How to Type ĭ (I with breve) on Microsoft Word

Published April 24, 2026, 2 min read

Typing ĭ (i with breve) on Microsoft Word takes a few seconds once you know the trick. The short answer is 012D then Alt+X. Read on for step-by-step instructions, the uppercase Ĭ and what to do when a method does not work.

ĭ on Microsoft Word: 012D then Alt+X

Ĭ on Microsoft Word: 012C then Alt+X

Or copy it:

Method 1: Alt+X Unicode trick

Type 012D where you want the letter.
Press Alt+X. Word turns the code into ĭ.

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

Method 2: Insert Symbol

Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols.
Set "from" to Unicode (hex) and type 012D in Character code.
Click Insert. You can also assign a shortcut key here.

How to type the capital Ĭ

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

Alt+X Unicode trick

Type 012C where you want the letter.
Press Alt+X. Word turns the code into Ĭ.

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

Insert Symbol

Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols.
Set "from" to Unicode (hex) and type 012C in Character code.
Click Insert. You can also assign a shortcut key here.

About the letter ĭ

ĭ is Unicode U+012D, named LATIN SMALL LETTER I WITH BREVE. A small cup above a letter. Romanian uses ă, Turkish ğ, Vietnamese ă, and Esperanto ŭ. See the ĭ 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 ĭ on Microsoft Word?

012D then Alt+X.

Can I just copy and paste ĭ?

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 ĭ?

U+012D. In HTML it is ĭ.

Related guides

All accent shortcuts for Microsoft Word