How to Type ŝ (S with circumflex) on LaTeX

Published May 12, 2026, 2 min read

Need ŝ 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 \^{s}, and there are a few backups below for when that one is not available.

ŝ on LaTeX: \^{s}

Ŝ on LaTeX: \^{S}

Or copy it:

Method 1: LaTeX command

Write \^{s} 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 ŝ into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

Method 3: In math mode

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

How to type the capital Ŝ

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

LaTeX command

Write \^{S} 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 Ŝ into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

About the letter ŝ

ŝ is Unicode U+015D, named LATIN SMALL LETTER S WITH CIRCUMFLEX. It is used in Esperanto. A small caret (^) above a vowel. In French it often marks a vanished s (forêt from forest), in Portuguese a closed vowel, in Welsh a long vowel, and in Vietnamese a distinct vowel (â, ê, ô). See the ŝ 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 ŝ on LaTeX?

\^{s}.

Can I just copy and paste ŝ?

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 ŝ?

U+015D. In HTML it is ŝ.

Related guides

All accent shortcuts for LaTeX