Keyboard shortcuts
| Letter | Windows (Alt code) | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| æ Æ | Alt + 0230 / 0198 | Option + ' |
| ø Ø | Alt + 0248 / 0216 | Option + O |
| å Å | Alt + 0229 / 0197 | Option + A |
| é É | Alt + 0233 / 0201 | Option + E, then E |
| ô Ô | Alt + 0244 / 0212 | Option + I, then O |
Mac: On a Mac, æ, ø and å each have a one-step shortcut: Option + ' for æ, Option + O for ø and Option + A for å. Add Shift for Æ, Ø and Å. Option + E then e gives é, and Option + I then o gives ô.
Windows: On Windows, turn on Num Lock, hold Alt and type the four-digit code on the numeric keypad. To write Norwegian every day, add the Norwegian keyboard in Settings: ø and æ sit to the right of L, and å to the right of P.
iPhone and Android: On iPhone and Android, press and hold a or o to get æ, å and ø, or add the Norwegian keyboard to get them as separate keys.
How æ, ø and å sound
Norwegian has 29 letters, ending … x, y, z, æ, ø, å. The three extra letters are used in both Bokmål and Nynorsk.
- æ is close to the “a” in “cat” or the “e” in “bed”: være (to be), lære (to learn), Bærum.
- ø is said like “ay” with rounded lips: øl (beer), søster (sister), Tromsø.
- å is close to the “aw” in “law”: på (on), år (year), gå (to walk).
é, ô and the old aa
Norwegian adds an accent in a few words to show stress or to separate two words that are otherwise spelled the same:
- é marks a stressed final syllable in loanwords: idé, kafé, allé. It also stresses the number one: én (one) vs en (a).
- ô appears in a few words where a consonant has dropped out: fôr (animal feed) vs for (for).
- Norwegian wrote aa until 1917. Names often keep it: Haakon, Aase, Aasen. Without a Norwegian keyboard, people still write aa, ae and oe as substitutes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I type æ, ø and å?
On Windows, hold Alt and type the code on the numeric keypad: Alt+0230 for æ, Alt+0248 for ø and Alt+0229 for å. On a Mac, press Option+' for æ, Option+O for ø and Option+A for å. On a phone, press and hold a or o. You can also click the letters on this page and copy them.
What is the difference between Norwegian and Swedish letters?
Norwegian writes æ and ø where Swedish writes ä and ö, for the same sounds: Norwegian smør, Swedish smör (butter). Both use å. Norwegian ends its alphabet z, æ, ø, å, and Swedish z, å, ä, ö.
Are the Norwegian and Danish keyboards the same?
Almost. The letters are the same, but æ and ø swap places: on the Norwegian keyboard ø is right next to L, on the Danish keyboard æ is.
Do Bokmål and Nynorsk use the same letters?
Yes. Both written standards use the same 29 letters, including æ, ø and å, so this keyboard works for both.