How to Type Latvian Accents on Any Keyboard
Latvian marks long vowels with a macron (ā, ē, ī, ū), palatal consonants with a cedilla or comma (ģ, ķ, ļ, ņ), and uses č, š, ž. Here is how to type each of them on a computer or phone, whether you write Latvian every day or only need the odd name.
Latvian letters: ā č ē ģ ī ķ ļ ņ š ū ž
Shortcut chart
| Letter | Windows | Mac | Word | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ā | Win+. symbols | Option+0101 (Hex Input) | 0101 Alt+X | hold a |
| č | Win+. symbols | Option+010D (Hex Input) | 010D Alt+X | hold c |
| ē | Win+. symbols | Option+0113 (Hex Input) | 0113 Alt+X | hold e |
| ģ | Win+. symbols | Option+0123 (Hex Input) | 0123 Alt+X | add Latvian keyboard |
| ī | Win+. symbols | Option+012B (Hex Input) | 012B Alt+X | hold i |
| ķ | Win+. symbols | Option+0137 (Hex Input) | 0137 Alt+X | add Latvian keyboard |
| ļ | Win+. symbols | Option+013C (Hex Input) | 013C Alt+X | add Latvian keyboard |
| ņ | Win+. symbols | Option+0146 (Hex Input) | 0146 Alt+X | add Latvian keyboard |
| š | Alt+0154 | Option+0161 (Hex Input) | 0161 Alt+X | hold s |
| ū | Win+. symbols | Option+016B (Hex Input) | 016B Alt+X | hold u |
| ž | Alt+0158 | Option+017E (Hex Input) | 017E Alt+X | hold z |
Option 1: add the Latvian keyboard
If you write Latvian often, add its keyboard layout. On Windows, open Settings → Time & language → Language & region, add Latvian or add its keyboard under your current language, and switch with Win+Space. On a Mac, open System Settings → Keyboard → Text Input → Edit and add the Latvian layout. On iPhone and Android, add the Latvian keyboard in keyboard settings and switch with the globe key.
A native layout moves some punctuation keys, so print or note where they sit before you switch.
Option 2: use shortcuts on your current keyboard
Keep your usual layout and use the codes in the chart. On Windows the US-International layout covers many Western European accents with dead keys. On a Mac, Option+E, Option+`, Option+I, Option+U and Option+N cover the acute, grave, circumflex, umlaut and tilde, and Unicode Hex Input covers everything else.
Option 3: copy and paste
For occasional use, copy letters from the Latvian letters page. Click a letter to copy it, or click several to build a word in the text box first.