How to Use an Umlaut in a Windows Document

An umlaut is used in Asian and European languages that are written in the Roman alphabet. An umlaut appears over a vowel to indicate a vowel change. The letter "A" with an umlaut looks like this: Ä.

Things You'll Need

• Microsoft Windows

Instructions

1. Open the Character Map. (Open the Start menu and choose Programs, then Accessories, then System Tools and then Character Map.)

2. Locate the vowel with the umlaut accent.

3. Click the vowel, then click Select and then Copy.

4. Go to the document, then insert the cursor at the location where you want the vowel and the umlaut to appear.

5. Paste the character onto your document.

Tips & Warnings

• Certain software applications, such as Microsoft Word, allow you to insert the umlaut accent within the program. Look for menus like Insert or commands like Insert Symbol and Insert Special Characters.

• The same character is used for the diaresis accent, which appears over a vowel to indicate it is sounded separately.