Q is the least-accented letter of all. The only marked form in common character sets is a small Q with hook tail, ɋ, which is a phonetics character. In ordinary writing Q is always plain, and usually followed by U. Tap any character below to copy it.
01 Step by step, per platform
A real, followable procedure for every platform, not a thin restatement of the shortcut.
On Windows
- For any other form, press Win + . to open the emoji & symbol panel, switch to the Symbols tab and search the accent name.
- Or type the code from the table below into Microsoft Word and press Alt + X, for example 024B then Alt+X gives ɋ.
On Mac
- Open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space and search the accent name, for example the letter followed by the accent.
- To type these often, add the ABC – Extended input source in Keyboard settings and use its accent dead keys before the letter.
Microsoft Word & Google Docs
- In Word, type the four-character code then press Alt + X, for example 024B then Alt+X becomes ɋ.
- Or use Insert → Symbol → More Symbols and pick the letter from the Latin subset.
- In Google Docs, use Insert → Special characters and search latin q, or draw the accent in the sketch box.
On phones (iOS & Android)
- Most phone keyboards do not offer an accent popup for Q, since these forms are rare. Copy the one you need from the keys above and paste it where you are typing.
- On iOS you can also add a third-party keyboard, or use the built-in dictation and text-replacement features to insert a saved character.
02 Characters in this set
03 Codes for every accented form
Unicode point, HTML entity and the Windows shortcut for each form. Codes shown as Alt 0nnn are typed on the numeric keypad; codes shown as hhhh Alt+X are typed in Microsoft Word, then converted with Alt+X.
| Character | Accent | Unicode | HTML | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ɋ | Hook tail · small | U+024B |
ɋ |
024B Alt+X |
04 Troubleshooting & confusables
| Looks like it | But it's actually | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| ɋ vs q | Hook-tail q vs plain q | ɋ is a phonetic q with a curling tail. It is not a stylistic q and never appears in normal words. |
| ɋ vs q, | One letter vs q plus comma | The tail on ɋ is part of the single character, not a q followed by a comma or cedilla. Copy the whole glyph. |
| Q vs the "qu" pair | Letter vs spelling habit | Q is almost always written with a following U in European languages. That is a spelling convention, not an accent on the Q. |
05 FAQ
Does the letter Q take an accent?
Effectively no. The only marked form in common use is ɋ (a small q with a hook tail), which is a phonetics character. No major language accents Q.
What is ɋ?
ɋ (U+024B) is a lowercase q with a hook tail, used in phonetic transcription. It represents a specific consonant sound and is not part of any everyday alphabet.
How do I type ɋ?
It has no Windows Alt code. In Microsoft Word type 024B and press Alt+X, or copy the character directly from the keys above.
Why does Q almost always come with U?
In Latin-derived spelling, Q is conventionally followed by U (as in "queen", "quiet"). That is a historical spelling pattern, not an accent, and words without it are usually loanwords.
Is there a capital version of ɋ?
Common character sets provide only the lowercase ɋ. For phonetic work that is normally all that is required; there is no everyday capital accented Q.