Quick Answer
On Mac, press Option + E followed by the vowel for any acute accent (á, é, í, ó, ú). For ñ, press Option + N then N. The inverted question mark (¿) is Option + Shift + question mark, and the inverted exclamation (¡) is Option + 1.
On Windows, add the US International keyboard layout. Then type apostrophe followed by the vowel for accented letters. The inverted punctuation marks use Alt + 0191 for ¿ and Alt + 0161 for ¡ on a numeric keypad.
Why accent marks matter in Spanish
Spanish uses the acute accent (the only accent it uses on vowels) to mark stress and to distinguish between words that are otherwise identical. Skip the accent and the meaning changes.
- papa (potato) versus papá (dad)
- esta (this) versus está (he or she is)
- te (you) versus té (tea)
- mas (but) versus más (more)
- si (if) versus sí (yes)
Spanish also uses the ñ as a separate letter of the alphabet, the diaeresis on ü to break a digraph (pingüino), and inverted question and exclamation marks at the start of every interrogative or exclamatory sentence.
The fast reference table
- á / Á: Mac Option + E then A or Shift + A. Windows Alt + 0225 / 0193.
- é / É: Mac Option + E then E or Shift + E. Windows Alt + 0233 / 0201.
- í / Í: Mac Option + E then I or Shift + I. Windows Alt + 0237 / 0205.
- ó / Ó: Mac Option + E then O or Shift + O. Windows Alt + 0243 / 0211.
- ú / Ú: Mac Option + E then U or Shift + U. Windows Alt + 0250 / 0218.
- ñ / Ñ: Mac Option + N then N or Shift + N. Windows Alt + 164 / 165 (or 0241 / 0209).
- ü / Ü: Mac Option + U then U or Shift + U. Windows Alt + 0252 / 0220.
- ¿: Mac Option + Shift + question mark. Windows Alt + 0191.
- ¡: Mac Option + 1. Windows Alt + 0161.
How to type Spanish accents on Mac
The dead key system
Apple builds a tiny accent palette into the Option key. The system works across every regional layout that is based on US English.
- Press Option + E. Nothing visible happens; a small accent appears as a placeholder.
- Press the vowel you want. The accent applies and the placeholder is replaced.
- Hold Shift on the second key press to get the capital version.
For ñ, the trigger is Option + N. For the diaeresis on ü, the trigger is Option + U.
The press and hold method
If you forget the dead key, press and hold any vowel for a popup of accented variants, then tap the number on the top row that matches the variant you want. The popup works in every Mac app and in browser based editors.
Inverted punctuation
- ¿ (opening question mark): Option + Shift + question mark
- ¡ (opening exclamation): Option + 1
How to type Spanish accents on Windows
The US International layout (recommended)
The single best long term solution on Windows is the US International keyboard. It looks identical to a standard US layout, but turns certain punctuation marks into dead keys.
Add it under Settings, Time and Language, Language and Region, English, Options, Add a keyboard, United States International. Switch in and out with Windows + Spacebar.
- Apostrophe then vowel for á, é, í, ó, ú.
- Shift + apostrophe (double quote) then U for ü.
- AltGr (right Alt) + N for ñ on some layouts, or use the Alt code below.
- AltGr + question mark for ¿.
- AltGr + 1 for ¡.
To type a plain apostrophe or quote, press the punctuation key then Spacebar. Spacebar releases the dead key without combining with a letter.
The Spanish keyboard layout
If you write Spanish most of the day, the dedicated Spanish keyboard layout makes ñ a single key (right of the L key) and puts the acute accent on a single dead key (right of the apostrophe). Press the accent then the vowel for á, é, í, ó, ú.
The trade off is that several punctuation marks move to new positions. Worth it if you write in Spanish all day, overkill if you only need accents occasionally.
Alt codes on a numeric keypad
If neither layout suits you, the Alt codes in the table above work in every Windows app.
- Turn on Num Lock.
- Hold the left Alt key.
- Type the four digit code.
- Release Alt.
How to type Spanish accents on iPhone and Android
- Tap into a text field to bring up the keyboard.
- Press and hold the vowel (or the N for ñ).
- A row of accented options slides up.
- Drag your finger onto the variant you need and release.
For ¿ and ¡, switch to the number layer with 123, then long press the question mark and exclamation point respectively. The inverted versions appear in the popup.
Pro tip: enable a Spanish keyboard
Adding a Spanish keyboard under Settings, General, Keyboard, Keyboards on iOS (or Settings, System, Languages on Android) gives you autocorrect, spell check, and predictive text in Spanish. Worth doing if you switch between English and Spanish daily.
Microsoft Word shortcuts
Word has its own shortcuts that work without changing layouts.
- Acute on a vowel: Ctrl + apostrophe then the vowel.
- ñ: Ctrl + Shift + tilde then N.
- ü: Ctrl + Shift + colon then U.
- ¿: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + question mark.
- ¡: Ctrl + Alt + Shift + 1.
Linux and Chromebook
The Compose key is the cleanest approach. Enable it under Settings, Keyboard, then press Compose, apostrophe, A for á. The Unicode shortcut (Ctrl + Shift + U, type the four digit hex code, press Enter) also works in any field. Hex codes: 00E1 for á, 00E9 for é, 00ED for í, 00F3 for ó, 00FA for ú, 00F1 for ñ, 00BF for ¿, 00A1 for ¡.
Common Spanish words you will need to type
- Greetings: ¿Cómo estás? ¡Hola! Buenos días. Adiós.
- Polite phrases: por favor, gracias, de nada, perdón.
- Family: mamá, papá, hermano, hija, abuelo.
- Numbers and time: día, año, próximo, está aquí.
- Punctuation framed sentences: ¿Quieres café? ¡Qué bueno!
FAQs
Do I really need to use the inverted question mark?
Formally yes. The Real Academia Española keeps ¿ and ¡ in the standard. Informal digital writing (chat, social posts) often drops them, but anything published, professional, or printed should include them.
Why does my Spanish keyboard print " instead of @?
The Spanish layout reassigns the @ to AltGr + 2 and uses Shift + 2 for the double quote. Press AltGr + 2 for the at sign.
How do I type the ñ on a US keyboard without changing layouts?
The fastest option is Alt + 164 on a numeric keypad. Otherwise, type 00F1 in Word and press Alt + X, or copy and paste from a saved snippet.
The takeaway
Spanish needs only one accent (the acute), one extra letter (ñ), one diaeresis (ü), and two inverted punctuation marks. Memorise the Option + E or apostrophe + vowel pattern for accents, and the rest of your Spanish typing becomes invisible muscle memory.
