You may also input a series of numbers called character codes. If you use accents frequently, consider changing your keyboard layout to Spanish. With the new layout, you will tap two keys at most to input an accent. There are multiple ways to type the same accent.
Generally, you will have a series of keystrokes to input for each accent, but you can also simply copy and paste accented letters instead of generating them yourself. Typing accents is an essential part of using your Spanish skills.
Mastering how to type, and when to use accents, will push you towards language mastery and fluency. Make sure to try all methods out before settling on one. You should also practice whatever method you choose frequently, and adjust if you find it’s not working best for you. Spanish Accent Marks and How to Type Them Using Keystrokes In Spanish, there are a total of three accent marks used:īesides that, there are two distinctive punctuation marks used in Spanish. One of the first ways to produce these special characters is with keystrokes aka shortcuts.
These strokes will differ depending on whether you are a PC or Mac user, and what accent you want to type. If you are a Mac user you will always start by tapping the ‘Option/Alt’ button first to initiate your shortcut. To type the tilde accent you will then tap the letter ‘n’ twice in a row. On a PC you will start by tapping the ‘Ctrl’ button. For the tilde, you will tap the tilde key ‘~’ then the letter ‘n’. You will only ever use the tilde on the letter ‘n’. On a Mac, you will start again with ‘Option/Alt’ followed by the letter ‘u’ twice. If you’re a PC user, you will need to use a character code. Start by clicking the ‘Alt’ button then the sequence ‘0252’ or ‘129’. Make sure to be using the keypad to the right of your keyboard, and not the keys on the top row when using this character code.įinally, to produce vowels with an acute accent on a Mac, you will tap ‘Option/Alt’, click the letter ‘e’, then the vowel that you want to accent directly after. PC users will always start by tapping the ‘Ctrl’ button first, then the apostrophe key (‘), and finally the letter you desire to accent. In addition to keystrokes, many keyboards offer the option of simply holding down the key you want to accent. This will prompt an accent box to appear for you to choose from.
A major pro for using this method is it’s universal across both Mac and PC, however it can be cumbersome.