How to Type French Accents

To type accents on a Mac with the option key, hold down the option key while pressing the key(s) in bold in this list. For example, to type ê, hold the option key while typing i, then release both and type e. To type î, hold option, type i, release and type i again.

Note: In these instructions, "and" means to keep holding the option key and the first key listed while typing the second. "Then" means to release the option key and the first key before typing the second.

acute accent
  é   Hold option key and e then e

grave accent
  à, è, ù   Hold option key and ` then a, e, or u

cedilla
  ç   Hold option key and c

circumflex
  â, ê, î, ô, û   Hold option key and i then a, e, i, o, or u

tréma
  ë, ï, ü   Hold option key and u then e, i, or u

oe ligature
  œ   Hold option key and q

French quotation marks
  «   Hold option key and \
  »   Hold option key and shift key and \

Euro symbol
  €   Hold option key and shift key and 2


KeyCaps (OS9 and below) is similar, but it gives you a keyboard to click.

1. Click on the apple on the top left of the screen
2. Open KeyCaps (a little keyboard will appear on the desktop)
3. Hold down the option key - the accents will appear and you can click on them with the mouse.
4. For example, to type ù, hold option, click `, type u. The accented character will appear.

Please note that I don't use a Mac and that these instructions were provided to me by Mac users. If there are mistakes, please let me know.