How to Type ō (O with macron) on LaTeX

Published July 11, 2026, 2 min read

Need ō 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 \={o}, and there are a few backups below for when that one is not available.

ō on LaTeX: \={o}

Ō on LaTeX: \={O}

Or copy it:

Method 1: LaTeX command

Write \={o} 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 ō into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

Method 3: In math mode

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

How to type the capital Ō

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

LaTeX command

Write \={O} 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 Ō into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

About the letter ō

ō is Unicode U+014D, named LATIN SMALL LETTER O WITH MACRON. It is used in Mandarin Pinyin, Māori and Hawaiian. A flat bar above a vowel, used for long vowels in Latvian, Lithuanian, Māori, Hawaiian and Latin textbooks, and for the first tone in Pinyin. See the ō 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 ō on LaTeX?

\={o}.

Can I just copy and paste ō?

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 ō?

U+014D. In HTML it is ō.

Related guides

All accent shortcuts for LaTeX