How to Type ī (I with macron) on Microsoft Word

Published July 13, 2026, 2 min read

The letter ī does not have its own key on an English keyboard, but Microsoft Word still makes it easy to type. Use 012B then Alt+X, or pick one of the other methods in this guide. ī appears in Latvian, Mandarin Pinyin, Māori and Hawaiian.

ī on Microsoft Word: 012B then Alt+X

Ī on Microsoft Word: 012A then Alt+X

Or copy it:

Method 1: Alt+X Unicode trick

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

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 012B in Character code.
Click Insert. You can also assign a shortcut key here.

How to type the capital Ī

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

Alt+X Unicode trick

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

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 012A in Character code.
Click Insert. You can also assign a shortcut key here.

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

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 ī on Microsoft Word?

012B then Alt+X.

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 Microsoft Word