How to Type ī (I with macron) on LaTeX

Published July 12, 2026, 2 min read

ī is i with macron, a letter used in Latvian, Mandarin Pinyin, Māori and Hawaiian. On LaTeX, the quickest way to get it is \={\i}. This guide covers every method that works, including the capital Ī and fixes for common problems.

ī on LaTeX: \={\i}

Ī on LaTeX: \={I}

Or copy it:

Method 1: LaTeX command

Write \={\i} 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 ī into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

Method 3: In math mode

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

How to type the capital Ī

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

LaTeX command

Write \={I} 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 Ī into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

About the letter ī

ī is Unicode U+012B, named LATIN SMALL LETTER I WITH MACRON. It is used in Latvian, Mandarin Pinyin, Māori and Hawaiian. A flat bar above a vowel, used for long vowels in Latvian, Lithuanian, Māori, Hawaiian and Latin textbooks, and for the first tone in Pinyin. See the ī 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 ī on LaTeX?

\={\i}.

Can I just copy and paste ī?

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 ī?

U+012B. In HTML it is ī.

Related guides

All accent shortcuts for LaTeX