How to Add an Accent to the Letter E: A Complete Guide

Whether you're typing résumé, café, naïve, or a word in French, Spanish, or Portuguese, knowing how to add an accent to the letter e is one of those small skills that makes a real difference in professional and personal writing. The good news: every major platform supports accented characters. The less obvious part is that how you get there depends entirely on what you're typing on.

What "Accented E" Actually Means

The letter e appears with several distinct accent marks, each with a specific name and use:

These aren't decorative — they change pronunciation and, in many cases, meaning. Getting them right matters in formal writing, academic work, brand names, and any document where accuracy counts.

How to Type an Accented E on Windows

Windows gives you several routes, and the right one depends on your workflow.

Using Keyboard Shortcuts (Alt Codes)

If your keyboard has a numeric keypad, you can use Alt codes:

• é → Hold Alt, type 0233 on the numpad, release
• è → Hold Alt, type 0232
• ê → Hold Alt, type 0234
• ë → Hold Alt, type 0235

This works system-wide in most applications. It does not work using the number row at the top of the keyboard — only the dedicated numpad.

Using the Character Map

Go to Start → Windows Accessories → Character Map. Search for "e with accent," click the character, and copy it. Useful for one-off needs but slow for frequent use.

Switching to a Different Keyboard Layout

If you regularly type in French or another accented language, switching your Windows keyboard layout to French (France), Canadian French, or US International gives you native access to accented characters. The US International layout is popular for English writers who occasionally need accents — it uses key combinations like ' + e to produce é.

How to Type an Accented E on Mac

macOS handles this more intuitively. 🍎

Press-and-Hold Method

In most Mac applications, simply hold down the e key for about a second. A small popup appears showing accent options. Press the corresponding number (or click the character) to insert it. This is the fastest method for casual use.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Mac also supports direct shortcuts:

• é → Option + e, then e
• è → Option + `, then e
• ê → Option + i, then e
• ë → Option + u, then e

These work across almost all native Mac applications and many third-party ones.

How to Type an Accented E on iPhone and iPad

On iOS, the process mirrors the Mac press-and-hold approach. Tap and hold the e key on the on-screen keyboard. A row of accented options appears above the key. Slide your finger to the one you need and release. No settings changes required.

How to Type an Accented E on Android

Android works the same way. Long-press the e key on your keyboard and a selection of accented variants appears. Slide to your choice. This works on Gboard and most other Android keyboards, though the exact visual style varies by keyboard app.

How to Add an Accented E in Specific Applications

Microsoft Word

Word has AutoCorrect built in and will often convert common words automatically — typing "resume" won't auto-correct, but if you've previously inserted résumé correctly, it may remember it.

For manual insertion: go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, find your character, and insert. You can also assign a custom keyboard shortcut inside Word via Insert → Symbol → Shortcut Key.

Google Docs

Google Docs supports the press-and-hold method on mobile. On desktop, you can use Insert → Special Characters, search "Latin small letter e," and select the accented version. Alternatively, install a browser extension that adds quick accent input.

HTML and Web Content

If you're writing HTML, use character entities:

• é → é
• è → è
• ê → ê
• ë → ë

Modern UTF-8 encoding means you can also paste the character directly into HTML without an entity, but entities are the safer option for legacy systems.

The Variables That Change Everything

The method that works best for you depends on factors specific to your situation:

• How often you need accented characters (occasionally vs. daily)
• What device you're on (laptop with numpad, MacBook, tablet, phone)
• Which applications you're working in (Word, Google Docs, code editors, web browsers)
• Whether you type in multiple languages regularly, which might make a full keyboard layout switch worthwhile
• Your existing shortcuts knowledge — some people find Alt codes fast; others find them error-prone

Someone writing a single French phrase in an email has very different needs from a translator working in French daily, or a developer embedding accented characters in a multilingual web app. Each of those situations points toward a different method — and none of them is universally "best."