How to Type ë (E with umlaut) on LaTeX

Published August 20, 2026, 2 min read

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

ë on LaTeX: \"{e}

Ë on LaTeX: \"{E}

Or copy it:

Method 1: LaTeX command

Write \"{e} 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 ë into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

Method 3: In math mode

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

How to type the capital Ë

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

LaTeX command

Write \"{E} 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 Ë into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

About the letter ë

ë is Unicode U+00EB, named LATIN SMALL LETTER E WITH DIAERESIS. It is used in French, Dutch, Welsh, Albanian and Afrikaans. Two dots above a letter. As a German umlaut it changes the vowel sound (ä, ö, ü); as a diaeresis in French, Dutch, Spanish or English (naïve, Noël) it shows that a vowel is pronounced separately. See the ë 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 ë on LaTeX?

\"{e}.

Can I just copy and paste ë?

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 ë?

U+00EB. In HTML it is ë.

Related guides

All accent shortcuts for LaTeX