The ï tréma is a letter which is part of the French alphabet and which is pronounced like an i. It is used to indicate that the i is not part of a vowel group, but that it is pronounced separately. For example, in the word naif, the ï tréma indicates that the i is pronounced after the a and not with it.
But how do you type an ï umlaut on the keyboard? It depends on the type of keyboard you use, your computer's operating system, and the software you write in. Here are some methods to help you write an ïumlaut easily.
How to make a lowercase ï umlaut on the AZERTY keyboard?
If you use an AZERTY keyboard, that is to say a standard French keyboard, there are several ways to make an ï umlaut:
1. The simplest method is to use the ^ key which is to the right of the P key.
Simply press this key then the I key to obtain an umlaut. For example, to write naive, type N then A then ^ then I then F.
2. use Alt Gr + I key combination.
Alt Gr is the key to the right of the space bar. You must hold this key down then press the I key to obtain an umlaut. For example, to write hate, type H then A then Alt Gr + I then R. But what should you do if the Alt Gr key no longer works on your keyboard ? There are several solutions to fix this problem, such as checking your keyboard settings, disabling sticky keys, or reinstalling the keyboard driver. ï
3. Use the ASCII code for umlaut.
The ASCII code is a numeric code that corresponds to each character on the keyboard. To type an ï umlaut with the ASCII code, you must hold down the Alt key then type the code 139 on the numeric keypad located to the right of the keyboard. For example, to write corn, type M then A then Alt + 139 then S.
How to make a capital ï umlaut on the AZERTY keyboard?
To make the capital i umlaut (Ï), there are also two possible methods
- ↑ Shift + ^ keys simultaneously , then release and press the I .
- The second is to successively press the Alt 0 2 0 7 .
How to make an ï umlaut on the QWERTY keyboard?
If you use a QWERTY keyboard, that is to say an English or American keyboard, there are also several ways to make an umlaut:
1. The simplest method is to use the ” key to the right of the ; key.
Simply press this key then the I key to obtain an umlaut. For example, to write naive, type N then A then ” then I then then F.
2. The key combination Alt + 0239.
Alt is the key to the left of the space bar. You must hold this key pressed then type the code 0239 on the numeric keypad located to the right of the keyboard. For example, to write hate, type H then Alt + 0239 then R.
3. The keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift +: then I.
Ctrl and Shift are the keys located at the bottom left of the keyboard. You must keep these two keys pressed then press the : key which is to the right of the L key. Then, you must release the keys and press the I key to obtain an umlaut. For example, to write corn, type M then A then Ctrl + Shift + : then I then S.
How to make a diaeresis on Mac?
If you are using a Mac computer, there are also several ways to make an umlaut:
The easiest method is to use Option key + U then I.
Option is the key to the left of the space bar. You must press this key then the U key to obtain a diaeresis. Then, you must release the keys and press the I key to obtain an umlaut. For example, to write naive, type Option + U then I then A then F.
Another method is to use the virtual keyboard.
The virtual keyboard is a tool that allows you to display the on-screen keyboard and click the keys with the mouse. To activate the virtual keyboard, go to the Apple menu, then System Preferences, then Keyboard, then check the box Show keyboard and Emoji viewers in the menu bar. Then, click on the keyboard icon that appears in the menu bar and choose Show keyboard viewer. The virtual keyboard is then displayed on the screen and all you have to do is click on the Option key + U then on the I key to obtain an umlaut.
A third method is to use the character selector.
The Character Chooser is a tool that provides access to all the special characters available on the Mac. To activate the character selector, go to the Apple menu, then System Preferences, then Keyboard, then check the box Show keyboard and Emoji viewers in the menu bar. Then, click on the keyboard icon that appears in the menu bar and choose Show character selector. The character selector is then displayed on the screen and all you have to do is look for the umlaut in the list of characters and drag and drop it into the text.
How to make an ïumlaut in Word?
If you use Word software to write your texts, there are also several ways to make an umlaut:
The easiest method is to use the Symbol tool.
The Symbol tool is located on the Insert tab of the ribbon. Simply click on this tool then choose Other symbols from the drop-down menu. A window then opens with a list of available symbols. You have to look for the ïumlaut in this list and click on it to insert it in the text.
Another method is to use the Equation tool.
The Equation tool is also found on the Insert tab of the ribbon. Simply click on this tool then choose New Equation from the drop-down menu. An equation box is then displayed in the text and you must type \ddot{i} to obtain an umlaut. Then, you must click outside the equation area to return to normal mode.
A third method is to use Word-specific keyboard shortcuts.
There are indeed key combinations that allow you to directly insert special characters on Windows into Word. To type an ï umlaut with keyboard shortcuts, you must hold down the Ctrl key then press the key: then release the keys and press the I key. For example, to write naïve, type Ctrl +: then I then A then f.
FAQs
What is the difference between a circumflex i and an umlaut i?
A circumflex i accent (^) indicates that the i is pronounced like an è or an é. It is used to mark the absence of a letter which disappeared during the evolution of the language. For example, in the word island, the circumflex i indicates that there was once an s (isla in Latin). An i umlaut (¨) indicates that the i is pronounced like an i. It is used to separate the i from another vowel sound. For example, in the word naive, the i tréma indicates that the i is pronounced after the a and not with it.
How to make a diaeresis on a smartphone or tablet?
To make a diaeresis on a smartphone or tablet, you must use the touch keyboard that appears on the screen. Simply press and hold the I key to bring up a menu with the different variations of the i. You must then slide your finger towards the umlaut to select it and release it to insert it into the text.
What are the French words that contain an ï umlaut?
There are several French words that contain an ï umlaut. Here are some examples: aïoli, aïoli, ambroisïe, anaïs, bayonet, caïd, caïeu, caïman, coincide, coitus, coincidence, coincide, coiter, craïne, croaïseur, daïmio, daïquiri, disdaineux, disdain, disdain, disdainery, hate, hateful , hating, hater, Haitians, Haitianness, Haitian, Hawaiian, Hawaiian, Hawaiian, Hawaiianness, Maïa, Maïeutique, master, mistress, mastery, master, born, birth, naive, naive, naivety, Christmas, Noëlle, onion, graze, peace , peacock, peacock, peacock, peacock, raïs, raïssa, saiga, saül, taël
What is the origin of the umlaut?
The ï umlaut is a diacritic sign which comes from ancient Greek. The word umlaut means “hole” in Greek and refers to the two dots that are placed above a vowel to indicate that it is pronounced separately from another vowel. The diaeresis was introduced into the Latin alphabet in the Middle Ages to transcribe Greek or Latin words that had distinct vowel sounds. For example, the word zoology comes from the Greek zôion (animal) and logos (speech) and was initially written zoölogie with an umlaut on the o to indicate that it was pronounced after the z and not with it.
What is the spelling rule for ï umlaut?
The rule for spelling ï umlaut is to use it when there are two vowels following one another and the first is an e or an a and the second is an i. The diaeresis is then used to indicate that the i is pronounced separately from the first vowel and not with it. For example, in the word haiir, the diaeresis on the i indicates that it is pronounced after the a and not with it. There are some exceptions to this rule such as the words onion and peacock which are written without umlaut although they respect the condition.
