How to Type ĺ (L with acute) on LaTeX

Published May 28, 2026, 2 min read

Need ĺ on LaTeX for a name, an address or a word in another language? You do not have to copy it from a website every time. The fastest method is \'{l}, and there are a few backups below for when that one is not available.

ĺ on LaTeX: \'{l}

Ĺ on LaTeX: \'{L}

Or copy it:

Method 1: LaTeX command

Write \'{l} 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 ĺ into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

Method 3: In math mode

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

How to type the capital Ĺ

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

LaTeX command

Write \'{L} 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 Ĺ into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

About the letter ĺ

ĺ is Unicode U+013A, named LATIN SMALL LETTER L WITH ACUTE. It is used in Slovak. A short line slanting up to the right. It marks stress in Spanish (canción), a closed vowel in French (été), vowel length in Czech, Hungarian and Irish, and a rising tone in Vietnamese and Pinyin. See the ĺ 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 ĺ on LaTeX?

\'{l}.

Can I just copy and paste ĺ?

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 ĺ?

U+013A. In HTML it is ĺ.

Related guides

All accent shortcuts for LaTeX