menu of the default English keyboard.

Add the French keyboard

Open Settings → System → Languages & input → On-screen keyboard → Gboard → Languages.
Tap Add keyboard and pick French.
Switch keyboards with the globe key or by holding the space bar.

About the letter ê

ê is Unicode U+00EA, named LATIN SMALL LETTER E WITH CIRCUMFLEX. It is used in French, Portuguese, Welsh, Vietnamese and Afrikaans. A small caret (^) above a vowel. In French it often marks a vanished s (forêt from forest), in Portuguese a closed vowel, in Welsh a long vowel, and in Vietnamese a distinct vowel (â, ê, ô). See the ê character page for every code and shortcut.

Troubleshooting

Samsung Keyboard and Gboard show slightly different long-press menus. If a letter is missing, add the language.
Turn off "Long press for symbols" in Gboard settings if holding a key shows numbers instead of accents.
Personal dictionary shortcuts appear as suggestions; tap the suggestion to insert the letter.

Frequently asked questions

What is the shortcut for ê on Android?

Hold e.

Can I just copy and paste ê?

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 ê?

U+00EA. In HTML it is ê.

Related guides

All accent shortcuts for Android