How to Type ļ (L with cedilla) on LaTeX

Published May 27, 2026, 2 min read

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

ļ on LaTeX: \c{l}

Ļ on LaTeX: \c{L}

Or copy it:

Method 1: LaTeX command

Write \c{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 ļ into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

How to type the capital Ļ

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

LaTeX command

Write \c{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 Ļ into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

About the letter ļ

ļ is Unicode U+013C, named LATIN SMALL LETTER L WITH CEDILLA. It is used in Latvian. A small hook under a letter. ç gives a soft s sound in French, Portuguese, Catalan, Turkish and Albanian; Turkish also uses ş, and Latvian uses ģ, ķ, ļ, ņ. See the ļ 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 ļ on LaTeX?

\c{l}.

Can I just copy and paste ļ?

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 ļ?

U+013C. In HTML it is ļ.

Related guides

All accent shortcuts for LaTeX