How do you type an umlaut (ë, ï, ü, ö)?
The two dots come from a dead key: first the mark ¨, then the letter. On US-International that is Shift + ' and then, for example, u for ü. On a UK Mac it is Option + U and then the letter.
UK and US QWERTY in Windows have no key for it. On Belgian AZERTY it is Shift + ^ and then the letter.
The keys on each keyboard
Belgian AZERTY (Windows)
- ë
- Shift+^thenE
- ï
- Shift+^thenI
- ü
- Shift+^thenU
- ö
- Shift+^thenO
Belgian AZERTY (Mac)
- ë
- Shift+^thenE
- ï
- Shift+^thenI
- ü
- Shift+^thenU
- ö
- Shift+^thenO
US QWERTY
Not on US QWERTY. Switch Windows to the US-International layout, or use an Alt code on the numeric keypad.
US International
- ë
- Shift+'thenE
- ï
- Shift+'thenI
- ü
- Shift+'thenU
- ö
- Shift+'thenO
UK QWERTY (Windows)
Not on UK QWERTY in Windows. Switch to the UK Extended layout, or use an Alt code on the numeric keypad.
UK QWERTY (Mac)
- ë
- Option+UthenE
- ï
- Option+UthenI
- ü
- Option+UthenU
- ö
- Option+UthenO
Try it on your own keyboard
With an Alt code
On Windows with a numeric keypad: hold Alt, type 0235 on the numeric keypad and let go of Alt. Then ë appears.
Frequently asked questions
Is it called an umlaut or a diaeresis?
Both, for the same two dots. In German words like über it is an umlaut; in words like naïve or Zoë, where it splits two vowels, it is a diaeresis.
I get ¨u instead of ü. What went wrong?
You typed the dead key twice, or a space came in between. Type the ¨ once and the letter straight after it.
Never hunt for a key again
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