How to Type ĵ (J with circumflex) on LaTeX

Published June 1, 2026, 2 min read

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

ĵ on LaTeX: \^{\j}

Ĵ on LaTeX: \^{J}

Or copy it:

Method 1: LaTeX command

Write \^{\j} 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 ĵ into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

Method 3: In math mode

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

How to type the capital Ĵ

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

LaTeX command

Write \^{J} 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 Ĵ into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

About the letter ĵ

ĵ is Unicode U+0135, named LATIN SMALL LETTER J WITH CIRCUMFLEX. It is used in Esperanto. 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 ĵ 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 ĵ on LaTeX?

\^{\j}.

Can I just copy and paste ĵ?

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 ĵ?

U+0135. In HTML it is ĵ.

Related guides

All accent shortcuts for LaTeX