Typing German Accents

To type accents for foreign languages on a PC, you have to hold down the ALT key, then type the three or four digits listed below. When you release the ALT key, the character will appear. You must type the numbers with the numeric keypad, not with the row of numbers across the top of your keyboard.

If you are using a Macintosh computer, you must use the Option key in conjunction with a two letter sequence. Hold the Option key down while typing the first letter of the sequence, then release the option key before typing the second letter. The exception to this is the cédille (ç) which only requires holding the option key while typing the letter c. The following table lists the codes for the accented letters.

Alternatively, hold down the "MAC" key while typing these numbers:
Ä = 128 / ä = 138 / Ö = 133 / ö = 154 / Ü = 134 / ü = 159 / ß = 167

Another possibility of typing accents on a PC or laptop is the following system. To write the letter "ä" for example, push the control key together with the shift key and the colon sign (:), followed by a simple a > the letter appearing will be ä.

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