Keyboard shortcuts
| Letter | Windows (Alt code) | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| ß ẞ | Alt + 0223 | Option + S |
Mac: On a Mac, press and hold the letter to pick an accent, or use the shortcut in the table: hold Option and press the first key, let go, then type the letter. Add Shift to the letter for a capital.
Windows: On Windows, turn on Num Lock, hold Alt and type the four-digit code on the numeric keypad. Letters without an Alt code need that language's keyboard layout (Settings > Time & language > Language & region), or you can copy them from this page.
iPhone and Android: On iPhone and Android, press and hold the base letter, then slide to the accented version.
ß or ss?
Since the 1996 spelling reform, German writes ß after a long vowel or a diphthong (Straße, groß, heißen) and ss after a short vowel (Fluss, muss, dass).
Switzerland and Liechtenstein don't use ß at all: they always write ss (Strasse).
The capital ẞ became official in 2017. Before that, words in capitals were written with SS (STRASSE), which is still allowed.
Frequently asked questions
How do I type ß on a keyboard?
On Windows, hold Alt and type 0223 on the numeric keypad. On a Mac, press Option + S. On a phone, press and hold s. Or click ß on this page and copy it.
Is ß the same as B?
No. ß is a sharp s, pronounced like ss. It only looks a little like a B. Writing B instead of ß is a common mistake.
How do I type the capital ẞ?
It has no classic Alt code. Copy it from this page, or in Word type 1E9E and press Alt + X. On a German Mac layout, Option + Shift + S gives ẞ on recent macOS versions.
What is ß called?
Eszett (from the letters s and z) or scharfes S, "sharp s".