How to Type M with Accent (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, m`), 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 ḿ. (Capital Ḿ: Option + ., then Shift + M).
• Tilde (m~): Press Option + n, release, then press m → gives m~.

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 / m̌ & 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 呒), used as an interjection expressing surprised questioning, identical to English "huh?" or "what?".
• Fourth Falling Tone (m`): Written with a grave accent (m`), 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 Anusvara Underdot (Ṃ / ṃ)

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

• The Anusvara (ं / ṃ): 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 Anusvara assimilates to the place of articulation of the subsequent stop consonant.
• Essential Classical Sanskrit Terms: Found in Sa?skήταm ("Sanskrit language"), Ahi?sa ("non-violence"), O? / Aum (sacred syllable), Sa?sara ("cycle of rebirth"), and Brahma sa?hita.

Guaraní Orthography: Nasal Consonant Tilde (m~ / M~)

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 m~ 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: