Below is the complete list of keyboard shortcuts using Windows ALT codes for letters with accents or diacritics that are used in writing in the German language. If you are new to ALT codes and need detailed instructions on how to use them, please read How to Use ALT Codes to Enter Special Characters. Alternatively, instead of using ALT codes, you can also just quickly tap or click any accented letter in the list below to copy it and paste it into your document.
| Accented Letter | ALT Code | Accented Letter Name |
|---|---|---|
| Ä | ALT 142 or ALT 0196 | Latin capital letter A with diaeresis, A with umlaut, Ärger |
| ä | ALT 132 or ALT 0228 | Latin small letter a with diaeresis, a with umlaut, Ärger |
| Ö | ALT 153 or ALT 0214 | Latin capital letter O with diaeresis, O with umlaut, Ökonom |
| ö | ALT 148 or ALT 0246 | Latin small letter o with diaeresis, o with umlaut, Ökonom |
| ẞ | ALT 7838 | Latin capital letter sharp S, großes Eszett |
| ß | ALT 225 or ALT 0223 | Latin small letter sharp s, Eszett, scharfes S |
| Ü | ALT 154 or ALT 0220 | Latin capital letter U with diaeresis, U with umlaut, Übermut |
| ü | ALT 129 or ALT 0252 | Latin small letter u with diaeresis, u with umlaut, Übermut |
In the German language, several letters can be accompanied by diacritics or umlauts, which significantly affect their pronunciation. Umlauts are pairs of small dots placed over certain vowels to indicate a different sound. Here are the letters with diacritics used in the German language:
- Ä (a with umlaut/diaeresis): Pronounced as /ɛ/ (similar to the “e” in “bed”). Example: “Mädchen” (girl).
- Ö (o with umlaut/diaeresis): Pronounced as /ø/ (similar to the “eu” in “feud”). Example: “Hören” (to listen).
- Ü (u with umlaut/diaeresis): Pronounced as /y/ (similar to the French “u” in “lune” or the “ü” in “für”). Example: “Müde” (tired).
- ß (Eszett/sharp s): Not a diacritic but a distinct German letter. It represents the /s/ sound and is used in place of “ss” in certain words. Example: “Straße” (street).
These letters with diacritics are essential in German spelling, and their pronunciation differs from the unaccented vowels. It’s important to note that the umlauted vowels Ä, Ö, and Ü are considered separate letters in the German alphabet and are listed after “Z” in dictionaries.
Additionally, in loanwords and foreign names, you may encounter other letters with diacritics, such as é, è, or ê. However, these are not native to German and are typically found in words borrowed from other languages.
For ALT codes for letters with accents or diacritical marks that are used in other foreign languages, visit ALT Codes for Latin Letters with Accents or Diacritical Marks used in Foreign Languages. For the the complete list of the first 256 Windows ALT Codes, visit Windows ALT Codes for Special Characters & Symbols.
