How to Type ß (Sharp s (eszett)) on LaTeX

Published July 29, 2026, 2 min read

Typing ß (Sharp s (eszett)) on LaTeX takes a few seconds once you know the trick. The short answer is \ss. Read on for step-by-step instructions and what to do when a method does not work.

ß on LaTeX: \ss

Or copy it:

Method 1: LaTeX command

Write \ss 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 ß into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

About the letter ß

ß is Unicode U+00DF, named LATIN SMALL LETTER SHARP S. It is used in German. See the ß 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 ß on LaTeX?

\ss.

Can I just copy and paste ß?

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 ß?

U+00DF. In HTML it is ß.

Related guides

All accent shortcuts for LaTeX