How to Type ŭ (U with breve) on LaTeX

Published May 7, 2026, 2 min read

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

ŭ on LaTeX: \u{u}

Ŭ on LaTeX: \u{U}

Or copy it:

Method 1: LaTeX command

Write \u{u} 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 ŭ into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

Method 3: In math mode

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

How to type the capital Ŭ

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

LaTeX command

Write \u{U} 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 Ŭ into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

About the letter ŭ

ŭ is Unicode U+016D, named LATIN SMALL LETTER U WITH BREVE. It is used in Esperanto. A small cup above a letter. Romanian uses ă, Turkish ğ, Vietnamese ă, and Esperanto ŭ. See the ŭ 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 ŭ on LaTeX?

\u{u}.

Can I just copy and paste ŭ?

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 ŭ?

U+016D. In HTML it is ŭ.

Related guides

All accent shortcuts for LaTeX