How to Type a Tilde Mark

Shortcuts to broaden the number of characters you can type

By
Jacci Howard Bear
Jacci Howard Bear
Writer
A graphic designer, writer, and artist who writes about and teaches print and web design.
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Updated on November 2, 2022
Reviewed by
Ryan Perian
Ryan Perian headshot
Reviewed by Ryan Perian
  • Western Governors University
Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions.
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What to Know

  • On a Mac: Press Option+N, then type the letter you want to accent.
  • On a Windows PC: Enable Num Lock, press and hold Alt, then type the character's specific number code (see below).
  • iOS or Android device: Press and hold the A, N, or O key on the virtual keyboard, then select the tilde option.

This article explains how to type a tilde symbol, which is a small wavy line that appears over certain consonants and vowels, such as in Ã, ã, Ñ, ñ, Õ, and õ. Instructions cover Windows PCs, Macs, iPhones, Android devices, and HTML.

How to Type a Tilde Mark Using a Keyboard Shortcut

Here's how to add a tilde symbol for the most common operating systems and platforms.

Mac Keyboard Shortcut for a Tilde Mark

Hold the Option key, press the letter N, then release both keys. A tilde appears above an underscored blank space. Now type the letter to be accented. If you'd like the accented letter to be uppercase, press and hold the Shift key and type the letter as you would capitalize any letter.

Person typing Spanish Vocabulary Words with the ~ mark
Lifewire / Derek Abella

Keyboard shortcuts vary by platform and operating system. Most keyboards include a tilde key for in-line tilde marks, as in ~3000 B.C, but this key can't be used to accent a letter.

Windows PC Keyboard Shortcuts for the Tilde

Enable Num Lock, hold the Alt key, and enter the appropriate number code on the numeric keypad to create characters with tilde accent marks.

The number codes for uppercase letters are as follows:

  • Alt+0195 = Ã
  • Alt+0209 = Ñ
  • Alt+0213 = Õ

The number codes for lowercase letters are as follows:

  • Alt+0227 = ã
  • Alt+0241 = ñ
  • Alt+0245 = õ

If the keyboard doesn't have a numeric keypad on the right side, paste accented characters from the character map. To locate the character map in Windows 10, select Start > Windows Accessories > Character Map. Alternatively, go to the search box in the Windows taskbar and enter character map. Select the letter you want and paste it into the document you're working on.

For older versions of Windows, navigate to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Character Map to open the character map.

Windows Character Map

HTML

In HTML, render characters with tilde marks by typing the & (ampersand symbol), followed by the letter (A, N, or O), the word tilde, then a semicolon (;) without any spaces between the characters. For example:

ñ = ñ
Õ = Õ

In HTML, the characters with tilde marks may appear smaller than the surrounding text. You may wish to enlarge the font for those characters in some circumstances.

iOS and Android Mobile Devices

Access special characters with accent marks, including the tilde, using the virtual keyboard on a mobile device. Press and hold the A, N, or O key on the virtual keyboard to open a window with various accented options. Slide your finger to the character with a tilde and lift your finger to select it.

How to find a tilde on iOS keyboard.
FAQ
  • How do you pronounce "tilde?"

    The English pronunciation for "tilde" is "til-duh."

  • What does a tilde symbol mean in math?

    When used in math, a tilde is meant to show approximate values. For example, to show something is "approximately five" you would use "~5."

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