Keyboard shortcuts
| Letter | Windows (Alt code) | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| ä Ä | Alt + 0228 / 0196 | Option + U, then A |
| ö Ö | Alt + 0246 / 0214 | Option + U, then O |
| ü Ü | Alt + 0252 / 0220 | Option + U, then U |
| ß ẞ | Alt + 0223 | Option + S |
| „ | Alt + 0132 | Option + Shift + W |
| “ | Alt + 0147 | Option + [ |
Mac: On a Mac, press Option + U, let go, then type the vowel to get an umlaut. Add Shift to the vowel for Ä, Ö or Ü. Option + S types ß.
Windows: On Windows, turn on Num Lock, hold Alt and type the four-digit code on the numeric keypad. The capital ẞ has no Alt code; click it above instead. To type German all day, add the German (QWERTZ) keyboard in Settings.
iPhone and Android: On iPhone and Android, press and hold a, o, u or s to get ä, ö, ü and ß.
What the umlaut does
The two dots change the sound of the vowel, and often the meaning of the word. They are not decoration you can drop.
- ä sounds like the “e” in “bed”: Mädchen, spät. Compare Bar (bar) and Bär (bear).
- ö is made by saying “ay” with rounded lips: schön, hören. Compare schon (already) and schön (beautiful).
- ü is made by saying “ee” with rounded lips: über, müde. Compare Mutter (mother) and Mütter (mothers).
When to write ß and when to write ss
Since the 1996 spelling reform, the rule is about the vowel before it. Write ß after a long vowel or a diphthong, and ss after a short vowel.
- Long vowel or diphthong: Straße, groß, heißen, Fuß.
- Short vowel: dass, Wasser, muss, Kuss.
- Switzerland and Liechtenstein don't use ß at all: they always write ss (Strasse).
No German keyboard? Use the replacements
If you really can't type them, German has official substitutes: ae for ä, oe for ö, ue for ü and ss for ß. You will see them in email addresses, URLs and crossword puzzles: Muenchen for München. In normal writing, use the real letters.
German quotation marks open low and close high: „Guten Morgen“.
Frequently asked questions
How do I type an umlaut?
On Windows, hold Alt and type the code on the numeric keypad: Alt+0228 for ä, Alt+0246 for ö and Alt+0252 for ü. On a Mac, press Option+U, then the vowel. On a phone, press and hold the vowel. You can also click the letters on this page and copy them.
How do I type ß?
On Windows, hold Alt and type 0223 on the numeric keypad. On a Mac, press Option+S. On a phone, press and hold the s key. If ß isn't available, write ss.
Is ß the same as ss?
It is pronounced the same, but the spelling depends on the vowel before it: ß after a long vowel or diphthong (Straße), ss after a short vowel (Wasser). In Switzerland, ss is used everywhere.
Can I write ae, oe and ue instead of ä, ö and ü?
Yes, as a substitute when the letters are unavailable, such as in email addresses or web addresses. In normal writing, the umlaut letters are correct.