How to Type ŷ (Y with circumflex) on LaTeX

Published April 28, 2026, 2 min read

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

ŷ on LaTeX: \^{y}

Ŷ on LaTeX: \^{Y}

Or copy it:

Method 1: LaTeX command

Write \^{y} 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 ŷ into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

Method 3: In math mode

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

How to type the capital Ŷ

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

LaTeX command

Write \^{Y} 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 Ŷ into your source. On Overleaf, set the compiler in Menu → Compiler.

About the letter ŷ

ŷ is Unicode U+0177, named LATIN SMALL LETTER Y WITH CIRCUMFLEX. It is used in Welsh. A small caret (^) above a vowel. In French it often marks a vanished s (forêt from forest), in Portuguese a closed vowel, in Welsh a long vowel, and in Vietnamese a distinct vowel (â, ê, ô). See the ŷ 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 ŷ on LaTeX?

\^{y}.

Can I just copy and paste ŷ?

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 ŷ?

U+0177. In HTML it is ŷ.

Related guides

All accent shortcuts for LaTeX