How to Type ũ (U with tilde) on LaTeX

Published May 8, 2026, 2 min read

ũ is u with tilde, a letter used in Vietnamese. On LaTeX, the quickest way to get it is \~{u}. This guide covers every method that works, including the capital Ũ and fixes for common problems.

ũ on LaTeX: \~{u}

Ũ on LaTeX: \~{U}

Or copy it:

Method 1: LaTeX command

Write \~{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 ũ into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

Method 3: In math mode

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

How to type the capital Ũ

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

LaTeX command

Write \~{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 Ũ into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

About the letter ũ

ũ is Unicode U+0169, named LATIN SMALL LETTER U WITH TILDE. It is used in Vietnamese. A wavy line above a letter. Spanish uses it for ñ, Portuguese for nasal vowels (ã, õ), Estonian for õ, and Vietnamese for the broken rising tone. See the ũ 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 ũ on LaTeX?

\~{u}.

Can I just copy and paste ũ?

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 ũ?

U+0169. In HTML it is ũ.

Related guides

All accent shortcuts for LaTeX