How to Type ŭ (U with breve) on Microsoft Word

Published May 7, 2026, 2 min read

Need ŭ on Microsoft Word 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 016D then Alt+X, and there are a few backups below for when that one is not available.

ŭ on Microsoft Word: 016D then Alt+X

Ŭ on Microsoft Word: 016C then Alt+X

Or copy it:

Method 1: Alt+X Unicode trick

Type 016D where you want the letter.
Press Alt+X. Word turns the code into ŭ.

Press Alt+X again to turn it back into the code. On a Mac, Word uses the macOS methods instead.

Method 2: Insert Symbol

Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols.
Set "from" to Unicode (hex) and type 016D in Character code.
Click Insert. You can also assign a shortcut key here.

How to type the capital Ŭ

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

Alt+X Unicode trick

Type 016C where you want the letter.
Press Alt+X. Word turns the code into Ŭ.

Press Alt+X again to turn it back into the code. On a Mac, Word uses the macOS methods instead.

Insert Symbol

Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols.
Set "from" to Unicode (hex) and type 016C in Character code.
Click Insert. You can also assign a shortcut key here.

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

Ctrl accent shortcuts are in Word for Windows. Word for Mac uses the macOS Option shortcuts.
If Alt+X converts the wrong text, select just the code first, then press Alt+X.
Change the font if the letter shows as an empty box; Calibri, Arial and Times New Roman cover common accents.

Frequently asked questions

What is the shortcut for ŭ on Microsoft Word?

016D then Alt+X.

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 Microsoft Word