How to Type M with Accent (ḿ, ṁ, ṃ, m̃, ɱ, Ḿ, Ṁ, Ṃ): Windows, Mac, Word & Mobile Shortcuts

Master M-Accent Keyboard Shortcut Matrix (All Variations)

The letter M with diacritical marks plays essential phonetic roles in Chinese tonal Pinyin (ḿ, m̀), traditional Irish Gaelic (ṁ), Sanskrit IAST (ṃ), South American Guaraní (m̃), and phonetic linguistics (ɱ). Below is your complete cross-platform reference table:

How to Type M with Accent on Windows (5 Methods)

Windows personal computers offer multiple hardware and software pathways to insert M with accent marks:

Method 1: Windows Alt Codes (Numeric Keypad)

Using the separate 10-key numeric keypad on the right side of your keyboard, hold down the Alt key and type the numerical code:

• ḿ (Acute): Alt + 7743 | Ḿ (Capital): Alt + 7742
• ṁ (Dot Above): Alt + 7745 | Ṁ (Capital): Alt + 7744
• ṃ (Underdot): Alt + 7747 | Ṃ (Capital): Alt + 7746
• ɱ (Hook): Alt + 0625

Method 2: Microsoft Word Unicode Hex Converter (Alt + X)

In any modern version of Microsoft Word, WordPad, or LibreOffice Writer on Windows:

Method 3: Windows Emoji & Symbol Panel (Win + .)

• Press Win + . (Windows Key + Period) or Win + ;.
• Click the Symbols (Ω) icon at the top → navigate to Latin Symbols → click ḿ or ṁ.

How to Type M with Accent on Mac (macOS)

Apple macOS provides native press-and-hold menus and ABC Extended dead keys for M accents:

Method 1: ABC Extended Keyboard Input

If you enable the ABC - Extended layout in macOS System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources:

• Acute (ḿ): Press Option + e, release, then press m → gives ḿ. (Capital Ḿ: Option + e, then Shift + M).
• Dot Above (ṁ): Press Option + ., release, then press m → gives ṁ. (Capital Ṁ: Option + ., then Shift + M).
• Tilde (m̃): Press Option + n, release, then press m → gives m̃.

Method 2: Press-and-Hold Accent Menu (Built-in on macOS)

On a Mac keyboard, press and hold down the letter m (or Shift + m for capital). When the diacritics bubble appears, press the corresponding number or click ḿ.

Method 3: macOS Character Viewer (Ctrl + Cmd + Space)

• Press Ctrl + Cmd + Space to open Character Viewer.
• Search for m acute or m dot, then double-click ḿ or ṁ.

How to Type M with Accent in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint & Excel

Microsoft Word Shortcuts

• ḿ (Acute): Type 1E3F then press Alt + X. For capital Ḿ: type 1E3E + Alt + X.
• ṁ (Dot Above): Type 1E41 then press Alt + X. For capital Ṁ: type 1E40 + Alt + X.
• ṃ (Underdot): Type 1E43 then press Alt + X. For capital Ṃ: type 1E42 + Alt + X.
• ɱ (Hook): Type 0271 then press Alt + X.

Microsoft Excel Formulas

In Excel spreadsheets and formulas, dynamically output M-accent characters using UNICHAR:

• =UNICHAR(7743) outputs ḿ | =UNICHAR(7742) outputs Ḿ
• =UNICHAR(7745) outputs ṁ | =UNICHAR(7744) outputs Ṁ
• =UNICHAR(7747) outputs ṃ | =UNICHAR(7746) outputs Ṃ
• =UNICHAR(625) outputs ɱ

How to Type M with Accent on iPhone, iPad & Android

iOS (Apple iPhone and iPad)

• Press and hold down the letter m on the virtual touchscreen keyboard.
• A popup bubble displaying ḿ, ṁ, and other regional variations will appear. Slide your finger across and lift to insert.

Android (Google Gboard & Samsung Keyboard)

• On Gboard and Samsung keyboards, press and hold down the m key.
• Slide your thumb across the popup row to select ḿ or ṁ.

Linguistic, Historical & Grammatical Significance of M-Accent Marks

Diacritically modified forms of M appear in Asian tonal systems, Gaelic historical phonology, Indological classical texts, and phonetic science:

Chinese Mandarin Pinyin: Tonal Syllabic Nasals (ḿ / Ḿ & m̀)

In standard Hanyu Pinyin romanization:

• Syllabic Nasals as Standalone Syllables: In Chinese phonology, the bilabial nasal consonant 'm' can function as an independent syllabic nucleus capable of carrying all four standard tones.
• Second Rising Tone (ḿ): Written with an acute accent (ḿ, corresponding to Chinese character 呣), used as an interjection expressing surprised questioning, identical to English "huh?" or "what?".
• Fourth Falling Tone (m̀): Written with a grave accent (m̀), expressing affirmative acknowledgement, identical to English "hm" or "yes".
• African Tonal Languages (Yoruba & Igbo): In Nigerian Niger-Congo languages, ḿ marks a high-pitched tone on a syllabic nasal prefix (e.g. Igbo first-person singular possessive/pronoun forms).

Traditional Irish Gaelic: Lenition & Ponc Séimhithe (ṁ / Ṁ)

In classical Gaelic orthography (Cló Gaelach):

• The Ponc Séimhithe (Overdot): The dot placed directly above ṁ (historically termed buailte or ponc séimhithe) indicated consonant mutation (lenition / softening).
• Phonetic Mutation: Lenition shifted the unlenited bilabial nasal /m/ to a voiced labial fricative /v/ (broad) or /w/ (slender).
• Modern Irish Digraph Representation: In modern Roman type spelling adopted in the mid-20th century, ṁ is written as the digraph mh (e.g. mo ṁáthair → mo mháthair "my mother", ṁeall → mheall "deceived").

Sanskrit IAST: The Anusvāra Underdot (ṃ / Ṃ)

In Indological linguistics and Sanskrit transliteration (IAST & ISO 15919):

• The Anusvāra (अं / ं): The character ṃ (M with underdot) represents the pure nasal sound produced when a vowel is nasalized before a following consonant.
• Phonological Significance: In Vedic chanting and classical Paninian grammar, the Anusvāra assimilates to the place of articulation of the subsequent stop consonant.
• Essential Classical Sanskrit Terms: Found in Saṃskṛtam ("Sanskrit language"), Ahiṃsā ("non-violence"), Oṃ / Aum (sacred syllable), Saṃsāra ("cycle of rebirth"), and Brahma saṃhitā.

Guaraní Orthography: Nasal Consonant Tilde (m̃ / M̃)

In Guaraní (official language of Paraguay):

• Nasal Harmony: Guaraní exhibits pervasive nasal harmony where vowels and consonants harmonize into nasalized or oral prosody. The tilde over m̃ marks distinct nasalized articulation.

International Phonetic Alphabet: Labiodental Nasal (ɱ)

In the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA):

• Labiodental Articulation: The symbol ɱ represents the voiced labiodental nasal consonant, produced with the lower lip touching the upper front teeth.
• Allophonic Occurrence in English & Romance: Occurs naturally as an allophone of /m/ or /n/ before labiodental fricatives 'f' and 'v', as in English symphony [ˈsɪɱfəni], comfort [ˈkʌɱfət], and Spanish enfermo [eɱˈfeɾmo].

Developer & Technical Reference (Unicode, HTML, CSS & LaTeX)

For software developers, web designers, database architects, and LaTeX typesetters, below is the complete technical character specification for all M-accent variations:

Frequently Asked Questions About Typing M with Accents

A to Z Accent Letters Hub & Related Diacritics Guides

Need to type other accented letters, umlauts, tildes, cedillas, or special characters? Explore our dedicated accent directories and interactive typing tools below: