How to Type ū (U with macron) on Microsoft Word

Published July 18, 2026, 2 min read

Typing ū (u with macron) on Microsoft Word takes a few seconds once you know the trick. The short answer is 016B then Alt+X. Read on for step-by-step instructions, the uppercase Ū and what to do when a method does not work.

ū on Microsoft Word: 016B then Alt+X

Ū on Microsoft Word: 016A then Alt+X

Or copy it:

Method 1: Alt+X Unicode trick

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

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 016B in Character code.
Click Insert. You can also assign a shortcut key here.

How to type the capital Ū

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

Alt+X Unicode trick

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

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 016A in Character code.
Click Insert. You can also assign a shortcut key here.

About the letter ū

ū is Unicode U+016B, named LATIN SMALL LETTER U WITH MACRON. It is used in Latvian, Lithuanian, 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 ū 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 ū on Microsoft Word?

016B then Alt+X.

Can I just copy and paste ū?

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 ū?

U+016B. In HTML it is ū.

Related guides

All accent shortcuts for Microsoft Word