Accent on Capital Letters: All the Keyboard Tips for 2026

On computer, type Alt + a numeric code on the numeric keypad (for example Alt + 0201 to get E). On Mac, hold down the letter to bring up the accent menu, or use the key combination Option + accent + letter.

Contrary to popular belief, the’Académie française points out that emphasizing the capital letters is a rule of’spelling and of typography from French. Here are all the combinations based on the desired accent, on AZERTY keyboard as on Mac.

1. Accentuating a capital letter on a PC keyboard

On Windows, the most reliable way to type a accented capital letter involves combining the key Alt with a numeric code typed on the keypad, the Num Lock On.

If your keyboard AZERTY doesn't have a numeric keypad (which is common on cell phones), you can use the keyboard shortcuts for Word or a simple copy and paste.

For letters with a grave accent

To type a accented capital letter with a grave accent on the keyboard AZERTY at Windows, hold down the key Alt While holding it down, type the code on the keypad, then let go.

Without a numeric keypad, these keyboard shortcuts operate directly in Word in two steps. The Shift key is denoted by Maj Where Shift (up arrow).

• To À : Ctrl + Alt + 7 then Shift + A
• To È : Ctrl + Alt + 7 then Shift + E

To learn more, check out the Alt Gr and its meaning in our dedicated article.

For letters with an acute accent

To obtain a the accented capital letter (E) or any other capital letter with an acute accent, uses the Alt codes following on your keypad at Windows.

In Word without a numeric keypad, type Ctrl + 4 then Shift + E to get E.

For letters with a circumflex accent

These Alt shortcuts allow you to type any capital letter with a circumflex accent on an keyboard AZERTY at Windows.

On the keyboard AZERTY, you can also press the key for the circumflex accentthen on Shift + the vowel intended.

For letters with umlauts

The capital letters with umlauts are less common in French language, but remain essential for a spelling correct. Here are the Alt codes to use on your keyboard Windows.

For the cedilla

To display a capital C, the combination with the keypad is simple: Alt+128.

In Word, type Ctrl + , then Shift + C to obtain the Capital C with a cedilla (Ç) without a numeric keypad.

If none of these options work for you, the quickest way is to copy and paste the accented letter from an existing text.

2. How do I accentuate a capital letter using a Mac keyboard?

On Mac, there are two methods for obtaining accented capital letters : Hold down the letter key, or use keyboard shortcuts using the key Option.

Hold down the letter key

This is the simplest method. By default, it inserts a lowercase letter with an accent.

• Tap a letter and hold it down to display the accent menu.
  

  

• Once the menu is displayed, Click on the character to be inserted.
  

  

For example, the menu under the letter “a” offers eight variations. If no menu appears, the letter does not have no accented version.

You can also navigate the menu in other ways:

• Press the number displayed under the character to type it directly.
  

  

• Or use the arrow keys to select the desired letter.
  

  

• Press the space bar to validate.

Please note: these accented characters are not available in all software.

Opt for key combinations

The keyboard shortcuts using the key Option, also known as stuck keys, are ideal when you frequently type letters with accents in French language. The logic is always the same: first you indicate the accent, then the letter.

• First, press Option using the key corresponding to the desired accent (acute, grave, or diaeresis).
  

  

• Then press the letter to be accented, while maintaining Shift to get the accented capital letter.
  

  

the keyboard viewer helps you find the right keys. Turn it on, then press Option Where Shift to see which keys are available.

• Keys with a orange contour are the dead keys used to accent capital letters.
  

  

  

Whether you're on Windows or on Mac, you now have everything you need to type a À, a E, a È or any other accented capital letter in French without making things complicated for you.