Quick Answer
On a Mac, press and hold the O key for a popup of every accented variant, then tap the number under the one you want. On Windows, switch to the US International layout and type the accent mark first (such as ' or `) followed by the letter O.
On phones, press and hold the O key on the on screen keyboard and a popup of accented options appears. Slide your finger onto the variant you need.
Why accent marks matter
The accent on an O is rarely decorative. In Spanish, paso means "step" while pasó means "he or she passed". In Portuguese, avo is a grandparent while avô narrows it to a grandfather. In French, cote is a quotation while côté is a side. Skipping the accent changes the meaning of the sentence.
The fast reference table
- ó (acute): Mac Option + E then O, Windows Alt + 0243
- Ó (acute capital): Mac Option + E then Shift + O, Windows Alt + 0211
- ò (grave): Mac Option + ` then O, Windows Alt + 0242
- Ò (grave capital): Mac Option + ` then Shift + O, Windows Alt + 0210
- ô (circumflex): Mac Option + I then O, Windows Alt + 0244
- Ô (circumflex capital): Mac Option + I then Shift + O, Windows Alt + 0212
- ö (umlaut or diaeresis): Mac Option + U then O, Windows Alt + 0246
- Ö (umlaut capital): Mac Option + U then Shift + O, Windows Alt + 0214
- õ (tilde): Mac Option + N then O, Windows Alt + 0245
- Õ (tilde capital): Mac Option + N then Shift + O, Windows Alt + 0213
- ø (slashed O, Danish or Norwegian): Mac Option + O, Windows Alt + 0248
How to type O with an accent on Mac
Apple gives you two equally fast options.
The press and hold method
- Tap and hold the O key for about one second.
- A popup row of accented variants appears above the cursor, each with a small number below it.
- Press the matching number on the top row, or click the variant you want.
This works in every Mac app: Pages, Notes, Mail, Safari, Slack, and Word. The only place it does not work is in apps that disable key repeat for gaming.
The dead key method
Mac builds a tiny accent palette into the Option key. Press Option plus the accent first, release, then press the letter to apply.
- Option + E then O for ó
- Option + ` then O for ò
- Option + I then O for ô
- Option + U then O for ö
- Option + N then O for õ
Add Shift to the second key press to make the capital version.
How to type O with an accent on Windows
Method 1: Alt codes with a numeric keypad
If you have a numeric keypad, the four digit Alt codes in the table above work in every app.
- Turn on Num Lock.
- Hold the left Alt key.
- Type the four digit code, including the leading zero.
- Release Alt.
Method 2: the US International keyboard
The single best long term setup for anyone who types in Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, or Italian is the US International layout. It looks identical to a US keyboard but turns certain punctuation marks into "dead keys" that combine with the next letter.
Add it under Settings, Time and Language, Language and Region, English, Options, Add a keyboard, United States International. Switch to it any time with Windows + Spacebar.
- Type ' then O for ó
- Type ` then O for ò
- Type Shift + 6 (the caret) then O for ô
- Type Shift + ' (double quote) then O for ö
- Type Shift + ` (tilde) then O for õ
If you want to type a plain apostrophe or quotation mark, press the punctuation key then Spacebar.
Method 3: the Windows emoji and symbol picker
Press Windows + period (or Windows + semicolon), click the omega symbol tab, and pick the variant you need. Slower than a shortcut, but useful when you forget the code.
How to type O with an accent on iPhone and Android
- Tap into a text field to bring up the keyboard.
- Press and hold the O key.
- A row of accented variants slides up.
- Slide your finger onto the variant you need and release.
Both Gboard and the stock iOS keyboard remember which accent you picked most recently and show it first the next time you long press, so frequent typists end up with a one tap workflow.
Linux and Chromebook
The compose key is the cleanest way to handle accents on Linux. Enable it under Settings, Keyboard, then press Compose, ', O for ó. The Unicode shortcut also works: Ctrl + Shift + U, type the four digit hex code (00F3 for ó, 00F4 for ô, 00F6 for ö, 00F5 for õ), then press Enter.
Microsoft Word shortcuts
Word has its own keyboard shortcuts that work even without the US International layout.
- Acute: Ctrl + ' then O
- Grave: Ctrl + ` then O
- Circumflex: Ctrl + Shift + ^ then O
- Umlaut: Ctrl + Shift + : then O
- Tilde: Ctrl + Shift + ~ then O
FAQs
Is ö the same character as õ?
No. The two dots above ö form a diaeresis or umlaut and are used in German, Swedish, Finnish, and English loanwords. The wavy mark above õ is a tilde and is used in Portuguese and Estonian.
Why does my keyboard print "ó" when I press the apostrophe key?
You have the US International layout active and the apostrophe is acting as a dead key. Press Spacebar after the apostrophe to insert a plain quotation mark.
The takeaway
One layout switch (US International on Windows) or one long press (everywhere else) covers the entire family of accented Os. Pick the method that matches the operating system you use most and the rest becomes muscle memory inside a week.
