Keyboard shortcuts
| Letter | Windows (Alt code) | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| à À | Alt + 0224 / 0192 | Option + `, then A |
| é É | Alt + 0233 / 0201 | Option + E, then E |
| è È | Alt + 0232 / 0200 | Option + `, then E |
| í Í | Alt + 0237 / 0205 | Option + E, then I |
| ï Ï | Alt + 0239 / 0207 | Option + U, then I |
| ò Ò | Alt + 0242 / 0210 | Option + `, then O |
| ó Ó | Alt + 0243 / 0211 | Option + E, then O |
| ú Ú | Alt + 0250 / 0218 | Option + E, then U |
| ü Ü | Alt + 0252 / 0220 | Option + U, then U |
| ç Ç | Alt + 0231 / 0199 | Option + C |
| · | Alt + 0183 | Option + Shift + 9 |
Mac: On a Mac, hold Option and press the first key, let go, then type the letter. Option + ` gives the grave accent (à, è, ò), Option + E the acute accent (é, í, ó, ú) and Option + U the diaeresis (ï, ü). Option + C types ç and Option + Shift + 9 types the punt volat (·).
Windows: On Windows, turn on Num Lock, hold Alt and type the four-digit code on the numeric keypad; Alt + 0183 gives the punt volat (·). Most Catalan speakers use the Spanish keyboard, which has a ç key, dead keys for ` and ´ (add Shift to ´ for ¨), and · on Shift + 3.
iPhone and Android: On iPhone and Android, press and hold a, e, i, o, u or c to see the accented versions. Add the Catalan keyboard to get l·l: on many phones, press and hold l.
When does a Catalan word need an accent?
Like Spanish, Catalan writes an accent when a word breaks the default stress rules. The accent is grave (`) or acute (´) depending on the vowel.
- Stressed on the last syllable and ending in a vowel, a vowel + s, -en or -in: write the accent. cafè, francès, també, camió, català.
- Stressed on the second-to-last syllable and ending in anything else: write the accent. fàcil, difícil, telèfon.
- Stressed three syllables from the end: always write it. música, pàgina, pràctica.
- à is always grave and í, ú always acute. On e and o, the accent shows the sound: è, ò are open (cafè, història) and é, ó closed (també, camió).
ï, ü and ç
The diaeresis on ï and ü tells you to pronounce a vowel separately. On i it splits a diphthong: veïna (neighbor), raïm (grape). On u it shows the u is spoken after g or q: pingüí, qüestió, lingüística.
ç sounds like s before a, o and u, and Catalan also uses it at the end of a word: plaça (square), força (strength), feliç (happy), dolç (sweet).
The l·l and accents that change the meaning
The punt volat (·) turns l·l into a long, doubled l, different from ll, which sounds like the “lli” in “million”: col·legi (school) and il·lusió (excitement), but llibre (book) and cavall (horse). Type it as l, then ·, then l. Writing l.l or l-l is a common mistake.
Since the 2017 spelling reform, only 15 words keep an accent just to tell them apart from another word. The most common are:
- és (is) / es (oneself) · més (more) / mes (month)
- què (what) / que (that) · són (they are) / son (sleep)
- té (has) / te (you) · sí (yes) / si (if)
Frequently asked questions
How do I type the l·l (punt volat)?
Type l, then the middle dot (·), then l. On Windows, the middle dot is Alt+0183, or Shift+3 on a Spanish keyboard. On a Mac, press Option+Shift+9. On a phone with the Catalan keyboard, press and hold l. You can also click · on this page and copy it.
How do I type Catalan accents on a keyboard?
On Windows, hold Alt and type the code on the numeric keypad: Alt+0224 for à, Alt+0232 for è, Alt+0233 for é, Alt+0242 for ò, Alt+0243 for ó and Alt+0231 for ç. On a Mac, press Option+` (grave) or Option+E (acute), then the vowel.
What is the difference between è and é in Catalan?
è is an open “eh” sound and é a closed “ay” sound. Compare cafè (open) and també (closed). The same goes for ò (història) and ó (camió).
Does dóna still have an accent?
No. The 2017 reform by the Institut d'Estudis Catalans removed it, so “she gives” is now dona, spelled like dona (woman). Only 15 words kept their distinguishing accent, including és, més, què, són and té.