Keyboard shortcuts
| Letter | Windows (Alt code) | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| ñ Ñ | Alt + 0241 / 0209 | Option + N, then N |
| ń Ń | — | Press and hold N, or use the Polish layout |
| ň Ň | — | Press and hold N, or use the Czech layout |
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.
Ñ is its own letter
In Spanish, ñ is a separate letter of the alphabet (eñe), alphabetized after n. Leaving off the tilde changes the word: año is "year" but ano is "anus", and pena (sorrow) is different from peña (rock).
Ñ is also used in Galician, Basque, Filipino, Guarani and Breton. Portuguese and Catalan write the same sound as nh (Portuguese vinho) and ny (Catalan Espanya).
ń (Polish koń, "horse") and ň (Czech kůň, also "horse") are different accents for the same soft n sound.
Frequently asked questions
How do I type ñ on a keyboard?
On Windows, hold Alt and type 0241 on the numeric keypad (0209 for Ñ). On a Mac, press Option + N, let go, then N. On a phone, press and hold n. Or click ñ on this page and copy it.
What is the squiggle on ñ called?
It is a tilde. In Spanish the letter is called eñe.
How do I type ñ on a laptop without a number pad?
Alt codes need a numeric keypad. Without one, add the Spanish or United States-International keyboard in Windows settings (then ~ followed by n gives ñ), or copy ñ from this page.
Can I write n instead of ñ?
In casual texts people sometimes do, but it is a spelling mistake and can change the meaning (año vs ano). Use ñ in anything formal.