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How to Type é / É on Keyboard (E with Acute Accent / E apostrophe)

The letters é (lowercase) and É (uppercase) are an E with an acute accent (the little line that leans to the right). People often call it “e with apostrophe,” but it’s not an apostrophe — it’s an acute accent.

You’ll see é a lot in French (café, fiancé), Spanish (some names/loanwords), and names like Beyoncé.

1-Minute Answer (fastest methods to type E with acute accent)

  • Windows (Alt code):
    • é = hold Alt and type 0233 on the numeric keypad
    • É = hold Alt and type 0201 on the numeric keypad
      (This needs a real number pad — details below.)
e acute or apostrophe e alt code
  • Word (Windows) shortcut:
    • Ctrl + ‘ then e → é
    • Ctrl + ‘ then Shift + E → É
  • Mac (easiest):
    • Press and hold e → pick é
    • Press and hold E → pick É
  • Google Docs:
    Insert → Special characters → search e acute → click é or É
  • iPhone / Android:
    Press and hold e → choose é (same idea for É)
Copy: é / É
Click a symbol to copy, then paste anywhere.
Core
Common related accents
Small extras
Tip: If copy doesn’t work in your browser, try selecting the symbol and copying manually.

Quick Reference (é / É)

IteméÉ
Namee with acuteE with acute
UnicodeU+00E9U+00C9
Windows Alt codeAlt + 0233Alt + 0201
HTMLé or éÉ or É
Hex HTMLéÉ

A) How to type é on Windows (and É)

Method 1: Use Alt codes (best if you have a numeric keypad)

Important: Windows Alt codes require a numeric keypad (the number pad on the right side of some keyboards).

Steps

  1. Click where you want the letter.
  2. Turn Num Lock ON.
  3. Hold Alt.
  4. Type the code on the numeric keypad:
    • 0233 → é
    • 0201 → É
  5. Release Alt.
Typing e acute with alt code on windows

If you’re on a laptop with no number pad

  • The top row numbers (above letters) usually won’t work for Alt codes.
  • Some laptops have an Fn “embedded keypad” (numbers hidden on keys like JKLUIO). If yours has that, it may work with Num Lock/Fn — but it varies by model.

Method 2: Character Map (works on all Windows PCs)

  1. Open the Start menu and search Character Map.
  2. Open it.
  3. In the search box (Advanced view), search e with acute.
  4. Click é (or É) → Select → Copy.
  5. Paste where you need it.
copy and paste e apostrophe (e acute)

B) How to type é on Mac (and É)

Method 1: Press-and-hold (simplest)

  1. Press and hold e.
  2. A small accent menu appears.
  3. Choose é (click it, or press the number shown).

For uppercase:

  • Press and hold E and choose É.

Method 2: Character Viewer (very reliable)

  1. Press Control + Command + Space to open Character Viewer.
  2. Search e acute.
  3. Double-click é or É to insert it.

Method 3: Option “dead key” method (fast once you learn it)

  • é: press Option + E, then press E
  • É: press Option + E, then press Shift + E
e acute shortcut for Mac

This is called a “dead key” because the accent is typed first, then the letter.

C) How to type é in Microsoft Word (Windows + Mac)

Method 1 (Word Windows): Word’s accent shortcut

  1. Press Ctrl + ‘ (apostrophe key).
  2. Release.
  3. Press e → é

For uppercase:

  • Ctrl + ‘ then Shift + E → É

Method 2: Insert → Symbol (Word Windows/Mac)

  1. Go to Insert tab.
  2. Click Symbol → More Symbols.
  3. Find é or É (often under Latin-1 Supplement).
  4. Click Insert, then Close.
insert e acute symbol in Word

Method 3 (Word Windows): Alt+X Unicode method (super reliable)

  1. Type 00E9
  2. Press Alt + X → becomes é

For uppercase:

  1. Type 00C9
  2. Press Alt + X → becomes É

Optional: Make your own AutoCorrect shortcut (quick tip)

If you type a word often (like cafe), you can make Word replace it with café automatically:

  1. File → Options → Proofing → AutoCorrect Options
  2. Replace: cafe
    With: café
  3. Click Add/OK

D) How to type é in Excel (and Google Sheets)

Windows: Alt code method

  • é: Alt + 0233 (numeric keypad)
  • É: Alt + 0201 (numeric keypad)

Excel (best modern method): UNICHAR formulas

  • é: =UNICHAR(233)
  • É: =UNICHAR(201)

Example (build a word):

  • ="caf"&UNICHAR(233) → café

Simple note: Older Excel versions may also support CHAR(), but UNICHAR is the safest recommendation.

E) PowerPoint (short)

Use any of these:

  • Copy/paste (from the widget above)
  • Insert → Symbol
  • Alt+X inside PowerPoint text (may work depending on version), but Insert Symbol is the safe choice

F) Google Docs

  1. Go to Insert → Special characters.
  2. In the search box, type:
    • e acute
    • or paste é
  3. Click é or É to insert.

G) iPhone + Android

  • Press and hold e on the on-screen keyboard.
  • Slide to é and release.

For uppercase É:

  • Tap Shift first (uppercase mode), then press-and-hold E and choose É.

H) Chromebook

Chromebooks vary, so these are the most reliable options:

  • Use Google Docs → Insert → Special characters (search “e acute”)
  • Or copy/paste using the widget near the top

é vs è (acute vs grave) — quick difference

  • é = acute accent (leans up to the right) → example: café
  • è = grave accent (leans the other way) → example: très

Troubleshooting

Alt code not working?

This is usually why:

  • No numeric keypad (Alt codes need it)
  • Num Lock is OFF
  • You used the top row numbers (they usually don’t work for Alt codes)
  • Laptop uses an Fn embedded keypad (model-specific)

Fix: use Character Map or copy/paste (fastest), or use the Word Alt+X method.

Mac press-and-hold not working?

Some older macOS versions or certain apps may not show the accent menu.
Fix: use Character Viewer (Control + Command + Space) or the Option + E, then E method.

Getting the wrong accent?

Your keyboard layout may be different (US vs International vs French, etc.).
Fix: switch to the method that ignores layout differences:

  • Character Viewer (Mac)
  • Insert → Symbol (Word/Office)
  • Copy/paste

The letter shows as a box ☐

That font doesn’t support the character.
Fix: switch to a common font like Calibri, Arial, Times New Roman, or another Unicode font.

FAQ (quick answers)

How do I type é on Windows?

Use Alt + 0233 on the numeric keypad, or copy/paste, or Character Map.

What is the Alt code for é?

0233 (must be typed on the numeric keypad while holding Alt).

How do I type É (uppercase)?

Alt + 0201 (numeric keypad)
or in Word: Ctrl + ‘ then Shift + E
or on Mac: press-and-hold E.

How do I type é in Word?

Fastest: Ctrl + ‘ then e (Windows).
Also works: 00E9 then Alt + X (Word Windows).

How do I type é on Mac / iPhone / Android?

Press-and-hold e and select é.

Quick recap

  • Windows: Alt + 0233 (é), Alt + 0201 (É) — numeric keypad required
  • Word (Windows): Ctrl + ‘ then e (é) / Shift + E (É)
  • Mac: press-and-hold e/E, or Option + E then E
  • Google Docs: Insert → Special characters → search e acute
  • Phone: press-and-hold e