How to Type ł (L with stroke) on LaTeX

Published May 23, 2026, 2 min read

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

ł on LaTeX: \l

Ł 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 ł into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

How to type the capital Ł

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 Ł into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

About the letter ł

ł is Unicode U+0142, named LATIN SMALL LETTER L WITH STROKE. It is used in Polish. A line through the letter itself. Examples are ø (Danish, Norwegian), ł (Polish), đ (Vietnamese, Croatian) and ħ (Maltese). See the ł 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 ł on LaTeX?

\l.

Can I just copy and paste ł?

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 ł?

U+0142. In HTML it is ł.

Related guides

All accent shortcuts for LaTeX